Defender Joe Ellul says Maidstone are going to do something special this season.

Ellul preserved United’s unbeaten start in National League South with a thumping injury-time header in a 2-2 draw at Havant on Saturday.

And the summer signing from Maidenhead is convinced Hakan Hayrettin’s side are on to something.

“It’s a massive club, it shouldn’t be where it is,” said Ellul, who worked under Hayrettin at Braintree.

“It should be National League, at least.

“I’d been in talks with Hak for a while and when you trust a manager, it’s massive.

“I trust in the process, I trust Hak and the same with Tel (assistant manager Terry Harris) and Jim (goalkeeper coach Jim Stannard).

“I trust what they say and I buy into it and we’re going to do something special. I can feel it.

“You can see it in there when the boys are talking to each other, it feels different.

“It’s easy to say but I believe in what I see and something special will happen.”

The way Maidstone kept going at Havant highlighted the belief in the squad.

At 2-0 down it’s a game they’d have lost last season but they struck twice in injury time to rescue a draw.

George Porter scored the first followed by Ellul’s header after Kreshnic Krasniqi took over corner duties from Justin Amaluzor, who’d taken a knock.

Ellul, 31, said: “We’ve got that winning mentality and that never-say-die attitude in abundance - more than any side I’ve ever been in.

“The togetherness and the camaraderie is ridiculous and you’ll see more of that during the season because we aren’t always going to play well and be in winning positions but we will always fight back as much as we can.

"Someone said at half-time it didn’t matter if we scored in the 80th or 85th minute, just know you can get another one.

“There was a bit of confusion over the corner, with Kresh or Justin taking it, but Kresh took it and I found space and luckily it hit the back of the net.

“I’m known for my headers and I’m glad it went in because I don’t think Hak would have been too happy if I’d missed the target form there.

“The ball in from Kresh was unbelievable, he found a nice little channel for me to get my neck muscles working.

“Before lockdown those moments were good but when you’ve been away from football so long, especially at my age, you realise how much you miss it.

“I’ve probably got five or six years left in my career and I live for moments like that. We all do.

“That inner beast comes out when things like that happen and you can’t control your emotions.

“It’s best feeling in the world. I’m sure everyone in football knows that feeling.”

Ellul’s previous spell under Hayrettin came at Braintree a couple of seasons ago but he left the Iron to play for Tasman United in the New Zealand Premier League.

He’s glad to have played abroad but has no regrets at coming home, playing at Maidenhead last season, before linking back up with Hayrettin at the Gallagher.

Ellul said: “I was with Hak at Braintree and I spoke to him at the time and said I wanted to try something new and go abroad to play football.

“I liked New Zealand, it was a good country and a good culture.

“The football was OK but it wasn’t always for me.

“Maybe I was a bit too physical for the referees but it was a good thing for me to do.

“I wanted to go and explore, I didn’t want to finish my career and not try something different.

“I’m glad to be back in England and hopefully I’ll get a promotion under my belt before I retire.”

Maidstone visit Southern League Wimborne in the FA Cup third qualifying round tomorrow night.

• Team-of-the-week

• Hak on Havant fightback

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