Saturday 1st October 2011 // FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round // Attendance: 386 // Report by Ruth Tunnell.
Maidstone United’s eight game winning streak has been brought to a shuddering halt after they were dumped out of the FA Cup by fellow Ryman One side Bognor Regis Town.
The Stones were made to pay for gifting Bognor two goals as they allowed the visitors to race into a three nil lead before Maidstone scored twice to set up a frenetic final couple of minutes. And The Stones might have forced a reply had the referee, Mr Franklin, seen what appeared to be a handball inside the box from a Bognor player deep in stoppage time.
Maidstone started brightly enough as on three minutes Shaun Welford’s header was deflected behind for a corner. The Stones then forced another three corners in quick succession and during this passage of play the ball struck the left hand post following a deep cross from Sam Bewick.
But it did not take long for Bognor to start to take control and on 11 minutes Terry Dodd’s cross found Jason Prior in a good position only for Prior to head over the bar. However, the deadlock was broken eight minutes later when Ben Johnson slipped the ball into Dodd who drove the ball across goal into the far corner of the net.
The Stones came close to a quick equaliser when Craig Stoner was caught flapping at a header from Jay Saunders but Graeme Andrews could not get a vital touch and then matters got even worse for the home side on 24 minutes. Nick Reeves allowed Dodd to get in down the Bognor left and Dodd dribbled the ball along the touchline towards the left hand post. It had looked as though a heavy touch from Dodd had allowed the danger to pass as Charlie Mitten put both hands on the ball but strangely Mitten couldn’t retain possession allowing Dodd the simple task of dispossessing the Maidstone keeper and knocking the ball in from close range.
By now Bognor were firmly in charge and Prior had two good opportunities to score but he headed wide on 31 minutes before he decided to shoot first time when he latched onto a cross from Johnson three minutes after the break and his weak effort failed to trouble Mitten.
Unfortunately for The Stones though they did fall further behind on 49 minutes when Reeves played a firm back pass towards Mitten who lifted his foot in an attempt to clear the ball only to watch in horror as the ball skipped underneath his raised foot and nestled into the net.
Three minutes later, Tom Mills made a good challenge to deny Dodd and it was Mills who gave The Stones a glimmer of hope on 55 minutes when he ran down the left hand side and dispatched a fine finish past the stranded Stoner.
Mitten then made a good save to deny Prior on 62 minutes and the home side then had a couple of attempts on goal before Baff Addae pulled another goal back with seven minutes remaining when a cushioned header from Reeves picked out the Maidstone striker who turned and fired the ball into the net from just inside the box.
There after The Stones pushed hard for an equaliser and went close on a couple of occasions but during the move which saw the referee, Mr Franklin, wave away appeals for a penalty following an apparent hand ball in the box the ball dropped to Welford who saw his shot fly just wide and with it went any hopes of The Stones had of forcing a replay.
Maidstone United: Tom Mills 55, Baff Addae 83
Bognor Regis Town: Terry Dodd 19, 24, Nick Reeves (O.G.) 49
Maidstone United: Charlie Mitten, Tommy Osborne, Tom Mills, Nick Reeves, Graeme Andrews (Karl Knight 64), Danny Lye (Jimmy Humphris 45), Ellis Green, Jay Saunders (Alex Flisher 45), Shaun Welford, Baff Addae, Sam Bewick. Subs not used: James Pinnock, Alex Waugh, Peter Gill.
Bognor Regis Town: Craig Stoner, Jon Marzetti (Matt Whitehead 59), James Crane, Chris Breach (Lewis Ide 45), Stuart Axten, Tim Bond, Dan Beck, Kane Willis, Jason Prior, Terry Dodd (Luke Nightingale 72), Ben Johnson. Subs not used: Darryl Wollens, Jack Blatchford.
