by Alex Hoad

Motivation will not be in short supply in the Maidstone dressing room before kick-off against Margate on Saturday, insists Stones joint-boss Lloyd Hume.

Stones’ post-Christmas programme got off to the slowest of starts with a 1-0 home defeat against the Ryman League Premier Division strugglers at Homelands on Boxing Day and Hume, pictured, says the players will want revenge.

He said: "Our target was nine points from the three games and it’s disappointing that we can’t achieve that.

"We have three or four players who used to play there and they have a couple who have played for us and after the disappointment of the last game, there will be less motivation needed for Saturday."

Stones bounced back from the loss with a fine 2-1 win at second-placed Hastings on Monday – only their second win in eight league games.

He added: "We want to go to Margate, perform to near our potential, focus, concentrate, but enjoy it and then I have no doubt we can win well.

"But as we now know, if we fall below those standards then we will be beaten. Margate showed they are a good side.

"This is the most bizarre league I have ever been in. We are only four points off the play-off places but we are only five off the relegation zone."