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Maidstone United manager Hakan Hayrettin preparing his players for an Ebbsfleet reaction

Maidstone manager Hakan Hayrettin says his side will be ready for an Ebbsfleet reaction tonight.

Fleet arrive at the Gallagher Stadium on the back of a 5-1 defeat at National South leaders Dorking on Saturday.

Sam Corne scores Maidstone's winner at Stonebridge Road in November Picture: Steve Terrell
Sam Corne scores Maidstone's winner at Stonebridge Road in November Picture: Steve Terrell

Hayrettin is reading nothing into that result but knows Fleet will be keen to put things right when second meets third in the county town.

“I won’t be looking at the Dorking result - Ebbsfleet are a good footballing side,” said Hayrettin.

“They’ll be up for it, they’re obviously wounded after what happened at Dorking but we’ll be ready.”

Maidstone’s 3-2 win at Stonebridge Road in November transformed their season.

They’d ended a run of six league games without a win with a nervy victory over Chippenham three days earlier.

But it was the manner of their success over Fleet, then the form team in the division, that really restored confidence and belief after a difficult spell.

Sam Corne scores Maidstone's winner at Stonebridge Road in November Picture: Steve Terrell
Sam Corne scores Maidstone's winner at Stonebridge Road in November Picture: Steve Terrell

It was the first of five successive Kent derby wins and they’d dearly love to make it six.

“I think there was pressure on the players to get a result for me that night,” said Hayrettin.

“They felt they’d let me down previously although I never felt like that.

“We had a blip but it was always about having the right players at our disposal and if you look at the time leading up to that game, we had loads of players out in key positions.

“Everyone’s fit now, apart from George Elokobi, and the owners helped me out in bringing in George Fowler at a crucial time.

“I’ve asked questions of certain people and they’ve given me their answers. Everyone’s working hard, nothing changes.

“The Gallagher’s going to be rocking on Tuesday night and we’re looking forward to the game.”

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