By Craig Tucker

Jay Saunders has challenged new league leaders Maidstone to pull clear of the chasing pack.

Stones went top of Ryman League, Division 1 South, for the first time this season when they beat Chipstead 3-0 at the Gallagher Stadium on Tuesday night.

Boss Saunders (pictured) will learn more about his side’s promotion credentials after away games at fellow promotion rivals Faversham on Saturday and Crawley Down on Tuesday.

He said: "It feels good to be top, especially after a slow start to the season. I told the boys after we lost at Worthing in August we needed to go on a run.

"We found some form in the FA Cup and FA Trophy and have been able to transfer that to the league. It’s still tight and you can soon fall away if you lose a couple of games.

"But the league is crying out for one or two teams to pull away and hopefully we can do that."

Goalkeeper Charlie Mitten and midfielder Tim Olorunda serve one-game suspensions at Faversham.

Deren Ibrahim will replace Mitten, with Danny Lye favourite to deputise for Olorunda. Seventeen-goal leading scorer Paul Booth has recovered from a groin problem but could face a fight to dislodge in-form Ian Draycott.