Chris Lynch declared Sittingbourne a play-off team after thrashing Kent rivals Ramsgate.

The Brickies showed their top-five credentials in Saturday's 7-0 win over struggling Rams.

They have nine points to make up but, with half a season to go, there's plenty of time to launch a run from 12th place and break into the Isthmian South East promotion picture.

"I'm saying we're a play-off team," said manager Lynch.

"We've got East Grinstead and Three Bridges coming up in our next two games and, for me, that's six points.

"I really believe we will take six points from those games and we'll see where that takes us but we certainly don't fear anyone now.

"The team were told their target is the play-offs.

"This club shouldn't be in a relegation battle like it has the last couple of years.

"It's a good club, with good people behind the scenes and decent facilities and we just needed to match that with a team.

"We can attract good players from higher divisions, it's can we get a collective of players who want to fight and die for each other when they go out there on the pitch?

"We're not far off that that.

"It's all about setting my philosophy and people believing in that and believing they're good enough.

"They're much better than some of them think they are.

• Rollicking leads to 7-0 win

"They've just got to believe they're superior and once you get that mindset, you can go out and beat anyone."

Sittingbourne visit bottom side East Grinstead this Saturday.

The Brickies conceded twice in the last 10 minutes to draw the early-season meeting 2-0 - the type of result they must eliminate if they are to mount a play-off challenge.

Lynch said: "I look back at that as one of two or three games that we should have won.

"We're at a point where we have to start showing consistency and win the games we're expected to win.

"At the same time, we can't just take it for granted, we have to turn up knowing it's going to be a fight and be prepared to work hard.

"We've made massive strides but there's a lot more to come.

"If we maintain that consistency we'll be right up there pushing over the next year."

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