Maidstone United begin Kent Senior Cup defence against Dartford
Published: 07:48, 21 January 2020
Updated: 07:50, 21 January 2020
Maidstone start their Kent Senior Cup defence at home to Dartford tonight.
United beat the Darts on penalties en route to winning the competition last season.
That was in the quarter-finals under the caretaker management of Simon Walton while John Still and Hakan Hayrettin - who took charge two days later - watched from the stands.
The clubs know each other well going into the second-round tie having met three times already this season.
They drew 2-2 at Princes Park in the league after Maidstone conceded twice in the last five minutes.
Another 2-2 draw followed at the Gallagher a week later, this time in the FA Trophy, with Maidstone winning the replay 1-0.
United's poor performance at St Albans on Saturday, where they lost 1-0, could have an impact on their starting XI and they may resist the temptation to rest too many players.
Head coach Hayrettin said: "It does change our thinking.
"That's something we need to discuss but this is what we've got and we'll see what we come up with.
"I know for the club, for the supporters of Maidstone, it's very important. We don't really want to go weak."
Dartford lost 1-0 at Slough on Saturday.
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Craig Tucker