More on KentOnline
PLAYER-COACH Steve Robinson is manager Jim Ward's only doubt for Maidstone's trip to lowly Greenwich Borough in the Bass Brewers Kent League on Saturday. Robinson's possible replacement is Gary Hemens but the young defender met representatives from Whitstable on Thursday night to discuss a move to the Kent coast club.
Ward says he is keen to retain Hemens, who was Stones joint player-of-the-season last year, but has failed to secure a regular first team place this term. Maidstone have not scored in their last two league games and are keen to bounce back from their surprise 1-0 defeat to Cray which leaves them eight points behind the leaders, VCD Athletic, whose manager, Martin Ford, is the league's first manager-of-the-month for the season.
Ian Court and Richard Sinden will lead the attack against Greenwich while record signing Steve Jones is now fully fit but will start on the bench.
Ward's striking options increase further on Monday when Tunde Utsaja is available after a six-week suspension.
Greenwich are managed by Keith Jarvis who joined the south London club from Stones' former Kent County League opponents Thames Poly in the summer and took 10 of his former club's players with him.
Stones assistant manager Danny Ward will miss the match as he travels to Middlesex to watch their next FA Carlsberg Vase opponents Bedfont.Before next Sunday's FA Vase game the Maidstone United Supporters Club will present Stones chairman Paul Bowden-Brown with a cheque for £1,000.
"We hope this donation will be the first of many to ensure the progress of the club in our first season back in the Kent League," said supporters club chairman Ray Honeysett.