Confidence is high as Sittingbourne start 2025 with two big games in league and cup.

The Isthmian South East leaders head to Ashford on New Year’s Day (3pm) looking for a 15th consecutive league win.

That’s followed by an FA Trophy fourth-round tie at home to National League South Salisbury this Saturday (3pm).

Two victories in three days over Christmas maintained Sittingbourne’s remarkable winning run.

They beat local rivals Sheppey 4-0 at home on Boxing Day, in front of a crowd of 826, thanks to goals from Jack Steventon, Joe Boachie, Liam Smith and a Mitchell May penalty.

And they came from behind to win 3-2 at Broadbridge Heath on Saturday, with Boachie, Steventon and Smith on target.

Victory maintained their three-point lead over Ramsgate.

“It’s credit to the boys and the club,” said Brickies coach Reece Prestedge.

“Everyone’s pulling in the same direction.

“When you’ve got a squad that buys into what you’re doing, there’s always going to be more positives than anything.

“I’ve never known a winning run to this extent. It’s a pleasure to be a part of.

“There’s a great winning mentality.

“I think Saturday’s game proves that, that everyone’s ready to die for the cause and fight until the last second.

“To get back to 2-2, away from home, you might think we’ll take that, but we kept going, looking for the winner, and eventually got it.

“To be honest, the league is the bread and butter that we want to achieve in, so everything else is a bonus when it comes to the FA Trophy and being the last Step 4 in it, which is a great achievement in itself.

“It’s the best run we’ve probably been on, which is another accolade, but where we are in the league is our biggest achievement to date.”

Sittingbourne leave no stone unturned in their preparation for games.

Tactically they’re switched on, while the team spirit in the Brickies squad is also playing a huge part.

Prestedge said: “We repeat what’s giving us joy and we do a lot of info on clubs and stuff and how teams play and give as much information as we can.

“But then it’s up to the boys to take that on the pitch and perform and we’ve got a great group that are willing to learn.

“Even the older heads, they’re still willing to learn.

“As a group, they’re one of the best to work with.

“I’ve been involved in great changing rooms and it does give you extra going into games.

“It gives you 12-15 points a season just from having that togetherness, and we’ve got that.

“They’re the ones who don’t want to be defeated and that’s great to see.”

Sittingbourne beat Ashford 3-1 at home at the start of the season.

The Nuts & Bolts are a different proposition now, with Danny Kedwell’s side one of the form teams in the division.

“They’re a very experienced side,” said Prestedge.

“Keds is always going to get a side that’s going to compete, and you have to take into consideration he’s had to do a bit of rebuild, and that takes time.

“We’ve got to go there with the same mentality we’ve always had, to win games of football.

“We’ll approach the game like any other game, do our research and hopefully get the result.”

Attention then turns to the huge FA Trophy tie against Salisbury at Woodstock.

Including qualifying, Sittingbourne have beaten four higher-league teams to reach round four for the first time in their history.

After coming from 2-1 down to beat Enfield 4-2 in the previous round, they face National League South opposition once again.

Prestedge said: “At the moment, with the FA Trophy, the belief is we can win any game in the competition.

“Salisbury is going to be a tough game.

“We might have to look at things in a different way but we’re a front-foot team who put people under pressure and we make sure we’re at it with our work rate.

“We’re a hardworking team, we make sure you don’t beat us for hard work. That’s our mentality.

“At the moment, we can’t ask any more of the players.

“It’s just about staying consistent and can we stay with that same intensity in the second half of the season?”

A big crowd is expected at Woodstock as Sittingbourne bid to make more Trophy history.

“The crowds are going up and I think that’s vital,” added Prestedge. “Without support, you’re not a club.

“We can only thank the Sittingbourne fans for their support this season. It’s nice we’re giving them something back.”