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Sittingbourne meet former assistant manager Nathan Elder when they take on Hythe Town

Nathan Elder's inside knowledge on Sittingbourne may not be much use this weekend.

Elder left his role as Brickies assistant manager last month to become No.2 to new Hythe boss Steve Watt.

Chris Lynch and Nathan Elder will be in opposite dugouts this weekend Picture: Chris Davey
Chris Lynch and Nathan Elder will be in opposite dugouts this weekend Picture: Chris Davey

He returns to Woodstock on Saturday when the clubs meet in Isthmian South East but Brickies boss Chris Lynch says his side have changed since Elder's departure.

"I welcome the chance to see Nathan," said Lynch. "I like him, he's a good guy and I wish him all the best, just not against us.

"It'll be good to see him as an opponent, rather than on our side, and I'm sure he'll be thinking exactly the same.

"We've changed quite a bit since he left.

"We've brought in additional signings, released some players and we're playing a slightly different shape and formation now.

"We're evolving every week so what was here when Nathan was here is actually pretty different to how it is now."

It'll be a good test for a young Sittingbourne side against a Hythe outfit packed with experienced players such as Jamie Coyle, James Rogers, Frannie Collin and Alex Flisher.

Lynch intends to embrace the challenge.

He said: "We're building for the future here.

"We've got players who are young, fresh and hungry and will hopefully go on to play at higher levels.

"We're learning every day and this game gives us an opportunity to come up against good players who've been around these leagues and a lot higher.

Johan Caney-Bryan is stepping up to the plate at Sittingbourne Picture: Andy Jones
Johan Caney-Bryan is stepping up to the plate at Sittingbourne Picture: Andy Jones

"It'll be great for our lads to go up against them."

Johan Caney-Bryan is looking to build on his winning goal against South Park in the FA Trophy last weekend.

His early header secured a first qualifying round home tie against Tooting & Mitcham on Saturday week and he scored again in the Kent Cup last night, although Bourne lost to Ramsgate on penalties.

Lynch said: "Johan's got real strengths but he's also got areas he needs to work on.

"His hold-up play is fantastic but his goal conversion rate doesn't match the other outstanding attributes in his game.

"He knows that, ultimately, to be a successful striker you've got to convert chances so we've given him a ratio to work towards.

"We had a chat and I said to him it doesn't matter how good your link-up play is, you'll get measured by every other team and people who read the press on how many goals you score.

"I've said he must be putting away 50-60% of his chances.

"Some people might say that's high but it's a good target for him.

"If you don't have challenges in life or you don't set goals, you just become average.

"If you want to get better you've got to have goals.

"Every player here has been given goals and we're striving to help them."

Read more: The latest sports news in Kent

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