Sam Denly wants his players to produce a positive performance against Merstham on Saturday.

The Winch’s Field boss saw his players bounce back from a poor showing at Sittingbourne on Saturday to push Maidstone United all the way before losing 2-1 in the Robert Dyas Isthmian League Cup second round tie at the Gallagher Stadium on Tuesday night.

Denly, who gave teenager Harry Brown his debut at left- back, said: “It was an excellent performance and had we had a little bit more quality, we might have won the game.

Now Denly is looking for a similar display against the Surrey side in the Ryman League Division 1 South meeting on Saturday, the third between the two teams in a month.

Bay, who played six cup ties in October, have seven league matches in the next 28 days, including a trip to next-to-bottom Corinthian Casuals on Tuesday night.

Bay sit 18th having taken only one point from their last four outings since beating Eastbourne 3-2 in September but Denly insists their league position doesn’t reflect their form.

He said: “We have been playing well and it doesn’t justify where we should be.
“We played Merstham twice in the FA Trophy, winning the replay, so know how they play.
“They are one of the best footballing sides in the division.”

Midfielder Kane Phillip is still bothered by ankle trouble after seven weeks out.
He travelled with the squad on Tuesday,but Denly says he is still not ready to return.