Players' have to prove that their worthy of wearing the shirt, says Stones boss Jay Saunders

MAIDSTONE UNITED boss Jay Saunders says he wants a reaction from his players when they travel to Whitstable Town on Tuesday night.



The Stones are the favourites to win the Ryman League Division One South title this season, backed by four-figure crowds and an artificial pitch at their new £2.6m stadium.

But they were stunned to a 5-4 home defeat at the hands of Walton & Hersham on the opening day of the season.

Maidstone United’s goals came from Paul Booth (2), Alex Flisher and Michael Phillips, but Walton & Hersham punished schoolboy defending in scorching temperatures of 28 degree heat in the County Town.

Saunders wasn’t happy with his side’s defending, describing it as “shocking” and “embarrassing”, and he demands a reaction against Justin Luchford’s side at The Belmont.

Whitstable also suffered an opening day defeat away to Leatherhead as former Sittingbourne and Margate striker, Tom Bradbrook, headed home a free-kick to win it for Richard Brady’s side.

Whitstable welcomed Maidstone to their ground at exactly the same stage of last season and Peter Nott’s Whitstable won the game 2-0.

Saunders said: “It will be a tough game. As I said to my players, they will be a better side than this lot (Walton & Hersham).

“We’ve got a big game Tuesday and we’ll have to go out and prove that their worthy of wearing the shirt and get a result.”

Maidstone United have now lost their opening game four seasons on the spin.  Last season they suffered a 3-0 home defeat to a Whitehawk side that went on to win the title.

Saunders said: “We had this situation last year when we had a disappointing result at home first game of the season and we’ve done it again!

“We have to go to Whitstable and try and get three points.

“We’ve not started well but there you go, it’s gone now.  Luckily enough in football this time of the season the games come quick and fast so we can hopefully get it out of our system on Tuesday night.”

Maidstone United welcome Colliers Wood United to The Gallagher Stadium next Saturday – the first FA Cup tie to be played at the club’s new stadium.

Colliers Wood play in the Combined Counties League – one level below The Stones – but sit second-from-bottom in the table with a 100% losing  record in the league.

The Stones thrashed Corinthian 9-0 in the same Preliminary Round last season, with striker Shaun Welford helping himself to five goals against Tony Sitford’s Kent League side.

They then travelled to Banstead Athletic (who play in the same league as Colliers Wood) in the next round and thrashed the Surrey side 9-1.

But Saunders knows his current side can repeat their antics against those two sides again on Saturday – but defend like they did against Walton & Hersham yesterday than they could suffer an embarrassing FA Cup exit.

Saunders said: “We had a couple of good games in it last year, winning a couple by nine.

“I remember on the day saying on the day ‘you’re expected to beat these teams, make sure you go out there and do what we normally do, and if you do that then we should be ok.

“That’s what it’s about, it’s go in with the right attitude.

“We’ve had them watched twice now in the first game and in the replay (against Shoreham)

“They’re a lower league team but you have to treat them with the right respect and if you do the right job then you’ll get the right result.”

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

Whitstable Town  v   Maidstone United
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 21^st August 2012
Kick Off 7:45pm
At The Belmont, Belmont Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1QP