I owe a lot to Chris Kinnear for what I've done in the game, says Stones boss Jay Saunders

MAIDSTONE UNITED player-manager Jay Saunders says he is looking forward to his return to Margate on Saturday.



The Stones travel to Hartsdown Park for a FA Carlsberg Trophy First Qualifying Round showdown.

Margate are at the top of the Ryman Premier League with an unbeaten record in League and Cup, while The Stones lie in seventh-place in the Ryman League Division One South table.

Saunders said: “We’re on a good little run at the moment after an indifferent start to the season.

“We’re on five wins on the trot and we’re scoring goals, which is a bonus, but at the other end we’ve kept a couple of clean sheets in the last three games, which is also pleasing.”

Former Margate midfielder Saunders is looking forward to locking horns against the Margate management pair of Chris Kinnear and Jake Leberl, although he has been ruled out taking to the pitch due to a back injury.

Saunders said: “They’re top of the Ryman Premier and obviously Chris and Jake have got a good, strong side and I think they’re favourites to win it on Saturday, so we’ll go there with no pressure on us.

“A lot of the time when we play against higher-league sides we’re sort of expected to win games so it will be quite nice to go there as the underdogs and play on a decent pitch, enjoy it and try and put in another good performance.”

Saunders added: “I think in the Cup draws in general we’ve had some tough draws, Needham Market and Grays away and now Margate but we’re on a good run and we’ve got a bit of confidence in the side so we’ll go there and have a good go at them.

“I’d rather go there on the run that we’re on than losing a couple.  At least we can go there full of confidence and hopefully enjoy our football.”

When asked how the game will be won, Saunders replied, “Do what we’ve been doing really. We’ve been looking dangerous going forward but especially in the last two we’ve looked solid defensively as a team so hopefully we can keep that going.

“We’re in training tonight and we’ll go over a few things that I think Margate will do and hopefully we can go there and get a result.”

When asked about his return to Margate, Saunders said: “I had some good years there and I’ve spent a lot of it playing under Chris Kinnear. He was the manager who gave me my chance in non-league football and I owe him a lot for what I’ve done in the game.

“It will be good to see him.  I’ve spent a lot of time playing with Jake Leberl so it will be good to see them.  There’s some good people down there.  It will be good to go back there but mainly the focus will be to win the game.”

Unfortunately Saunders will have to exchange pleasantries with Kinnear and Leberl from within the technical area.

“I haven’t been able to play because of my back is still giving me problems.”

But Saunders revealed he will take to the Hayes Lane pitch next Tuesday to play Cray Wanderers in the Kent Senior Cup Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com First Round.

“We’ve got Cray on Tuesday night so I’ll try and get some minutes in that.”

When asked how he will be treating the game against Ian Jenkins’ side – subject to neither side needing a Trophy replay – Saunders said: “We’ll have a bit of a mixture. We’ve got a strong squad this year so there’s quite a few lads who haven’t had a lot of football recently so although it will be a bit of a mixture but it will be a strong side.

“There will be a lot of first team players there that need minutes so well try to win that one as well.”

Maidstone United face VCD Athletic in the Third Qualifying Round of The FA Youth Cup on the same night.

The Stones thrashed Redhill 13-0 before coming away from Fisher with a 4-2 win in the last round and face a Vickers’ side that thrashed Folkestone Invicta 10-0 to earn a trip to The Gallagher Stadium.

Unfortunately manager Jack Parkinson cannot attend the game because he is training with his club (Woking).

Saunders said: “They’ve done brilliantly.  I’ve gone and watched them in that and I need to have a chat with Jack to see if Kaine Woolery plays in that or whether he plays against Cray.

“Jack’s got a good side there and I’d like to be down there and be able to go and watch it but obviously we’re away.”

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

Margate  v  Maidstone United
The FA Carlsberg Trophy First Qualifying Round
Saturday 29^th September 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Hartsdown Park, Hartsdown Road, Margate, Kent CT9 5QZ