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Maidstone United waiting on Sam Corne's fitness before trip to Bath City

Midfielder Sam Corne is a doubt for Maidstone's game at Bath tomorrow.

Corne starred on his return from a knee injury when United beat St Albans 4-0 a fortnight ago but was back on the sidelines for the FA Cup win over Hitchin last weekend.

Maidstone United midfielder Sam Corne Picture: Steve Terrell
Maidstone United midfielder Sam Corne Picture: Steve Terrell

He missed training on Tuesday but head of football John Still was hoping to have him back yesterday or today.

If Corne isn't fit, that will mean another chance for transfer-listed Clovis Kamdjo to show what he can do.

Still said: "We're a bit bare in midfield without Sam so it's given Clovis an opportunity to say, 'yeah, I might not have done great but I'm doing better now'. Time will tell."

Bath topped National League South in the opening weeks but have won just one of their past eight games.

They've dropped to 11th, two points and two places behind the Stones, who have lost only twice in 10 matches.

At 150 miles, it's Maidstone's second-longest trip of the season - after Weymouth - while Twerton Park is the biggest ground in the league with a capacity of 8,840.

Still said: "I'm looking forward to going there.

"I know Bath very well. We played them last year at Barnet in the FA Trophy. We won 3-2 but it was a tight game.

"This will be a tough test away from home."

Maidstone boss John Still Picture: Steve Terrell
Maidstone boss John Still Picture: Steve Terrell

Meanwhile, Still is taking nothing for granted after drawing Kings Langley at home in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round.

The tie will be played at the Gallagher Stadium on October 19 and if United win they'll reach the first round proper for the sixth season running and land another £18,750 in prize money.

On paper they have a good chance of going through, with Langley mid-table in Southern Premier Central - the same division as last weekend's opponents, Hitchin.

United won that tie 2-1 but laboured at times and Still hopes they've learned from the experience.

He said: "It's a bit like Hitchin in that it's a good draw but we've still got to get through.

"We won on Saturday but we didn't play well for long enough.

"Once we went 2-1 up it could have been 3-1 or 4-1 but it wasn't and that's always the danger in football because you give the other team an opportunity.

"We're grateful and thankful to win, to be honest, and I think it will help us having that experience.

"In the cup, somewhere you're going to get an upset and when you look at the teams who've gone out, I feel grateful to get through.

"All you've got to do in the cup is win, you haven't got to play great."

Read more: The latest sports news in Kent

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