By Alex Hoad

Maidstone manager Peter Nott hopes striker Danny Hockton’s double strike in midweek will spark a run of goals which will fire the club into the next round of the FA Cup.

Hockton arrived at Maidstone in November 2009 and scored just four league goals last season, with one other in the Kent Senior Trophy.

The 31-year-old had scored 52 goals in 60 games for Margate in 2006 and 2007 and had a better than one-in-two strike rate in three years at Billericay before that.

Hockton scored both goals for Stones as they lost 3-2 at Concord Rangers in the Ryman League Premier Division on Tuesday night and Nott (pictured) said: "Danny needed those goals and we needed him to get them.

"He came here with a big reputation and Maidstone has been the only
club where he has not produced the goals.

"He kept telling me they were coming and he was right and he was by far our best player. It was the best he’s played since he came to the club."

Nott is hoping Hockton can continue his goalscoring form at Ryman League Division 1 South side Whitehawk on Saturday in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup.

The Stones boss said: "It will be difficult but we have got to get a result one way or another, our supporters need some success. Hopefully, if we can get a result then it could kick-start some form in the league."

Joe Vines is cup tied so will miss the game, Ryan Andrews’ knee will be assessed after a knock on Tuesday while Jermaine Darlington and Simon Pettit face fitness tests on hamstring injuries.