The title is in Dulwich's hands now, admits Maidstone United boss Jay Saunders

MAIDSTONE UNITED boss Jay Saunders says his players' are starting to feel the pressure playing at home.



The Stones were held to a goal-less draw by Burgess Hill Town last weekend and although they still lead the Ryman League Division One South table having collected 56 points from 28 games, Saunders admits Dulwich Hamlet, who are two points behind but with three games in hand, could snatch the title at the end of the season.

”I think Burgess Hill are a decent side,” said Saunders.  “They’ve got some good players there that they’ve brought in from Whitehawk and club’s like that and down there we done a good job on them in difficult conditions, but Saturday they set up well. They got men behind the ball when they lost possession and when they got it they tried to keep it. 

”I don’t think they troubled us defensively.  Going forward we were very flat and didn’t have enough ideas.  We didn’t keep the ball long enough to really cause them any problems, which was disappointing.

When asked his thoughts about the title race, the Maidstone United boss said: Ideally if we had won our games in hand we would have been sitting in a nice position – but we haven’t.

”If we’re going to win it, we’ve made it hard for ourselves.

”Faversham (who are three points behind us) have now come back into contention.  Teams like Hythe (ten points behind in seventh-place) still fancy their chances of a late push.

”At the end of the day it’s in Dulwich’s hands now. If they carry on with their form, they’re on an unbelievable run and they’re winning games and they’re playing with confidence, like we did earlier in the season when we were on our run.

”It is in their hands.  If they win their games in hand they’re in a good position. We still have to play them (at their place) and they have to go to Ramsgate and Hythe. They’ve got some tough games but they’re in a good position and we just have to concentrate on winning our games now.

”I said to the boys, let’s just forget about looking at league’s and stuff. Just turn up on a Saturday and enjoy our football and get the three points.”

Saunders admitted that his side are feeling the pressure now that Dulwich Hamlet – who have stretched their unbeaten run to nineteen games – have cranked up their title push.

Gavin Rose’s side booked their place in the Ryman League Cup Final after beating Thamesmead Town 5-3 on penalties after grabbing a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes, despite Keith McMahon’s Mead being the better side.

”I didn’t think we were (feeling pressure)– I think at home the pressure on us has been showing,” said Saunders.

”We’ve been away from home and the pressure’s off us. There’s no expectancy when you’re away and there’s not the crowd.

”When you’re sitting top of the league in a new ground with two thousand supporters there it’s an easy team talk fro the opposing manager. I think they come here and they don’t really have to motivate their players.

”Saturday was the first time I thought we struggled to deal with it.  A couple of players put their foot through the ball, took the easy option rather than being a bit more braver and keeping the ball and taking risks and that was disappointing.

”It’s something we’ve got to get our heads around. We’ve got to address that.  We’ve got good enough players to get ourselves back on a winning streak and that’s what we’re concentrating on doing.”

The Stones travel to Winch’s Field tomorrow to tackle last season’s Kent League winners Herne Bay.

The Bay are in a disappointing seventeenth-place in the table and have won only three of their eleven home league games this season.  Boss Simon Halsey has targeted a top-ten finish in their first season at this level.

Maidstone United grabbed a 2-0 win when the two sides met at The Gallagher Stadium back on the first day of December.

”That will be a tough one,” warned Saunders.

”It will be interesting to see what their pitch is like. A lot of people I spoke to that have been down there have said how bad the pitch is and you have to adapt to the conditions.

”They gave us a tough game at our place and they’ve done well this season. If they can get a run together they can make a late push but it will be a tough one. Kent derbies always are.

”All in all we’ve got to go down there and do a job and try and get the three points.”

Meanwhile, Folkestone Invicta have confirmed in a statement on their website that Maidstone United paid £6,000 for striker Stuart King and will they pay Invicta a further £1,000 if the former Herne Bay striker helps get the Stones promoted this season.

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

Herne Bay  v  Maidstone United
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 23^rd February 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG