Saturday 10 September 2011 // Ryman League Division One South // Attendance: 188 // Report by Darren Lovell
The early stages of an unbeaten run are starting to show for The Stones as they returned from the Keith Tuckey Stadium with maximum points from this 2-0 victory. The winning streak has now extended to four games with 17 goals scored and just one goal conceded.
In this battle between two of the sides relegated from the Isthmian League Premier Division last season, the opening quarter of an hour was a frustrating mixture of frequent stoppages and injuries mixed with The Rams having the upper hand. However, in the 18h minute Maidstone came extremely close to breaking the deadlock. A cross from Ellis Green found the head of Shaun Welford but his effort was blocked and cleared to just outside of the penalty area.
Jimmy Humphris looped in a hopeful right footed cross from the right which looked to be sailing safely over Dave King’s cross bar but the ball “died” in flight and dropped dramatically towards the top left corner of King’s goal. The 6’5” former Tooting and Cray keeper clumsily clawed the ball away from goal but directly into the path of Alex Flisher. The left winger had a narrow angle to shoot at and his shot rolled slowly and agonisingly wide of the far post, missing by a matter of inches.
In the 23rd minute, young left back Karl Knight had to leave the game with a calf injury and he was replaced by Nick Reeves. He slotted into the centre back position and Tom Mills reverted to left back and from this point on, The Stones appeared to find another gear. Just after the half hour mark a Tommy Osborne throw-in was flicked on by Green into the path of Sam Bewick who drove a 20 yard effort with his left foot just wide of the upright. Within a minute, a superb cross field ball from Mills found Green on the right flank. He cut inside Rhys Coleman and launched a 25 yard shot that missed the top corner of the goal by inches.
With half time approaching the visitors continued to press and Rams’ keeper Dave King was forced into mis-controlling the ball with his feet. Flisher took advantage of the error and squared a pass across the goal into the path of the rampaging Bewick but somehow the midfielder stumbled as he collected the ball and failed to slot the ball home when he was directly in front of the net.
Within two minutes this error was forgotten though as United broke the deadlock. Green again ran at Coleman and played a one-two with Humphris on the edge of box. The number 10’s touch was exquisite as he back-heeled his return pass into the path of Green who went on to slot the ball low beyond the diving King, with the ball nestling just inside the far post.
With half time rapidly approaching, The Stones were able to double their lead in the third minute of stoppage time. Tommy Osborne threw the ball to Green who appeared to overhit his pass to the by-line. However, as almost every player gave the ball up for a goal kick, Osborne chased on and kept the ball in play with inches to spare. The right back crossed and Shaun Welford fired in a shot that produced a great full length save from King but Flisher reacted fastest and poked the loose ball home to double the lead for the visitors.
Athletic centre back Jon Cartledge was at the centre of several second half moments. Firstly, he was needlessly cautioned for dissent in the 62nd minute by referee Mark Tweed before he came narrowly close to scoring with a powerful header from a Jamie England corner in the 68th minute. Sadly for Cartledge his game was to end prematurely just two minutes later when he crashed through the back of Welford’s legs with a poor tackle. This left Mr Tweed with no other choice than to issue him with a second caution and to send him off.
The game was relatively open by this stage and England almost scored for The Rams with a stunning 20 yard free kick that Charlie Mitten dived full length to tip away from the top corner of the goal. Mills was now finding space on the left and his run from half way led to him feeding a pass to Flisher and his deep cross was powerfully headed just wide of the back stick by Welford.
Baff Addae came on for Flisher and he continued to provide a supply of crosses from the left. With five minutes remaining he clipped a gorgeous pass into the path of Green who executed a deft lob over King. However King is as previously mentioned 6’5” tall and he jumped upwards with an extended arm to deny Green a certain goal. Two minutes later, Green again came very close to scoring again. Mills took a free kick from 40 yards out but instead of delivering a cross he played an intelligent square pass to Green who surged forward and struck a fierce 30 yard drive at goal. King got his fingers to the ball as it whistled past him and crashed against the cross bar.
With the game in stoppage time The Stones hit the woodwork again as Mills found himself in acres of space. The 18 year old full back unleashed a venomous 35 yard screamer that smacked flush against the face of the cross bar but bounced back into play.
Maidstone United: Charlie Mitten, Tommy Osborne, Karl Knight (Nick Reeves 23), Tom Mills, Graeme Andrews, Danny Lye, Ellis Green, Sam Bewick, Shaun Welford. Jimmy Humphris (James Pinnock 69), Alex Flisher (Baff Addae 79). Subs not used: James Abraham, Peter Gill
Croydon Athletic: King, Hartburn, Coleman, Graves, Cartledge, Jones, Cuff, England, Afolayan, Stevens, Kedze. Subs: Fray, Brown, Johnson, Roberts
