Maidstone United boss Andy Ford says his players will battle on in an attempt to maintain their Ryman League Premier Division status, despite their formidable schedule.

Ford’s side are bottom and effectively six points from safety ahead of the trip to high-flying Tonbridge on Saturday.

Ford (pictured) said: "We have had a tough run of games against Sutton, Lowestoft and Tonbridge, three of the top sides, in three consecutive Saturdays.

"We are being tested, that is for sure but as long as the players put the effort in and do their best, I can’t ask for anything more."

Ford hailed the response from his players after what he called his "lowest point in football" with the 4-0 loss at Folkestone last week.

He added: "The players know when they have put in a shift and they know when they haven’t – the performance at Folkestone was disappointing. It was the lowest I’ve been in football.

"I used to work with a sports psychologist at Stevenage and he used the phrase ‘whoosh’ – meaning ‘it’s gone.’

"I think we deserved a point against Lowestoft last Saturday – it was a step forward from the previous week."