Hakan Hayrettin is backing Maidstone’s players to recover from a rare defeat.

Stones could have moved level on points with Dorking at the National League South summit last weekend, but are now six points adrift, having fallen to a 1-0 defeat.

“Of course, the response is the most important thing,” said boss Hayrettin, whose second-placed team had not lost in the league since November 6.

“We have got enough big personalities and big characters in there to do that.

“We are still pushing, we are still there, and we have just got to keep going.”

But Hayrettin did concede Marc White’s frontrunners may have been provided with a major tonic, having come out on top at Meadowbank.

“Obviously, it’s a bit of a psychological boost for them,” he said.

“But we still have got a game in hand.

“We have got to utilise that game in hand and go from there.”

Maidstone have a big period ahead with two matches at the Gallagher Stadium within three days.

On Saturday they host Hungerford, who are just outside the play-off places, before welcoming strugglers Braintree on Tuesday.

Stones will hope their fans stay behind them as they return to action at home after 950 supporters made the journey to Dorking for a match played in front of a 2,898-strong crowd.

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Hayrettin said: “The support this club has given since I’ve been here has been unbelievable.

“That is why we needed to thank every single one of them for turning up and I did that before the game. I made sure I spoke to as many people as I could.

“For them, I have got a message - we will be back.”

Mo Bettamer’s loan deal from National League Aldershot has been extended for another month, with the striker coming off the bench at Dorking, while Alfie Pavey is staying at Dover for another month.

On Bettamer, Hayrettin said: “He has got experience. You can’t buy experience.

“We just need to try to get him a bit fitter and use him.”

The Stones boss also explained why on-loan Charlton midfielder Johl Powell wasn’t involved in the squad, saying: “He had only been in for three days. So we will assess that and go from there.”

Eighth-placed Hungerford still harbour hopes of making the play-offs and are aiming to complete the double over Maidstone after they beat them 3-2 in late October.

Looking ahead to the match against Hungerford, who beat Concord last time out and have lost once in their last five, Hayrettin admitted: “It’s a tough, tough game.

“We have got to be ready. We have got to be mentally ready for that game after a defeat like that (at Dorking).

“My job is to pick them up, get them ready and go again.”

Midfielder Regan Booty - who ironically picked up two red cards at Hungerford - will once again be suspended on Saturday but will be back available for the midweek match against Braintree.