MAYNARD | "We will be ready when the season starts"

Wealdstone face Chelmsford at home on Saturday in their final fame of pre-season – and boss Stuart Maynard believes his players will be raring to go for the first league game against Bromley.

The Stones stuck five past Billericay on Tuesday night and have now scored nine in their last two friendlies.

“We’re starting to get closer and closer to where we need to be," said Stuart Maynard. "I still think we’re a couple of weeks away because of how the recruitments happened, but we had to be patient and we’re just getting everyone up to speed with how we play. “When players are coming in at different stages, we’re not going to be at our most fluent best but it’s about picking up points when the start of the season comes. We’ve got a young, hungry group of lads who will be ready when the season starts. “When you get to the first game of the season you don’t want to be peaking on your fitness so we’re as ready as we can be at the minute.” Olufela Olomola, Max Kretzschmar, Tarryn Allarakhia and Malachi Napa were on the scoresheet on Tuesday while Dom Hutchinson was excellent in a new position of right wing-back. Maynard was delighted with the performance of the new boys. “Max has come in and scored and Fela was outstanding," said Maynard. "A mention to Dom Hutchinson as well. He set two up and his work ethic was different class.” The Stones are still missing Rhys Browne, Lewis Kinsella and Jaydn Mundle-Smith and they will miss the season kick-off. “You never know with injuries how people are going to react in terms of coming back to training, but we won’t rush people back because it’s a long season," said Maynard. "We just have to make sure that we get it right with the players that do have the niggles and are on their way back. It’s not just a starting 11 but a full squad so we need to make sure we can be as fit and as healthy as possible.”

Words by Will Beaman