9thjan05

Maidstone start to climb the table

MAIDSTONE United have climbed up to eighth place in the Go Travel Kent League table after their 2-0 win at Greenwich Borough on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Stones have now picked up maximum points from their last three games to propel them up the table and they will be looking for victories in front of their own fans against Hythe Town (Wednesday) and Thamesmead Town next Saturday.

Hythe have dropped to tenth place in the table and although Thamesmead have applied for promotion the Bayliss Avenue outfit have an awful lot to do as they are currently fourteen points behind leaders Herne Bay.

Paul Blade's side, however, will have five games in hand over Jason Lillis' side going into next weekend's programme as Bay are due to travel to Tunbridge Wells on Wednesday night.

Stones manager Lloyd Hume, however, told the club's website how important it was to come away from Harrow Meadow with all three points in the bag, to continue their run after wins at home to Erith Town (1-0) and a 2-1 win at Tunbridge Wells before Christmas put them back on track.

"I said to the players before the game, it's not about form today but getting a result," said Hume.

"Three points is always important for us and we've had a long lay-off and we've not had the opportunity to have trained as much as we would have liked.

"I'm delighted with the performance, the effort the lads put in and the determination and today's individual performances were excellent."

Hume, however, praised  former Sittingbourne defender Neil Miller, although former Dover Athletic midfielder Jimmy Strouts netted a brace, one from the penalty spot to defeat John Kasapi's team.

He added: "For me the outstanding player on the pitch was Neil Miller.

"He hasn't been a round for a while, he's worked on his fitness and he's made sure when he got back in the side he was fit enough to do himself justice.

"Alan (Walker) and myself said at the start of the season you'll see him come through and get fit and what a great acquisition he is for us.

"But I don't want to take anything away from Ross Edwards and Ben Taylor.

"I thought the back three looked solid, superb and never really got themselves in trouble.

"I've said in the past that we've carried people but we didn't have to today.

"People had average performances but did their jobs and three or four people really shone which is why we went on and won the game.

"If we did that in every game I think we'd win every game."

www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

Maidstone United v Hythe Town
Wednesday 12th January 2005
Go Travel Kent League Premier Division
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Bourne Park, Central Park Stadium, Eurolink, Sittingbourne