Written in the stars?
Hakan Hayrettin says Maidstone’s dramatic win against St Albans was the sign of champions.
Hayrettin’s side opened up a four-point lead at the top of National League South following Johl Powell’s 96th-minute strike in a 3-2 victory last weekend.
It was the third time in four home matches United have scored a late winner as they extended their advantage over title rivals Dorking. Hayrettin saw titlewinning qualities after Maidstone recovered from the disappointment of blowing a two-goal lead but stressed there’s a long way to go, with seven matches still to play.
“To win like that, I think it’s the sign of champions but nothing’s over until it’s over,” said Hayrettin, whose team host Havant this Saturday.
“We’ve got a lot of games to play, a lot of big games. We just need to keep winning.
“Let’s have a look at Havant and go again.”
Maidstone have been unstoppable at the Gallagher in recent months, winning their past 11 league games.
It’s a phenomenal record for a club who have struggled at home in previous years.
Be it the weight of expectation, away teams raising their game or even suggestions the pitch was too small, there have been no shortage of theories bandied about.
Hayrettin, though, has transformed Maidstone’s fortunes at the Gallagher and long may it continue.
“The pitch isn’t too small but teams do raise their game,” said Hayrettin.
“I’ve got our players mentally prepared to realise that without the hard work and working harder than the opposition at home, you’re not going to win.
“You haven’t got a divine right to turn up here, put your boots on and because you’re playing for Maidstone, you’re going to win.
“You’ve got to earn the right. You’ve got to run more than the opposition, you’ve got to work harder than them, you’ve got to sprint more than them, you’ve got to be more intense than them.
“Everything’s got to be more than them and that’s what won us the game in the last 20 minutes against St Albans because we pressed and pressed and pressed.
“Of course, it’s vitally important now, more than ever, that I keep them fully focused on their job. It’s one game at a time. We’ve got seven cup finals.”
Maidstone’s trio of Gallagher late-shows have come in different circumstances.
They battled back from two goals down to beat Hungerford 3-2 and broke Braintree’s stubborn resistance in a 1-0 victory before clearing their heads to see off St Albans after losing what looked a comfortable two-goal advantage.
“Listen, however we win now, we just need to win,” said Hayrettin.
“I was upset, because there was a malaise over us and I was saying, ‘Come on, now, pull it away and let’s go again,’ and we did that in the last 20 minutes.
“We didn’t do it in the first 20 minutes in the second half and we didn’t do it in the last 20 of the first half, so for 40 minutes of the game we didn’t do what we were supposed to do to get the result.
“But it’s a sign of a good team that, as the game goes on, you get stronger and get the three points.
“I’m telling everybody now that whoever we play here is going to raise their game.
“St Albans are a good team but we got the result and that’s the most important thing.” Midfielder Regan Booty serves the second game of a threematch ban against Havant.