Maidstone boss Jay Saunders is on the verge of matching the best defensive run of his career.

Saunders was part of a Margate side who kept 11 clean sheets in 12 games - including seven in a row - on their way to the Southern League title and promotion to the Conference in 2001.

United made it six on the bounce with a 1-0 victory over St Albans that moved them up to fourth place in National League South.

They have gone 592 minutes without conceding a league goal - a record that reminds Saunders of his days at Gate playing under Chris Kinnear.

Saunders said: “We always had a good defensive record and it’s something I am a strong believer in.

“My first few years here it used to annoy me when we conceded a lot of sloppy goals.

“Last year we were very solid defensively and this year we’re doing it again.

“If you stay solid defensively you’ve got a chance of winning games and at the moment we’re defending well.

“The players will probably start calling me George Graham with all these 1-0 wins.”