Wednesday 16th November 2011 // Alan Boon Cup Third Round // Attendance: 167 // Report by Ruth Tunnell
Maidstone United have booked their place in the next round of the Alan Boon Cup after they overcame their Ryman Premier League opponents Carshalton Athletic.
With The Stones suffering with a few injuries to their squad, manager Jay Saunders took the opportunity to give some of the reserve players a run out and they acquitted themselves well against a strong Carshalton side.
It was the visitors who had the first opportunity of the evening when Anthony Finn’s run took him to the edge of the area and his effort went wide of the right hand post. Then on 14 minutes Maidstone gifted Carshalton the lead when Marc Powell got two hands to Luke Pigden’s shot and some how the ball went through Powell’s legs and trickled into the net.
However, it did not take long for The Stones to equalise as on 18 minutes the impressive Sam Bewick went on a good run before unselfishly slipping the ball to Alex Waugh who confidently knocked it past Nick Hamann and then side footed in his fourth goal inside three games.
As the game moved towards half time Maidstone had a couple of attempts on goal but it wasn’t until the 46th minute that they went close again when Bewick’s effort from 30 yards was only just off target.
Then with 55 minutes played, Carshalton had a good opportunity to take the lead when Paul Vines got on the end of Finn’s cross only for his header to fly wide of the left hand post. But just three minutes after this, The Robins were in front again when James Abraham’s error gave Vines possession and he passed the ball to Lodge who slotted it into the net.
Shortly afterwards, Baff Addae forced Hamann into a diving save and then on 67 minutes Maidstone equalised for the second time when Bewick crossed towards the near post and substitute Sean Johnson was on hand to show impressive technique and volley the ball into the net.
The Stones were then fortunate that Vines could not finish with only Powell to beat on 73 minutes and this was to the be the last time that Carshalton really threatened as Maidstone enjoyed the best of the remaining time.
With 75 minutes played a long range effort from Johnson went close and then with the game in stoppage time, another good run from Bewick ended with him trying to square the ball to the unmarked Addae only for Justin Roberts to get a vital touch and divert the ball away to safety.
And so with the scores level at full time, the game went straight to penalties. Maidstone took the first spot kick and Bewick confidently smashed the ball into the net. Alex Waugh put The Stones further in front after Tom Davis had sent his penalty over the bar before Vines halved the deficit by converting his penalty.
Ellis Green then saw his spot kick saved by Hamann and with the pressure building Powell made an excellent one handed save to deny Lodge. Addae stepped up next for Maidstone and his cheekily taken penalty found the net and then Pigden made the scoreline 3-2. This meant that Michael Philips was given the opportunity to win the game for The Stones and he made no mistake with a well taken penalty that flew into the net.
Maidstone United: Alex Waugh 18, Sean Johnson 67
Carshalton Athletic: Luke Pigden 14, Dean Lodge 58
Maidstone United: Marc Powell, Tommy Osborne, Tom Mills, Karl Knight, James Abraham, Sam Bewick, Tom Cackett (Sean Johnson 45), Jay Saunders (Michael Phillips 66), Alex Waugh, Baff Addae, Nathan Faulkes (Ellis Green 55). Subs not used: Danny Lye, Alex Flisher.
Carshalton Athletic: Nick Hamann, Michael Kamara, Luke Nolan, Francis Quarm (Billy Crook 45), Kieran Murphy, Justin Roberts, Dean Lodge, Tom Davis, Paul Vines, Luke Pigden, Anthony Finn. Subs not used: Anthony Joseph.
