The Isthmian South East title fight goes on for Sittingbourne manager Ryan Maxwell and his players.

Second-placed Bourne slipped 10 points behind leaders Ramsgate after losing 1-0 at Merstham on Saturday.

But the gap is back to seven after goals from Mitchell May and Henry Sinai in a 2-1 comeback victory at Hythe on Tuesday night

Relentless Rams are in pole position to land a first league title since Jim Ward led them to Isthmian Division 1 glory in 2006, chalking up 93 points from 35 games.

But they’ve been pipped by Chatham and Cray Valley in the past two seasons, when favourites to win the league, and Sittingbourne want to pounce on any slip-ups during a tough seven-game run-in.

“The fight goes on,” said Maxwell.

“Ramsgate have got teams who are all fighting for the fifth spot, in Three Bridges, Beckenham and Merstham.

“They’ve also got Margate, who are fourth, and us, so there’s no easy games for Ramsgate. We know anything can happen.

“It’s happened to Ramsgate before where they haven’t done enough and that may play on their minds.

“We’ve got just over a handful of games left and we’ve got to keep the pressure on Ramsgate.”

Sittingbourne have been boosted by the return of midfielders Jean-Baptiste Fischer and Luke Woodward from long-term knee injuries.

Fischer, a former PSG youth-team player, is back in action after more than a year out, making his comeback from the bench last week.

Woodward, last season’s manager’s player and players’ player-of-the-year, started at Hythe after featuring three times on dual-registration for Saffron Walden.

Maxwell, whose side host Eastbourne Town at Woodstock this Saturday (3pm), said: “I was delighted to see JB back in a Sittingbourne shirt.

“He’s shown real guts and I’m so pleased he’s now back and in contention. He’s getting better with every minute he’s out there. It’s a great addition for us and great timing.

“Lukey Woodward is also now back as well. What a player he is.

“To get him back is huge because he was unbelievable for us last season - absolutely phenomenal. He’s been training like a beast.”

Sittingbourne’s match at fifth-placed Merstham was settled by a long-range strike from Lee Lewis before half-time.

Maxwell was sent from the dugout by referee Patrick Nixon, who also dismissed Joe Boachie in added time.

“To be honest, it was a very dull game,” said the manager.

“The pitch was solid, it’s this time of year where it’s more of a game of second balls and bouncing balls rather than fluidity but we know that and we expect that.

“There were very few chances in the game.

“We limited them to basically that one shot on target, so we’re very disappointed to lose the game.

“We might have shaded areas, a bit of territory, but probably a draw would have been fair.

“The referee was terrible from minute one.

“We’ve had one player sent off this season and it’s no coincidence it was in this game by that referee, who sent me off for merely stating that we would talk at half-time and gave me a second yellow for it.

“That was my exact sentence - we will talk at half-time - and he gave me a second yellow card.

“It was a very disappointing performance from the referee.

“It wasn’t the reason we lost but it certainly didn’t help, that’s for sure, but it’s not the reason we didn’t score.

“The sending-off of Joe is probably a booking but no more than that. There was no aggression from Joe, maybe a bit of silliness but that was all, it’s not a straight red.

“We have a brilliant disciplinary record this season.”