Former Gillingham youngster Toby Bancroft is finding his way at Sittingbourne.

Bancroft scored in successive games as the Brickies collected four points towards their Isthmian South East play-off bid over the weekend.

He fired the second-half winner in a 1-0 victory over Sevenoaks on New Year’s Day and gave Darren Blackburn’s side an early lead at Herne Bay on Monday, a match that finished 1-1.

Midfielder Bancroft dropped into non-league after leaving Gillingham last summer, training with Sittingbourne before signing for Ramsgate.

Chances were limited with the Rams and a call to Blackburn saw him return to Woodstock.

Brickies boss Blackburn said: “Toby came through the youth ranks at Gills, and was highly thought of, but there’s that jump up to the first-team and he didn’t make it.

“The problem is, lads think they will come out of that level and into men’s football at our level and find it easier but, if anything, it’s probably much harder because you don’t have the same level of players around you and you go from training every day to once a week if you’re lucky.

“It takes time to blend in and break into the first-team but he’s got two goals and an assist in his last three games now.

“I told him he’d need to be patient and get to know the level and I’m really pleased for him.

“He’s got his feet on the ground, he’s a humble kid who’s been brought up well and he’ll do well in this game.

“He’s not the finished article - you wouldn’t expect him to be at 19 - but he’s technically good, he’s quick and he was brave against Herne Bay.

“It’s not his game to dominate in the air but he won a couple of headers, which pleased me more than his goal, to see him doing something that doesn’t come naturally.”

Blackburn missed the Sevenoaks game after testing positive for Covid, leaving assistant Darren Pont and coach Steve Whitton in charge.

But he was back in the dugout at Winch’s Field as Sittingbourne drew with third-placed Herne Bay.

“It’s well-documented that our away form is distinctly average compared to our home form,” said Blackburn.

“We went with five at the back to try and frustrate them a bit and got the early goal.

"We knew we’d have some defending to do at some point but Kieron Campbell scored a worldie just before half-time.

“We changed shape in the second half, went 4-3-3 and went more at them, and the better chances predominantly fell to us.

"We had a couple saved and one off the line, whereas I’m not sure Harry Brooks had a shot to save."

Seventh-placed Brickies are five points off the play-offs going into their home game against Burgess Hill on Saturday.

Blackburn could move into the loan market, with a number of players struggling with injuries.

Sam Flisher, Tyler Christian-Law and Johan Caney-Bryan are all nursing tight hamstrings, Samuel Okoye-Ahaneku has a trapped nerve in his leg, while Harry Stannard is recovering from Covid.

Toby Ajala, Danny Taylor and Harry Miller remain sidelined while George Monger has been busy at work.

But, take out the 3-1 Christmas defeat at Faversham, and Sittingbourne’s form has been excellent.

“We’re third or fourth in the form guide,” said Blackburn.

“We’ve clawed some points back on the teams above us, so we’re edging in the right direction.

“The trouble is, those top teams don’t drop many points."