League points back in focus

In-form Maidstone face the challenge of following up their FA Cup success. Still on a high after the win over Cheltenham, fifth-placed United return to National League action at Torquay on Saturday. The struggling Gulls are second-bottom but are showing signs of improvement under new boss Gary Owers, the former Sunderland midfielder. Stones manager Jay Saunders said: “It’s a difficult one. After the result against Cheltenham, it’s always tough the following game and Torquay have got a new manager. Gary’s gone in there, he’s brought new players in and they had a good result at Ebbsfleet. “They’re on the up a little bit but we’ve had one defeat in 12 games so we’re on a good run ourselves. We go there off the back of six wins in a row away from home and hopefully we keep the run going.” Delano Sam-Yorke starts a three-game ban following his red card at Cheltenham as Stones look for a third league win in a row. Saunders says they are fifth on merit after building on last season’s survival. He said: “The first year was all about staying up and we went on a great run to keep us in the league. After that, you want to build. “I’m ambitious as a manager, the club’s ambitious and we wanted to move on. “We knew it would be a big transitional year and we’ve probably taken to it a little bit better than I expected but we’re there on merit. The league doesn’t lie at this stage.”