Stones should cope with direct style
Maidstone are anticipating more of the same at Barrow on Saturday.
The Bluebirds have a new manager in Micky Moore but it seems he’s so far stuck to the methods of predecessor Paul Cox.
United were beaten 3- 0 in the North West last season but travel in good form with only one defeat in their last nine games.
It may not be pretty but United need to stand up to a big Barrow team who are unbeaten at home despite sitting 19th in the National League.
Stones boss Jay Saunders, whose side are ninth, said: “It’s a difficult place to go. They’ve got a new manager and a few people have said he’s trying to get players in so it’ll be interesting to see if he does.
“There’s been talk of maybe changing the style because they were quite direct under Paul Cox – I think everyone knew that – but I saw an interview with Paul Doswell at Sutton saying they haven’t changed their style. They’re still really big and strong and direct.
“It’s one of them, massive throwins, a big side and you have to work Former Charlton and Gillingham midfielder Ollie Muldoon has joined Maidstone.
Muldoon was offered a deal at the Gallagher in pre-season but had interest from the Football League and Scottish Premiership.
The 23-year-old ended up missing out and has joined Stones until the end of the season, a week after playing for Dover in the Kent Cup.
Muldoon, released by Gills in the summer, could make his debut at Barrow on Saturday.
“I came over in the summer and tried to get something done,” said Muldoon.
“It didn’t happen then but, happily, it’s happened now and I can kick on and help the team.
“At the start of pre-season I had other options but they fizzled out because there was something else in the pipeline but that fell through as well, so I’m starting again.”
Muldoon believes the pre-season stint with Maidstone will help him hit the ground running as he looks to earn a place in central midfield.
He said: “The boys are on a good run. I know quite a few of them already so I think I’ll settle in straight away. The main thing is to to get anything up there.
“I remember when we went up there last year and we were in the game for half an hour, then Lee Worgan conceded a free-kick and they bullied us second half.
“We’re in a better place as a squad this year to deal with that sort of thing, so hopefully we can go there and get a result.
“We’ve got a lot more men around the team, a lot more know-how and hopefully we can continue our good form.”
Josh Hare is closing in on a return from a groin injury but Delano Sam-Yorke (hamstring) and Tom Wraight (ankle) are likely to be out for another two to three weeks.
Harry Phipps’ loan at Welling is up but he’s returned with an ankle injury that’s set to mean a month on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, Harley Willard’s loan at Eastbourne has been extended by three months.
Maidstone host Kent rivals Bromley at the Gallagher on Tuesday night, with Joe Anderson and Reece Prestedge likely to face their old club.