by Andrew Gidley

Maidstone boss Jay Saunders is convinced the club’s play-off hopes still depend on what other teams achieve in the final month of the Ryman League, Division 1 South season.

Despite a 4-1 win against Walton & Hersham last weekend, player-manager Saunders, pictured, knows all their rivals could steal a march on them on Saturday when Stones are without a game.

Two end-of-season spots are still up for grabs, with rivals Worthing, beaten at home by fellow contenders Folkestone, playing their game in hand at Merstham, while seventh-placed Godalming are at home to Corinthian Casuals, who host Stones on Monday.

Saunders said: "It is still out of our hands, with everyone else playing on Saturday, and going to Casuals will be another hard game for us."

He hopes that Danny Lye and Ellis Green will report fit, but midfielder Alex Flisher is struggling with an ankle injury.

Saunders added: "We have got quite good strength in depth at the moment, with people coming back from injury. Danny’s problem stemmed from a heel injury playing on hard pitches, while Ellis struggled after suffering a blow in the ribs at Walton which affected his breathing."

Saunders used the transfer deadline last Friday to sign three of the club’s promising youngsters – Brett Fairman, Jack Simon and Josh James – on Ryman League forms to help them through to the end of the season.