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Gillingham youngster Jimmy Witt tipped for big future after impressing on loan at Sittingbourne

06:00, 21 January 2020

Sittingbourne manager Chris Lynch has tipped Jimmy Witt for a big future after extending the Gillingham youngster’s loan.

Witt will spend a second month with the Brickies after a string of impressive displays.

Jimmy Witt in FA Youth Cup action for Gillingham Picture: Ady Kerry
Jimmy Witt in FA Youth Cup action for Gillingham Picture: Ady Kerry

The teenager is a full-back by trade but has excelled in a more attacking role for the Isthmian South East club.

Lynch has previous when it comes to helping Gills youngsters cut their teeth in men’s football, having got the best out of Roman Campbell in two separate loan spells. He’s doing the same for Witt.

“He’s a great talent and he’s looked really sharp," said Lynch.

“He’s only small but he breezes past defenders.

“He’s gone a little more under the radar than Roman but what a player.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if he went back to Gillingham and did something.

“The good news is we’ve got him for another month.”

Striker Jay Hards, who arrived at the same time as Witt, has returned to Gillingham though.

With Johan Caney-Bryan and Sid Sollis back from injury, Lynch couldn’t give him enough minutes.

The Brickies boss said: “It would be unfair on Jay to be sitting on the bench.

“Johan and Sid are my top scorers and they have to play.

“I spoke to Craig Stone (Gills youth coach) and we agreed it would be best if he went back.

Sittingbourne manager Chris Lynch Picture: John Westhrop
Sittingbourne manager Chris Lynch Picture: John Westhrop

“He’s a really good lad with a great attitude but he needs minutes.”

Lynch is hoping to keep on-loan Dartford midfielder Cameron Brodie for the rest of the season.

Brodie has made two appearances, completing 90 minutes in his favoured holding role at Hythe on Saturday.

Lynch said: “I’d like to keep him for the rest of the season.

“I’ve made that clear to Steve King (Darts manager) and I’ll be contacting him to see if we can extend the deal.”

A controversial penalty saw the Brickies lose 1-0 at Hythe.

Former Brickies player Stephen Okoh won the spot-kick which was converted by Frannie Collin nine minutes into the second half.

Video footage showed it shouldn’t have been given but that was of little consolation as Sittingbourne’s three-match winning run ended despite an excellent first-half performance.

Manager Chris Lynch said: “We were absolutely outstanding. It’s the best I’ve seen us play.

“We killed them in that first half but it was one of those where the ball went wide, just wide, over and you’re thinking, ‘when is this going to break?’

The controversial penalty decision that cost Sittingbourne at Hythe Picture: Paul Amos
The controversial penalty decision that cost Sittingbourne at Hythe Picture: Paul Amos

“We didn’t score and the big talking point ends up being the penalty.

"Our keeper, Jordan Perrin, has saved the ball and the player has then run over him.

“It was a difficult one for the ref from his position outside the box.

“I don’t think he was in line, so he probably didn’t see all of what happened but it didn’t look a penalty from the angle we had.

“We looked at the video afterwards and it confirmed it shouldn’t have been.

“To be fair, I’ve not seen the lads that down since I’ve been here.

“It’s hard to take because we would have gone seventh with a win but fair play to Hythe.

“They couldn’t live with us in the first half but they changed their gameplan and they’ve got the points."

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