Hare’s praise for smart Alex

Near-strangers Josh Alex Finney formed understanding at the Maidstone’s defence.

The pair only met last Thursday morning when Finney travelled down to complete a loan move from QPR.

One training session later and they were lining up together against Maidenhead in United’s National League opener.

Hare played all of last season for Eastbourne at right-back while Finney Hare and an instant heart of playing and to be able to prove myself on the pitch in a National League game.

“I’ve played centre-half all my youth team football so it’s probably more second nature to me than playing right-back, which is where I played last year.

“I got moved to right-back due to the fact I can get up and down and get involved attacking-wise but centre-half is still a position that I can see myself playing at this level.

“There’s no worry from my point of view, it was just a case of going out and doing it on the pitch.”

Hare felt Maidstone bossed the game and should have had the points secured by the time substitute Sam Barratt levelled in the 88th minute.

It took the shine off an otherwiseexcellent afternoon for the back four.

Hare said: “We were talking in the dressing room about who was picking up Barratt for the goal.

“He was a lad who came on down the left side and the No.14, who was on before him, wasn’t in the box for corners so it was almost an added player that came in.

“We maybe could have dealt with that better and we’ll have a little look at that but it was gutting to concede a goal like that when we’d defended so well.

“As a back four that had been thrown together, I thought we defended great throughout. It was just that little lapse that cost us.”