Kentish Football 
We need the whole squad doing their bit, says Nott
Goals from James Peacock and the impressive Antonio Gonnella ensured the Stones won the basement battle against Waltham Abbey last night to lift themselves above Bognor Regis Town and Margate into 19th place in the Ryman Premier League table.
They had wing-back Jermaine Darlington red-carded early in the second half, which resulted in a resilient second half showing, and three excellent saves from Andy Walker sealed a morale-boosting 2-0 win.
Ashford Town (Middlesex) – a side in freefall having lost all of their last eight games – arrive at Homelands on Saturday – and a win for the Stones will lift them out of the relegation zone.
“We’ve just gone through a spell like that,” Nott told www.kentishfootball.co.uk after his side ended their five-game losing run.
“We know Ashford have lost a few players. It’s a massive game for us and victory will put Ashford really up against it and helps us out.
“But we said to the boys before we came into today’s game we need six points from the next two and I’ve just said to them now it’s only half a job done. Don’t get carried away, enjoy tonight, we’ve had some disappointing nights but let’s go and make sure we prepare right for the game and we need to take three points.”
The Stones face a make-or-break last remaining week of the season, with a trip to Hendon next Monday night; a home game against relegation threatened Bognor Regis Town next Thursday; before ending their campaign at Kingstonian, who are fighting to hang onto second place, just two days later.
“Every game now is a massive game. Hendon on a Monday night is a very, very difficult trip with the boys getting away from work and being prepared, they might have to take a day off for the joys of the M25,” said Nott.
“We’ve got some big games. We went and watched Bognor on Monday night so we know a little bit about them.
“Kingstonian are up there and obviously they’ve slipped away a little bit lately when we thought at one stage that we’d probably be playing them with nothing to play for. They’re still having to work hard to get into the play-off’s.”
Experienced defender, Peter Hawkins is now available for selection, having completed his two-match suspension.
“It’s very much a squad game now,” added Nott. “We’re hoping Chris Saunders is available for Saturday. With the amount of games that we’ve got, we’re not going to get through on eleven players. We are going to need a good eighteen players all doing their bit.”
Nott hopes that his side do not freeze throughout the pressure cooker that is a relegation battle.
He said: “We’ve said all games are big games and people do get jittery. We’ve seen things happen tonight, people are not just relaxing at times and that affects their decision making and it will be nice to get some points to move away.
“I’ve said it’s going to go until the end of the season and that’s what’s going to happen.”
Visit Maidstone United’s website: www.maidstoneunited.co.uk
Maidstone United v Ashford Town (Middlesex)
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 17th April 2010
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Homelands Stadium, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN26 1NJ
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd