Saunders hoping Stones rise to occasion
Saturday’s game will be big for both clubs, says Maidstone manager Jay Saunders ahead of the visit of Torquay. A win for the Stones would drag the visitors right into the National League relegation battle. Saunders will be hoping three points lifts them straight out of the drop-zone after falling in there for the first time last weekend. The Stones boss said: “Saturday is a massive game, they all are now. “We are looking at needing eight wins, something like that. We need to get some wins as quick as possible. “If we can pick up three points on Saturday, then it would be big for us and do the confidence the world of good. “It shows you how competitive this league is that we haven’t been in the (bottom four) before. Everyone is beating everyone and it’s hard to put a run of games together. “It has become tight. Neil Smith at Bromley was talking about how he is desperate to get some wins to ensure they are safe and they had a good run in December. “It is a league where everyone is beating everyone. For us it is about getting a couple of wins – back-to-back – which would make a big difference. “We haven’t been far away in recent games and we just need to get that first win. If we then put two or three together, that draws others into it and then things change. “Torquay were a side doing OK, mid-table and comfortable, but you look at them now. “Saturday for them is a big game because if we were to beat them, it sucks them right into it. “They are coming into it off the back of a couple of defeats, so it is a big game for both clubs.”