I believe we will beat the drop - Nott

Wednesday 24th March 2010

MAIDSTONE UNITED boss Peter Nott says his side must win half of their last remaining eight games to maintain their Ryman Premier League status, writes Stephen McCartney.

Kent derby defeats away to Dartford and Tonbridge Angels this week leaves the Stones just one place above the relegation zone and following Margate’s single-goal victory at champions-elect Dartford last night, Nott’s men could drop underneath the line within a week if they don’t start picking up points to edge away from the danger area.

Maidstone United welcome Wealdstone (Saturday) and basement-side Bognor Regis Town (next Tuesday) to Homelands and Nott, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk following his side’s 2-1 defeat at Tonbridge Angels last night, wants to turn promising performances into points.

“Realistically we need to be winning three or four of the last games,” said Nott.

“It’s important that we beat the bottom teams in that run in so we know the job that we’ve got.

“We’ve had quite a positive chat, considering we’ve had a defeat, we’ve had a positive chat. I’m not going to criticise, I’ve criticised them in the last couple of games for not showing the effort or the desire and I think they performed well tonight and I’m just gutted for them.

“They’re all big games now, it doesn’t matter who you play, a top team or a bottom team you’ve got to go and dig in, and be pulling points out of most games now.

“We know the job in hand and we need to get ourselves out of it.”

When asked whether he feels the Stones can collect enough points against Wealdstone, Bognor Regis Town, Hendon (away), Hastings United (home), AFC Hornchurch (away), Waltham Abbey (home), Ashford Town Middlesex (home) and a final day trip to Kingstonian, Nott replied, “I do! I totally believe we can as long as we build on that performance (at Tonbridge). That’s got to be the basics where we go from now.

“We’ve picked a few points up recently at home and home or away it doesn’t matter - we’ve just got to do the job.”

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

Maidstone United v Wealdstone

Ryman Premier League

Saturday 27th March 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Homelands Stadium, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN26 1NJ