Maidstone ladies’ 1sts captain Catherine Green says promotion is still within their grasp despite last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Chelmsford 2nds in East League Division 1 South.

St Albans 2nds have already been promoted but Green insists Maidstone can still join them come the end of the season.

Green said: “Of course it was a setback but we’re still second and in with a great chance of being the second team to go up.

“We have just got to use it (the loss) as a wake-up call and get on with playing the sort of hockey we all know we are capable of in our final three games.”

Chelmsford scored first, with Laura Jackson putting Maidstone level before half-time, but the home side hit the winner midway through the second half despite a player-of-the-match display from Green and the best efforts of goalkeeper Jenny Vincent.

The defeat leaves Maidstone three points clear of third-placed Upminster ahead of Saturday's game at home to Crostyx. But Upminster don’t pose the biggest threat to Maidstone's promotion’s hopes – that comes from fourth-placed Bishop’s Stortford, according to Green.

She said: “They have two games in hand on us and a better goal difference but we still have to play them."

Maidstone are still in the hunt to win the Kent Cup and will host Tunbridge Wells in the semi-final on Sunday (2pm).