Saturday 22nd October 2011 // Ryman League Division One // Attendance: 262 // Report by Ruth Tunnell.
Maidstone United continued their excellent run of form in the league as they comfortably overcame Crawley Down to take their points tally to twenty five from the last nine games.
This was The Stones’ first league double of the season and they were rarely troubled by a Crawley side who have significantly strengthened since the two teams met back in August.
Maidstone were the dominant side from the outset and they came close to opening the scoring with just one minute played when Alex Flisher whipped in a free-kick and Shaun Welford could not make full contact with the ball and so his header flew wide.
However, with only eight minutes gone The Stones took an early lead when the Crawley defence could not cut out a forward pass from James Pinnock and Alex Flisher raced into the box before smashing a confident finish past Mikle Hunter in the visitor’s goal.
Five minutes later a rising effort from Welford cleared the bar and shortly afterwards the ball dropped to Sam Bewick on the edge of the box and his strong shot flew wide of the left hand post.
It wasn’t until the 33rd minute that Maidstone threatened again when a ball over the top of the Crawley defence picked out Welford who elected to shoot early whilst under pressure and his effort thumped into the advertising hoardings to the right of the goal.
Then two minutes later, Crawley threatened to equalise when Jack Page picked out Fraser Logan inside the Maidstone box and Tommy Osborne hurled himself across Logan to ensure that the resultant shot deflected just wide.
With the game moving towards the interval, The Stones gave themselves some breathing space when the Crawley defence switched off on 41 minutes as Flisher flung the ball into the box and Welford was left unattended giving him the simple task of heading in his 15th goal of the season.
At the other end, Gabriel Odunaike shot straight at Charlie Mitten when well placed on 48 minutes before Maidstone put Crawley under pressure again and with Hunter drawn from his goal, Welford attempted to curl the ball past the Crawley keeper who made a good stop.
There after there was little goalmouth action as both sets of players struggled to adjust to the strong swirling wind although Hunter saved a shot from Flisher with his legs on 69 minutes and then with seven minutes remaining the Crawley keeper tipped a drive from Bewick over the bar.
So next up for Maidstone is a top of the table clash with Dulwich Hamlet and The Stones will have to be at their very best if they are to take the lead of the Ryman One South division.
Maidstone United: Alex Flisher 8, Shaun Welford 41
Crawley Down: -
Maidstone United: Charlie Mitten, Tommy Osborne, Tom Mills, Gavin Greenfield, Graeme Andrews, Sam Bewick, James Pinnock (Ellis Green 79), Jay Saunders, Shaun Welford (Alex Waugh 86), Baff Addae (Danny Lye 78), Alex Flisher. Subs not used: Michael Phillips, Karl Knight.
Crawley Down: Mikle Hunter, Matt Hollyoak, Miles Mitchell, Ash Jones, Ben Sweatman, Tom Burson, Jack Page, Hasan Nyang (Charlie Dodds 81), Gabi Odunaike, Luke Blewden (Brannan O’Neil 87), Fraser Logan. Subs not used: Ian Payne, Rob Frankland, Mark Zawadski.
