Everyone knows that the FA Cup doesn’t take any prisoners, warns Stones player-boss Jay Saunders

MAIDSTONE UNITED player-manager Jay Saunders says he wants the club to enjoy a good FA Cup run this year, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Stones travel to Kent Hurlimann Football League side Corinthian in the Preliminary Round on Saturday, with three points from their opening three Ryman League Division One South games, courtesy of two defeats to Whitehawk and Whitstable Town and a morale boosting 5-1 win at newly promoted side Crawley Down last Saturday.

Their home game against landlords Sittingbourne was abandoned after just six minutes due to a floodlight failure at Bourne Park on Tuesday night.

“We went and saw Corinthian at Lordswood on Bank Holiday Monday,” said Saunders, ahead of their trip to Gay Dawn Farm, which has one of the best playing surfaces in Kent.

“It’ll be a tough game as everyone knows that the FA Cup doesn’t take any prisoners.

“It’s not about what side you put out, it’s a one off game where anything can happen.

“We’ve got to make sure we go there and prepare right and I will be passing onto the boys the experiences that I’ve had in the competition and underline that if you put the effort in you’re only a few games away from playing some good teams at some really good grounds.”

The Stones boss wants to enjoy a decent run in the competition to provide funds for the club, who are destined to return to the County Town next year.

Bearsted based Saunders said:  “It’s massively important that we try and have a good run especially with the plans that the club have – Terry (Casey), Bill (Williams) and Oliver (Ash) are working tirelessly behind the scenes.  It’s important that on the pitch we try and put some of the money into the club as well.

“I’m not trying to put pressure on the boys and they know it – it’s important for the players as well to play against better teams and better themselves so Saturday really is a massive game for the club.”

Reflecting on their league campaign so far, Saunders said:  “It was important that we got our season off and running on Saturday - I think we could have won at Whitstable, but I was confident of beating Crawley Down as I honestly thought we wouldn’t create that many chances again and not win. 

“We're in a tough league where sides don’t give up and sides that haven’t got the ability that some enjoy, have the determination not to be beaten.”

Corinthian boss Tony Sitford, 72, confirmed yesterday that he has four players returning from injury, and Saunders revealed, “I'm still struggling to be fit for the weekend as is James Pinnock, whose struggling with a hamstring.  Alex Waugh was on the bench on Tuesday with a damaged elbow but I don’t know whether or not he'd have featured, so I hope that by not playing Tuesday night we've give those who have got niggles an extra couple of days to get right for the weekend.”

Visit Maidstone United’s website: www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

Corinthian   v  Maidstone United
FA Cup with Budwesier Preliminary Round
Saturday 3^rd September 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Gay Dawn Farm, Valley Road, Longfield, Kent DA3 8LY