Ryan Golding is ready to lead Sittingbourne to safety in the new year.

Golding completed back-to-back away hat-tricks in Bourne’s 4-0 win at Walton & Hersham on Saturday.

A chat with joint-managers Matt Wyatt and Nick Davis has helped him rediscover the form that saw him finish top scorer last season and he has 12 goals going into Wednesday's derby at Whitstable, level with Joe Taylor.

A change in formation, from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2, has seen Golding and Taylor paired up front which has also helped his form.

Wyatt said: “We’ve had a chat with Ryan, although what was said stays between the player and the management. He’d been through a lean time but he has goals in him.

“It could be the chat that’s made the difference. We’ve also changed formation to 4-4-2, which has probably helped him, or it could just be that he’s getting the rub of the green now."

Brickies are seven points clear of the bottom three in Ryman League, Division 1 South after a win and a draw over Christmas.