Hume looks to get defeat out of his system

Sunday 08th November 2009

MOST managers chop and change their side when the Ryman League Cup comes along - but Lloyd Hume doesn’t have that luxury when he takes his injury hit side to Mill Field on Tuesday night, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Maidstone United joint-manager was without Peter Hawkins (suspended), James Peacock (ankle ligaments), Ashley Ulph (knee ligaments), Ant Bodle (broken nose), Dean Hernandez-Bradshaw (ankle ligaments), Roland Edge (calf) and the unfit Meshach Nugent for yesterday’s 2-1 home defeat to Kingstonian, so making changes for the League Cup second round tie at Romford is out of the question.

The Stones’ four match unbeaten run came to an end by a Kingstonian side that are progressing up the table after apoor start.

James Pinnock’s ninth goal of the season - from a twice taken penalty on the hour - had cancelled out Bobby Traynor’s penalty nine minutes earlier - as K’s scored from their first shot on target.

But two goalkeeping blunders from Stones keeper Jamie Turner gifted the Surrey side two further goals, despatched by Dean Lodge and substitute Christian Jolley in the final twenty minutes.

“When you have a bad performance like that and a frustrating one, the first thing you want to do is get back and have a game,” Hume told www.kentishfootball.co.uk yesterday.

“I want to go back to (play) Romford on Tuesday and use this as a game that we want to go and win.

“I say all the time that winning is a good habit and we’ve got to get back to winning ways and Tuesday is the first game and we’ll be treating it seriously and a game that we want to win.”

Hume revealed that he should have more players to choose from for next Saturday’s trip to Harrow Borough - a side that are presently in the bottom four.

“We’ll have Peter Hawkins back (from suspension), PK (James Peacock) might be back. Edgy (Roland Edge) is still a couple of weeks away from full fitness, so a couple back will make a big difference.

“We’ve got a squad of fourteen and we’ve lost eight players today so it makes a difference.”

Cash strapped Hume wants the Stones faithful to make the effort to attend home games at Homelands Stadium in Ashford - a venue that is very difficult and costly to travel to by train and cab.

Statistics do not make happy reading, and coupled with the credit crunch, Maidstone United have been hit financially following their move from Bourne Park, Sittingbourne.

Comparing the statistics over the first six games of both last and this season, Maidstone United attracted 2,896 to Bourne Park at this stage last season, where as 1,919 have watched the Stones in Ashford.

Last season, the Stones welcomed both Tonbridge Angels (574 fans) and Dartford (667) to Bourne Park in their first five games, whilst the Angels’ visit this year to Homelands attracted a crowd of 447.

Although the club get a percentage of bar and food takings with their deal with Ashford Town, this has clearly effected the playing budget that Hume and Alan Walker have at their disposal.

“It’s tough!” said Hume. “I said to the chairman before the game we’ve got to expect and so have the fans that we’ve got a small squad, we’ve got a small budget and we’ll be tested through the season like we were today.”

Maidstone United are not the only club in Kent that have a small squad, filled up with experienced campaigners mixed in with hungry youngsters.

“I just think that everyone’s working to reduced budgets, ours is smaller than most,” Hume said of his situation.

“We’ve tried to keep the nucleolus of our squad together (as) it’s important we do that. But we also know it’s a risky one if you get a lot of injuries.

“You could go the other way and get less quality with more numbers but then week in, week out you’re not performing at the level you need to, to get results.

“You need to make sure you’re safe in the league and at least have an opportunity to or challenge for things.

“You have to go the way you’ve gone and most clubs have gone the way with as much strength as possible.”

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

Romford v Maidstone United

Championship Manager Cup Second Round

Tuesday 10th November 2009

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Mill Field, Mill Road, Aveley, Essex RM15 4TS