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Maidstone United manager Jay Saunders says play-off final at Ebbsfleet is a bonus match for his side

Maidstone United manager Jay Saunders has taken all the pressure off his side by claiming the play-off final is simply a bonus.

United travel to Kent rivals Ebbsfleet on Saturday to decide who goes up to the National League after completing a 3-0 aggregate win over Truro.

Saunders believes his team have over-achieved in their first season in National South and directors Terry Casey, Oliver Ash and Bill Williams agree.

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Maidstone United manager Jay Saunders
Maidstone United manager Jay Saunders

Boss Saunders said: "If you ask Terry and Oliver and Bill, if we thought when we won the league last year we’d be one game away from going up again, I’m sure they wouldn’t have expected it and nor would many people, so for us it’s a massive bonus.

"As a player, what I’d give now to come out of retirement and play because you know it’s going to be a huge crowd and it’s going to be a great day.

"All we’ve done is just enjoy the season and we’re enjoying every game. It’s another game the boys can look forward to.

"We’ve had some big games since we’ve come back to Maidstone and it’s another one for us."

Stones led Truro 2-0 after the first leg and made sure of their place in the final with Alex Flisher scoring the only goal of Sunday's return at the Gallagher.

Saunders said: "It’s a great achievement and something the boys have worked hard for this season, so I’m delighted.

"I set the players a target in the dressing room and, to be fair, I came out and said I’d like to try and make play-offs.

"I felt we needed to make a few changes early on, which we did, and then we went on a great run.

"I think it’s one of them where I thought we’d probably scrape into the play-offs. I didn’t think we’d make third with three weeks to go and be safe in there but full credit to the lads."

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