By Alex Hoad

Maidstone boss Jay Saunders says his side need to start hitting the ground running if they are to achieve their goals this season.

Maidstone made sluggish starts in the 3-2 FA Cup defeat to Bognor last week and the home Ryman League, Division 1 South game with Hythe – which they went on to win 2-0 – on Wednesday and the Stones boss, pictured, wants them to recreate their second-half form in the first 45 minutes.

Saunders said: "It is important to start well, so it has been frustrating. We can’t just be a 45-minute team. We saw on Saturday and Wednesday what we could do in the second half."

The Hythe win took Maidstone second in the table, two points behind Dulwich, with seven straight league wins behind them. However, their focus returns to cup matters as they visit Ashford (Middlesex) in the FA Trophy preliminary round on Saturday before hosting Dover in the Kent Senior Cup on Wednesday.

Danny Lye is expected to return after failing a fitness test on Wednesday but Saunders fears Ellis Green could be out for weeks with a hamstring injury sustained against Hythe.

Meanwhile, Saunders is planning to use his squad on Wednesday against Dover.

He added: "It will be a good chance to give minutes to a few who need it like me, Karl Knight, Alex Waugh and James Pinnock.

"We have got a seven-day approach in for a centre-half and we should know one way or another before Wednesday. We need a bit more competition at the back. I’m also still on the lookout for another experienced central midfielder."