More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Dan Wishart had a big say in Maidstone’s first win of the season after returning to the starting XI.
Transfer-listed Wishart scored the equaliser and laid on the third goal for Clovis Kamdjo as United battled back from one down to win 3-1 at Hungerford yesterday.
Wishart stressed his commitment to the Stones after his substitute appearance at Welling on Tuesday night and was handed a start on the left wing in place of the injured Justin Amaluzor.
It proved a good call as Maidstone put their first National League South points on the board following back-to-back defeats.
Wishart was made available after expressing a desire to stay at National League level following the Stones’ relegation.
But head of football John Still said: “I said at the time you’ve just got to train properly and work hard and as long as you do that, there’s no problems, and he has done.
“We’ve not got the biggest squad so the time was right he should play because Justin’s struggling today.
“He came in and no complaints - he did well.”
Wishart levelled at a good time, meeting Gavin Hoyte’s cross five minutes before half-time.
Head coach Hakan Hayrettin said: “It’s something we always say, and I’ve worked with John for many years, never refuse a cross.
“We believe if you put the ball in the box you’re going to have a great chance of scoring, especially in the six-yard box.
“It was important that we got it at the right time.
“His movement was good, he wasn’t standing still, he attacked it and he got in.
“The timing was spot on for us, we went in level and could reorganise and come back in the second half a bit stronger.”
Nana Kyei was at fault for Hungerford’s goal but made amends with a second-half penalty as Maidstone went 2-1 up.
Still said: “He didn’t go into his shell, he worked hard, he kept going, he hit the bar with a good effort, he got the penalty, scored the penalty.
“I know Nana, I know he’s going to work hard.
“You’re not always going to play great every week but you’ve got to work hard every week and you’ve got to limit your mistakes.
“I think if I look at people like Nana, who’ve come here after being at one club for a while, he’s got to work hard to establish himself.
“We’ve seen it in training, he can score, he can cross, he can work hard and, like lots of the boys, they’ve come here because we’re trying to help them put it all together and give some of these young ones a little push.”
Kamdjo came off the bench to score a debut goal and get Maidstone off the mark in tricky conditions.
Still said: “I think you ask any manager, any player, any coach, they would sooner play in rain and mud than wind.
“It spoils the game and it spoilt the game today but I thought we handled the game well and the conditions well.
“I’ve been both sides. I’ve started off brilliantly in pre-season and can’t win a game and I’ve been poor pre-season and went on winning runs.
“I know what we’ve got, I know how hard we need to work to get it right and as far as I’m concerned it’s a small step in the right direction.”
