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Maidstone United assistant manager Craig Fagan on the challenge of a Monday night trip to Aveley

05:00, 21 October 2024

Maidstone are straight back in action tonight after their weekend draw with Slough.

United are off to Aveley, who play their midweek home matches on Monday nights.

Maidstone United assistant manager Craig Fagan. Picture: Helen Cooper
Maidstone United assistant manager Craig Fagan. Picture: Helen Cooper

The Millers did the double over George Elokobi’s side in National League South last season, winning 1-0 at the Gallagher and 2-0 in the return.

But it was Maidstone’s night when they met in a play-off eliminator, Mo Faal’s injury-time strike earning a 2-1 victory.

The Essex club are in the bottom four this time around, five points from safety, with Saturday’s 4-2 success at Enfield just their second win of the season.

And while Maidstone are seven games unbeaten in all competitions, 16th isn’t where they want to be as Jon Benton returns to face his former club.

“It’s a very quick turnaround,” said assistant boss Craig Fagan, following Maidstone’s 1-1 draw against Slough.

Maidstone's ex-Aveley man Jon Benton faces his old club tonight. Picture: Helen Cooper
Maidstone's ex-Aveley man Jon Benton faces his old club tonight. Picture: Helen Cooper

“At some point we have to play Aveley on a Monday night, like everybody else who goes there in midweek, so it’s about getting ourselves ready and, if we get chances, putting them away.

“There’s no time to train. We did our stretches after the game on Saturday and they had stretches to do at home and they were told to go to the gym and do some recovery.

“We need to go again and it’s a game we’re looking forward to.

“This year hasn’t started so well for Aveley but knowing Danny Scopes and Craig Shipman (manager and assistant manager), they’re good coaches, they’ve put a team together of mainly younger players and they’ll be looking to turn it on against us, like everyone else.

“We keep saying it but everyone we’re playing steps up a gear and I’m sure they will on Monday, plus they had a great result on Saturday.”

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