Wednesday 14th December 2011 // Ryman League Division One // Attendance: 287 // Report by Ruth Tunnell
On a squally night at the Buzzlines Stadium, Maidstone United saw their promotion ambitions dealt a further blow as they conceded another late goal which ensured their miserable run of form continues.
Having weathered waves of attacks from Folkestone early on in the second half, The Stones had done well to equalise late on in the game. However, they were made to pay for some sloppy play in the seconds that followed their goal and Darren Smith took full advantage to send an excellent finish past Daren Hawkes to give the home side a useful three points in their quest for promotion.
The first opportunity of the evening fell to The Stones on 10 minutes when Ellis Green’s corner was met by Shaun Welford who saw his header cleared off the line.
Then five minutes later Welford should have put Maidstone in front when he latched onto an excellent ball over the top of the Folkestone defence from Green and with only Jack Delo to beat, Welford poked his shot wide of the right hand post.
However, the deadlock was broken on 26 minutes when Alex Flisher tried to shield the ball out of play with Josh Vincent in attendance but Vincent chose to push Flisher allowing the Maidstone player to knock the ball past him and continue his run down the left. Flisher then delivered a looping cross to Welford who powered in a header off the underside of the bar.
Seven minutes later the home side had their first chance of the evening when Danny Lye made an excellent tackle but then instantly gifted Darren Marsden possession. The Folkestone player who was making his debut following his recent move from Herne Bay, raced to the edge of the box and thumped a drive inches wide.
Then on 36 minutes Folkestone equalised when Lye stuck out a leg in the box and Liam Friend took the opportunity to fall over it. If Lye made any contact at all with Friend it was minimal but the referee, Mr Bakalarz, had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Stuart King converted the spot kick.
The home side emerged from the break in a determined mood and on 54 minutes they took the lead when despite being surrounded by a number of Stones players, King managed to get a low shot away from the edge of the box which skidded along the soaking wet surface and flew past Hawkes.
Shortly afterwards Hawkes made a good save to parry an effort from a similar position that was hit by James Everitt and then just seconds later, Hawkes brought down Everitt as the Folkestone striker ran across the box. Hawkes was booked for the foul and then made a superb save to deny Everitt from the spot before The Stones twice cleared the ball off the line.
Having survived a concerted spell of Folkestone pressure, it was then Maidstone’s turn to enjoy a good spell as the game moved towards full time. On 69 minutes a long range effort from Sam Bewick dipped just over the bar and at the other end Vincent saw his shot deflect into the side netting.
Then with 73 minutes played, Flisher advanced down the left and his early cross reached Green on the opposite side of the pitch. Green cut inside and drove the ball goalwards only for Delo to make an excellent block and divert the ball over the bar.
Maidstone went even closer on 80 minutes when a long ball over the top of the Folkestone defence reached Alex Waugh and he hit a fierce shot which cannoned off the inside of the post and Flisher could not steer the rebound on target. The Stones’ persistence finally paid off with 89 minutes on the clock as they drew level. Tom Mills won a header in defence and swept a long ball down the left for Flisher to chase. This drew Delo from his goal and it appeared that the Folkestone keeper would gain possession but he was left stranded on the edge of his box allowing Flisher to send the ball into the box where Welford side footed it into the net.
Unfortunately for Maidstone though the scores were only level for a minute as with the game entering stoppage time, they failed to clear the ball and former Stones player Smith sent a delightful finish from 25 yards past Hawkes to give Folkestone the three points.
Folkestone Invicta: Stuart King 36 (pen), 54, Darren Smith 90
Maidstone United: Shaun Welford 26, 89
Folkestone Invicta: Jack Delo, Josh Vincent, Josh Burchell, Liam Friend, Frankie Chappell, Liam Dickson, Darren Smith, Stuart King, James Everitt (Richard Atkins 90), Darren Marsden, Michael Everitt. Subs not used: Simon Austin, Ryan Moreby, Cade Mortimer, Roddy Hayward.
Maidstone United: Daren Hawkes, Tommy Osborne, Tom Mills, Lee Gledhill, Danny Lye (Michael Phillips 87), Sam Bewick, Ellis Green, Jay Saunders, Shaun Welford, James Pinnock (Alex Waugh 67), Alex Flisher. Subs not used: Baff Addae, Sam Groombridge, Marc Powell.
