Saturday 13th August 2011 // Pre-season friendly // Report by Ruth Tunnell.
Maidstone United brought their excellent pre-season campaign to an end in the best possible way after they won for the sixth time in eight games away at former Ryman Premier League rivals AFC Hornchurch.
After the misery of the last visit to Hornchurch at the end of April this was a much more positive affair for The Stones who have now won their last two games against higher league opposition.
Both sides had chances during the first half with Alex Waugh firing over the bar after a good run from the impressive Sam Bewick on 18 minutes and then at the other end, Lewis Smith’s shot went wide of the left hand post on 24 minutes.
Shortly afterwards Ellis Green let fly from 30 yards and his effort took a deflection which nearly sent the ball past Darren Behcet in the Hornchurch goal.
Kelvin Jack was called into action on 31 minutes when he had to make a diving save from Smith and then on 38 minutes Behcet did well to parry Tommy Osbourne’s shot from close range.
Six minutes before half time Maidstone’s defence stood still as Frankie Curley made his way towards goal but the Hornchurch player wastefully dragged the ball wide of the post and then two minutes later, Green found Waugh but from a tight angle The Stones’ striker missed the target.
Maidstone emerged from the break a rejuvenated side and both Welford and Bewick had early opportunities before Bewick gave The Stones the lead on 56 minutes with a cracking effort from just outside the box.
Hornchurch then had a goal disallowed on 62 minutes for offside and five minutes later, Martin Tuohy gained possession inside the area only to fail to trouble Jack in the Maidstone goal.
It was The Stones though who were the better side throughout the second half and they had a number of chances to extend their lead as the game moved towards full time. With fourteen minutes remaining, Femi Omogbehin fired over the bar and then on 78 minutes, a sublime pass over the top from Green picked out substitute James Pinnock who raced into the box and drove the ball past the right hand post.
Maidstone had an even better chance with nine minutes remaining after some excellent work from Green ended with Pinnock receiving the ball and The Stones’ striker drove the ball across the box to Waugh but with the goal at his mercy, Waugh put the opportunity over the bar.
Then on 83 minutes Pinnock was pulled back as he entered the Hornchurch box but despite him getting away from the defender, the referee, Mr Monk, bizarrely awarded a free-kick and from this, Bewick put the chance that came his way over the bar.
Maidstone United: Kelvin Jack, Femi Omogbehin, Tom Mills, Nick Reeves, Graeme Andrews, Tommy Osborne, Ellis Green, Sam Bewick, Shaun Welford, (James Pinnock 68) Alex Waugh, Karl Knight (Baff Addae 64). Subs not used: Colin Richmond, Jay Saunders, Jimmy Humphris.
Scorers: Maidstone United: Sam Bewick 56.
