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Maidstone United manager Jay Saunders on 1-0 win over Barrow

Jay Saunders knows there’s more to come from Shamir Mullings after a good week for the Maidstone striker.

Mullings made it two goals in as many games with the winner against Barrow on Saturday.

Boss Saunders says his summer signing isn’t 100% fit yet, so you can only imagine the havoc he’s going to cause National League defences once he’s up to speed.

Maidstone boss Jay Saunders gets his side going against Barrow Picture: Matthew Walker
Maidstone boss Jay Saunders gets his side going against Barrow Picture: Matthew Walker

Mullings started against Barrow after his goal as a substitute in the midweek defeat by Leyton Orient.

He scored the only goal in the sixth minute, meeting a lovely cross from Michee Efete, and put in a big shift before making way for Joe Quigley near the end.

Saunders said: “It’s great bit of play, a great ball by Michee and a good header by Sham.

"That’ll do him good, getting some fitness as well.

“He’s obviously not fully fit. He was out on his feet at the end there so it was good to have the option to replace him.

“What you will see if you look back is the defensive side of it he did as well.

“He won a lot of headers in our box and I’m pleased for him.”

Saunders called for a first clean sheet of the season and got his wish against a talented Barrow side.

Shamir Mullings works the Barrow defence Picture: Matthew Walker
Shamir Mullings works the Barrow defence Picture: Matthew Walker

The win was Maidstone’s second of the campaign and moves them up to 13th place after five games.

Saunders said: “I’m pleased with the clean sheet. I mentioned it this week. I was desperate for a clean sheet. I thought we defended well.

“Were we at our best? I don’t think we were.

“I think the two wins we’ve got this season I’m not sure we were at our best, but on the flip side, we did create a lot of chances and had chances to make it more comfortable.

“Barrow are a decent side. They obviously beat Chesterfield this week, I’ve watched their games and they’re a decent side.

“My biggest gripe is we probably gave them too many opportunities to put things in our box, throw-ins and cheap free-kicks, but we defended them really well, which was good.

Shamir Mullings celebrates his goal with captain Stuart Lewis and Blair Turgott Picture: Matthew Walker
Shamir Mullings celebrates his goal with captain Stuart Lewis and Blair Turgott Picture: Matthew Walker

“I don’t think Lee Worgan has had too many clear-cut saves to make and we looked dangerous on the break but we couldn’t get that second goal to kill it off.

“Without being at our free-flowing best, we still did our jobs and it was a good team performance to get that win.”

Saunders felt his side looked had flat in the warm-up but Mullings’ goal gave them the lift they needed.

The manager added: “Some games you get that. We were a little bit concerned but thankfully we got that goal and it gave us something to hold on to which is normally not the case here.

“We normally go a goal behind and we’re always chasing the game.”

Read the match report from Maidstone's 1-0 win over Barrow

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