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Hakan Hayrettin believes Maidstone have shown they are the real deal with their second-half performance at Bath.
Leading through Taylor Curran’s early goal at the break, the Stones boss highlighted the significance of what was to come.
“I said to them the next 45 minutes is going to determine how far we’re going to go,” said Hayrettin, and his players didn’t disappoint.
They went on to win 3-0 away to one of the best sides in National South, to stay two points behind Dartford at the top.
“I really did feel it was that important,” said Hayrettin.
“If we can grind out results at places like this - make no mistake, Bath are a very good team - then that shows me where we’re at.
“You’re never going to be perfect every game but I felt that second-half performance was as close to perfect as you’re going to get.
“We work on a lot of things that people don’t see.
"We work on application, discipline, shape and when we haven’t got the ball is how good a team we are, and people have got to break us down.
“Can we get better? Yes, we can, but we’re work in progress. I’m so happy for the boys. They’ve been amazing.
“I’d take us seriously. Dartford have won 6-0 at Welling but that doesn’t bother me. It’s what we do that’s important.”
Joan Luque’s double had Hayrettin purring and that’s seven goals from the left wing since rejoining Maidstone from Weymouth in the summer.
The Stones boss moved quickly to get him back and is happy to see the popular Spaniard playing so well.
“I was always speaking to him while he was at Weymouth,” said Hayrettin.
“I could see they weren’t playing him as much as they should but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a National League player.
"It’s just that people play in different ways, shapes and forms, and it doesn’t always suit a certain player.
"The way I’m playing here suits him at the moment. It’s amazing to have the goals he’s got by the end of September.
"He’s got a target and if he hits that, then he’s done well.
"He was actually going to come off today - not because he wasn't playing well, just to freshen things up.
"He took his second goal amazingly well but even the first one was clinical."
