Saturday 15th October 2011 // Ryman League Division One South // Report by Ruth Tunnell
It is unlikely that The Stones will endure a more frustrating ninety minutes this season.
This was a game that Maidstone should have comfortably won but they missed a host of chances and predictably Whyteleafe scored with one of their few attempts on goal to make it four games in a row without a win for The Stones.
Maidstone pushed hard for an early goal and with just sixty seconds played, they went close with an effort from James Pinnock before Sam Bewick dug out a shot from just inside the box which went high and wide.
With 15 minutes gone, Shaun Welford cut inside and hit a fierce effort which flew into the arms of Paul Smith and then seconds later, Tom Mills played a short free-kick to Baff Addae who was allowed to shoot unopposed but he could not hit the target.
Six minutes later a good spell of possession ended with Pinnock heading the ball down to Welford who fired wide and then on 27 minutes, Alex Flisher got in down the left hand side and sent a shot towards the near post that was expertly turned behind by Smith. Then from the resultant corner, a good delivery from Flisher picked out the unmarked Graeme Andrews who headed over the bar.
Maidstone continued to put the home side under pressure and a nice move on 35 minutes saw Welford back-heel the ball to Flisher who slipped it into Mills and the Maidstone defender then gave the ball to Addae who saw his rising drive just clear the bar.
The early stages of the second half saw Maidstone completely dominate and they had seven chances to score inside the first seventeen minutes after the break. On 48 minutes a corner from Flisher was met by Welford only for Smith to make a good save before Addae and Pinnock both went close to giving The Stones the lead.
Flisher was instrumental in most of Maidstone’s attacks and on 53 minutes he latched onto a pass from Pinnock but he put the ball over the bar. Bewick and Welford then threatened Whyteleafe’s goal and on 62 minutes Flisher raced into the area and his shot flew just wide of the near post.
Sixty seconds later a neat move from The Stones saw Addae give the ball to Pinnock and his shot was partially blocked by Smith but Welford could not steer the rebound into the net and then two minutes later, Flisher picked out Welford who had time to bring the ball down but he headed it over the bar.
However, the deadlock was finally broken on 67 minutes when a corner from Flisher dropped to Gavin Greenfield who poked the ball goalwards and Andrews was on hand to stab it over the line from close range.
Shortly afterwards Mills picked out Pinnock in a good position inside the area but he shot straight at Smith and then on 73 minutes Flisher’s low cross into the box was missed by two Whyteleafe defenders and Pinnock side footed the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.
The home side then nearly made Maidstone immediately pay for their wastefulness in front of goal but Charlie Mitten made an excellent save to deny Billy Dunn and substitute Stephane Gnamore’s follow up effort was blocked. Unfortunately for The Stones though, Dunn and Gnamore combined again with ten minutes remaining when Dunn was allowed to send a low ball into the box and this time Gnamore lashed the ball into the net.
One minute later, Scott Simpson’s fierce drive found the side netting and then as the game approached full time, Welford and substitute Alex Waugh both had chances to give Maidstone all three points but they couldn’t take them and so The Stones were held to their first draw of the season.
Whyteleafe: Stephane Gnamore 80
Maidstone United: Graeme Andrews 67
Whyteleafe: Paul Smith, Alec Brown, Jordan Taylor, Dan Aldous, Danny Dudley, Lee Stripp, Kwabena Agyei (Karl Douglas 54), Elliott Mitchel, Scott Simpson, Ryan Thompson (Stephane Gnamore 65), Billy Dunn. Subs not used: Jay Carrick, Bajrush Halki, Curtis Williams.
Maidstone United: Charlie Mitten, Tommy Osborne, Tom Mills, Gavin Greenfield, Graeme Andrews, Sam Bewick (Alex Waugh 84), James Pinnock (Michael Phillips 82), Jay Saunders (Danny Lye 78), Shaun Welford, Baff Addae, Alex Flisher. Subs not used: Karl Knight, Tom Cackett.
