Saturday 19th November 2011 // Ryman League Division One // Attendance: 369 // Report by Ruth Tunnell
A goal from Baff Addae two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the game rescued a point for The Stones and stretched their unbeaten run in the league to fourteen matches.
This had been a difficult afternoon for Maidstone who had to contend with Alex Flisher being stretchered off following an injury to his leg and Kelvin Jack seeing red for handling the ball outside of the area just before half time.
Understandably Jay Saunders was pleased with his side following the match as he said: “We were up against it today and I give full credit to the boys as they never gave up and they kept going until the end of the game.”
It was The Stones who had the first opportunity on seven minutes when Merstham allowed a long throw from Flisher to bounce inside the area and it came to Alex Waugh who forced Joe White to make a good block.
At the other end Maidstone got into a muddle as they attempted to clear the ball on 16 minutes, which allowed Omar Folkes to send a cross into the box, but Harry Ottaway could not guide his header towards goal.
Six minutes later, Danny Lye pumped a long ball forwards which came to Waugh and his shot from outside the area just missed the goal and then on 27 minutes, Ellis Green pulled the ball back to Flisher who was well placed and his strong drive flew over the bar.
By now Maidstone were just starting to gain the upper hand and on 30 minutes they nearly took the lead when Green’s ball into the area looked to be heading out until Shaun Welford intervened and his shot hit the left hand post and three minutes later Flisher’s low shot fizzed wide.
Shortly afterwards, Flisher managed to cross the ball before having to be substituted and it reached Michael Phillips who was in an excellent position close to goal but he lifted the ball over the bar.
Then with half time looming, Jack advanced from his goal to deal with a bouncing ball but unfortunately for The Stones he handled it outside of the area and he started walking to the tunnel before the referee, Mr Hatzidakis, reached for his red card.
After the injury to Flisher and Jack’s sending off there was a significant amount of first half stoppage time and during this Tommy Osborne played in Green with a delightful pass and Green’s shot went agonisingly wide of the right hand post.
With an hour played, Maidstone fell behind when Fabio Sarravia let fly from just outside the area and his spectacular shot flew past substitute goalkeeper Marc Powell and shortly afterwards, the visitors had a good chance to extend their lead when Ottaway got round substitute James Abraham and then put the ball wide.
As the second half progressed, Merstham looked to take advantage of having an additional player and on 63 minutes Sarravia went close again with another long range effort before Powell made a good save on fourteen minutes from time to deny Sarravia.
Then with the game in stoppage time, Merstham’s goalkeeper Joe White came out from his goal to deal with a long ball forwards and as he jumped he was challenged by Addae. The ball dropped to Welford whose shot was blocked but it fell to Addae once more and he stroked home his eighth goal of the season to give Maidstone the share of the points.
Maidstone United: Baff Addae 90
Merstham: Fabio Sarravia 60
Maidstone United: Kelvin Jack, Tommy Osborne, Tom Mills, Sam Bewick, Danny Lye (Marc Powell 45), Michael Phillips, Ellis Green, Jay Saunders, Shaun Welford, Alex Waugh (James Abraham 45), Alex Flisher (Baff Addae 42). Subs not used: James Pinnock, Graeme Andrews
Merstham: Joe White, Dean Hamlin, Nathan Simpson, Adam Moriarty, Adam Broomhead, Liam Thomas, Omar Folkes, Fabio Sarravia, Harry Ottaway, Roscoe D’Sane, Liam Wright. Subs not used: Alan Muir, Richard Morgan, Denzel Walters, Joseph Holland, David Wilkinson.
