A quick return game against Margate gives Maidstone the chance to make up for their Boxing Day defeat.

Stones were edged 1-0 at Hartsdown Park as Blues made it two wins out of two under new manager Nikki Bull.

The sides meet again in an all-ticket Kent derby at the Gallagher tomorrow (Saturday, 3pm) with United back up to second in National League South after beating Eastbourne on Monday, while Gate’s 1-1 draw at Dartford moved them four points clear of the bottom three.

Bull has moved away from ex-boss Terry Brown’s free-flowing football in a bid to make Margate harder to beat.

Maidstone manager Jay Saunders said: “They certainly didn’t play as much football as they did last season and to be fair to Nikki, there’s times at this level when you can play football and there’s times when you’ve got to have a battle-up.

“Probably that’s why they’re down where they are because they weren’t willing to roll their sleeves up enough. It’s a game we look forward to.

“There’ll be a good crowd and if we play with the energy levels like we did against Eastbourne and be nice and positive, then we’ll stand a chance.”

Maidstone’s victory over Eastbourne ended a run of four 1-0 defeats in league and cup.