We've got to go to Three Bridges with the right attitude, says Maidstone United boss Jay Saunders

MAIDSTONE UNITED manager Jay Saunders says he wants his side to avoid slipping up on a potential banana skin at Three Bridges tomorrow.



The Stones romped to the top of the Ryman Premier League with a 5-0 win over basement side Cray Wanderers at Hayes Lane on Wednesday night.

Striker, Frannie Collin, 26, a summer signing from Conference South side Tonbridge Angels, took his goalscoring tally for the season to eight goals with a hat-trick, with other goals coming from Zac Attwood and Alex Flisher.

Saunders takes his side to Three Bridges in The FA Cup First Qualifying Round tomorrow.

Three Bridges are in sixteenth-place in the Ryman League Division One South table, but they haven’t won in four home games in the league.

But Saunders knows his opponents will be no pushover, especially after they knocked Scott Porter’s Hythe Town out of the competition in the last round in Sussex.

“It will be a tough one, to be honest,” warned Saunders.

“We had some tough games against them last season. I remember being 1-0 down and being booed off at home against them but we ended up winning.

“They’re a decent side. I’ve had them watched on Saturday and it is one of them. It’s a banana skin and we’ve said to the lads I think we’ve got to go there with the right attitude and go at them right from the off.

“I don’t think we can go there and just expect to be through.

“For them to turn over Hythe, they’re a good side. I know Scott has got a good side down at Hythe with some good players and Three Bridges beat them so it’s not going to be easy.”

Cray Wanderers’ attracted their largest crowd of the season so far when 521 turned out at a wet Hayes Lane and Saunders believes his club’s supporters will turn out in force again.

“They’ll be hoping we’re going to bring a good crowd there so they get a good gate and they’ll be hoping to turn us over,” said Saunders.

“But we’ll go there and get the job done.  As long as we go there and hopefully get a good result and start a good cup run.

“We’ve had some good days out (in the FA Cup last year). I think it’s important to try and have a good cup run but nothing’s guaranteed and we’ll see.  If the draw’s kind to you then you’ll never know but I think now we’ve finished our league week top of the league it sets us up nicely.  We’re going there with plenty of confidence and hopefully we can start a good run.”

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

Three Bridges  v  Maidstone United
The FA Cup with Budweiser First Qualifying Round
Saturday 14^th September 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Jubilee Field, Three Bridges Road, Three Bridges, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 1LQ