Saunders Salutes Fans As Stones Mark Homecoming

A crowd over 4,100 watched the Stones’ 3-1 defeat to a youthful Crystal Palace side.

The game was a sell out – and it was a record crowd for the Gallagher Stadium. The Stones moved back in 2012 but the Vanarama National League club could celebrate in style.

Jordan Mutch scored twice for the Premier League outfit in the first half but a wonderful Joe Piggott goal brought the crowd to their feet.

Saunders said: “It was a great occasion and you have to pay credit to those people behind the scenes who have taken the club home and built a ground that can host such a great ground.

“What we want now is to be able to play in front of over 4,000 on a regular basis.”

On the game, Saunders said: “It was difficult, they’re very quick and very sharp and they’re at a Premier League club for a reason.

“We had chances ourselves and we could have scored more than one goal but it was good to get game time into the players.

“There is still room for some improvement before our game on the first day of the season against Maidenhead United, which will be really difficult.”