Saturday 5th November 2011 // Ryman League Division One // Attendance: 291 // Report by Ruth Tunnell
Maidstone United made it ten wins in eleven league matches as they continued their excellent run of form with another comfortable victory.
This time it was Eastbourne Town who were despatched with relative ease although The Stones suffered a slight wobble late on in the first half when the home side equalised against the run of play. However, once Shaun Welford re-established Maidstone’s lead shortly before half time the visitors were never really troubled by Eastbourne.
Just like against Dulwich last week, The Stones started with a good tempo and it took them just six minutes to take the lead when Baff Addae laid the ball into Michael Phillips’ path and the Maidstone midfielder curled a delightful finish into the top corner of the net.
Two minutes later Eastbourne looked to respond quickly when Owen Kessack got in behind The Stones’ defence and with Charlie Mitten drawn from his goal, Kessack saw his attempted lob fly wide of the left hand post.
With 16 minutes played, Nathan Crabb shot wide of the target and then at the other end, Addae drew a good one handed stop from Kieron Thorp in the Eastbourne goal before Thorp made another fine save to deny James Pinnock on 21 minutes.
From the resultant corner, Ellis Green knocked the ball to Phillips who whipped in a good cross which was met by Gavin Greenfield and it looked as though his header was going in until Thorp once again came to Eastbourne’s rescue and tipped the ball over the bar.
Green assumed responsibility for the resultant corner and this time his cross was headed out as far as Welford whose side footed volley struck the top of the bar before Green was involved again on 24 minutes when he cut inside from the left and drove his effort wide of the post.
Three minutes later Graeme Andrews headed a corner from Green over the bar and then Thorp yet again stopped Maidstone extending their lead when he denied Pinnock using his feet.
Then with half an hour played, Maidstone were made to pay for not converting the numerous chances they had created when they switched off at the back allowing Sonny Cobbs to smash the ball past the stranded Mitten.
However, within ten minutes The Stones had restored their lead when Dean Brooks got caught out by a long ball forwards and Shaun Welford went past the Eastbourne player before sending a perfect lob over the head of Thorp.
The second half wasn’t so eventful but Eastbourne had a chance to draw level when Sam Crabb worked his way into space into the area and drove the ball goalwards only for Mitten to make a good one handed save.
At the other end, Thorp was called into action to deny Welford at the near post on 64 minutes and then two minutes later, Thorp made another fine save to stop Addae from scoring.
There was then a lull in the action until three minutes from time when substitute Jay Saunders’ rising effort skimmed off the top of the bar and then Maidstone rounded off the scoring in stoppage time when substitute Alex Waugh flicked the ball into the path of Welford who fired in his eighteenth goal of the season.
Eastbourne Town: Sonny Cobbs 30
Maidstone United: Michael Phillips 6, Shaun Welford 40, 90
Eastbourne Town: Kieron Thorp, Adam Davidson, Sonny Cobbs, Nyhram Dixon-Baker, Nick Fogden, Steve Elliott, Scott Kirkwood, Sam Crabb, Dean Brooks, Nathan Crabb, Owen Kessack (Richard Greenfield 78). Subs not used: Stacy Freeman, Danny Curd, Jordan Lang, Callum Christie.
Maidstone United: Charlie Mitten, Sam Bewick, Tom Mills, Gavin Greenfield, Graeme Andrews, Danny Lye, Ellis Green (Tommy Osborne 88), Michael Phillips, Shaun Welford, Baff Addae (Alex Waugh 70), James Pinnock (Jay Saunders 70). Subs not used: Karl Knight, Alex Flisher.
