Sittingbourne experienced the highs and lows of football in the space of five days.

The Brickies went second in Isthmian South East after winning 3-1 at Cray Valley last Tuesday, despite missing eight players.

But they came back down to earth on Saturday, where a disappointing display saw them beaten 2-1 at Three Bridges.

“That’s football, isn’t it?” said manager Nick Davis, after his side dropped to fifth.

“We were on such a high after an unbelievable result on Tuesday where we’ve scrambled to get a team together and gone to one of the most difficult places in the league and won 3-1.

“We’ve then gone to Three Bridges, which I knew would be tough - they beat Lewes 4-0 in the FA Cup - and we were poor.

“We didn’t deserve anything out of the game but in the end we should have got something.

“They caused us more problems than any other team this season by a country mile.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t play well at all, I think it’s the worst we’ve played this season.

“But, saying that, if you’d offered me six points from three away games (Bourne won 2-0 at Haywards Heath before beating Cray Valley) I’d have taken that, and we won at Corinthian in the Velocity Cup with nine men before that.

“I’m a bit disappointed because we had a brilliant result at Cray Valley, and we haven’t been able to back it up, but we’re six points off the top and that’s not a bad position to be in.

“What the Three Bridges game does is reassure us that we haven’t cracked it, that we need to go and work hard again.

“But it’s one loss and, to be fair, the lads have been excellent the last four or five games.”

Frank Puemo, Donvieve Jones and Henry Dasofunjo gave Sittingbourne the points at Cray Valley, while Mario Quiassaca scored a last-minute consolation against a Three Bridges side who played with 10 men for half an hour following goalscorer Noel Leighton’s red card.

Among the new faces at Cray Valley, after Davis’ frantic ringing round to get a side together, was 18-year-old Dover forward Harry Sikirwayi.

He played 90 minutes and made the bench at the weekend.

“He’s a third-year at Dover, he’s played some cup games and is a contracted player for them,” said Davis.

“I’ll be honest, I’d never seen him play but he did well.

“He gets about, he’s got a good left foot, he’s technically good and you can see he’s well-coached. Dover have allowed us to have him for the time being.

“Theo McKenzie is another one we brought in and he plays full-back, either side.

“We had him on the bench against Sheppey earlier this season but he’s been on dual-reg with Punjab.

“I had him at VCD last year, he’s only 19 but he’s an excellent defender, one you can rely on.”

Sittingbourne host Littlehampton at Woodstock this Saturday (3pm).

Alex Addai and Lewis Chambers complete three-match bans.

“We’ve got a couple of home games on the bounce, which is nice after all the away games, and the midweek games have dried up for now,” said Davis.

“Littlehampton’s away record is good and they got to the FA Vase final last year, so they must be a good side.”