There's a feel-good factor around the club, says Stones boss Jay Saunders

MAIDSTONE UNITED player-manager Jay Saunders says there is a feel-good factor at the club at the moment because of the team’s start to the season and the progress being made with the new stadium in the county town, writes Stephen McCartney.


The Stones climbed to the top of the Ryman League Division One South table with a 2-0 victory over unbeaten leaders Dulwich Hamlet at Bourne Park last weekend, but the Stones slipped to second after the south Londoners beat Eastbourne Town 2-0 in midweek.

“At the beginning of the season I just wanted to be up there, around the top four places and within touching distance of top spot and I would have been happy with that,” said Saunders.

“I think the squad is good enough to be up at those places.

“It’s gone well since we lose the first two.  I think it’s nine wins and a draw so I couldn’t have asked more from the boys.”

Target-man Shaun Welford, who scored five goals in a FA Cup preliminary round 9-0 win at Corinthian earlier in the season, is having an excellent campaign so far – with sixteen goals to his name.

“When I got Shaun in I knew he’s a handful to be honest and if you give him good service he’ll get goals, which I think to be honest at Margate he probably didn’t get the service that he needed.  He’s certainly getting that with the likes of Alex Flisher and Ellis Green who get crosses in the box and he’ll get on the end of things.

“It’s not all about his goalscoring, it’s his work-rate and his presence up there.  He’s horrible to play against.  He’s been a big bonus but I half expected it from him.”

Saunders wants his side to build on their victory over Dulwich Hamlet when they travel to Eastbourne Town on Saturday and welcome Godalming Town to Bourne Park next Wednesday.

Eastbourne lie in twelve place in the Ryman League Division One South table with four wins and four draws from  thirteen games, whilst Godalming, who were knocked out of the FA Cup in the final qualifying round last weekend, are in seventh place with six wins and two draws from ten league outings.

“We said before the (Dulwich Hamlet) game ‘if we beat these today we’ll go top’ and they were unbeaten still,” said Saunders.

“A few people said to me ‘we’ve not played the top teams yet’, so we’ve played Dulwich who were top and unbeaten, which was a good result to be honest.

“Dulwich are a very good side and they will definitely been there or there abouts.  To beat them 2-0 and I thought we looked comfortable at times, is pleasing.”

Looking ahead to the visit to Eastbourne, the Stones boss said: “It will be a tough game.  I’ve had them watched and I know a few of their players down there.  They’re a well organised side, hardworking, so it will be a tough game, but I think there’s a lot of games like that in our league.

“They’re tough games and if you’re on your game then you’ll be ok.  We’re good enough to win games and if we’re mentally right and we go there and do the right things and if we do we’re a match for anyone in this league.”

Godalming will travel to Bourne Park next Wednesday if they avoid a draw against Gosport Borough in the FA Carlsberg Trophy at the weekend.

“That’s another tough one,” added Saunders, whose side are only one point behind Dulwich Hamlet.

“I don’t think there’s never any particular easy games in this league when you’re looking at it.  It seems anyone can beat anyone so it’s about consistency, which to be honest after the Whitstable game, our second game of the season, I said we’ll go on a run now and we’ve done that.  We went from bottom to top.

“I think if we’re consistent with our performances and keep picking up points we’ll be ok.  As I say Godalming will be a tough one but we’re at home but we’ve kept seven clean sheets, I think, possibly in the last ten games so that’s another bonus.  If we defend well, we’ll score goals at the other end.”

Saunders added: “Godalming and Eastbourne are two big games, especially after beating Dulwich because you don’t want to take the foot off saying we’ve done well.  We want to get going into the next game and keep the run going.”

Saunders revealed that talented midfielder, Michael Phillips, who has recently returned to Maidstone United after impressing for Kent League side Erith Town, has noticed a noticeable change at the club.

Saunders said: “I think in general there’s a feel good factor around the club at the moment because obviously the ground and the team’s doing well compared to when I came back (from Margate) last year when we were groundsharing down at Ashford and no-one knew what was happening and the future of the club.  The change since then has been amazing.

“I brought Michael Phillips back to the club two weeks’ ago and he was here at the end of last season and he couldn’t believe the difference in the atmosphere in the club.  There all positives and we just have to keep building on our performances.

“I feel privileged being part of the club at the moment.”

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

Eastbourne Town  v  Maidstone United
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 5^th November 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
at The Saffrons, Compton Place Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 1EA