Andy Ford says his Maidstone United side will have to work hard to get a result against promotion-chasing rivals Tonbridge at Homelands on Tuesday.

Angels are the Ryman League, Premier Division’s in-form team while Stones are mired in the relegation zone, sitting next to bottom, although just one point separates the bottom five.

Ford said: "Tonbridge are a good team and have got some good players. It will not be easy but hopefully we can roll our sleeves up and get something.

"We need to score more goals – we need to be chipping in goals from different areas, not relying on Danny Hockton all the time."

With no game on Saturday, the Stones will hold a training session, with Ford planning to run the rule over more new faces.

On Tuesday, Nathan Paul and Dean Rance became the 48th and 49th different players to feature in a competitive game for the Stones this season and Ford hinted more were in the pipeline.

He said: "I’m after a quick striker and we’re now going to be missing Jay Saunders through suspension for a while so I’d like to get a holding midfielder in as cover – maybe until the end of the season."

Ford is planning a reshuffle for the visit of high-flying Tonbridge with centre-back Laurence Harvey and midfield lynchpin Saunders both suspended after their red cards against Harrow.

Ford said: "Missing those two does leave us a little short but Cedric Abraham or Danny Lye could fill in.

"Nathan got a slight hamstring pull on Tuesday, but then he’s not been training or playing at this level. Hopefully he’ll be all right for Tuesday."