Saturday 10th December 2011 // Ryman League Division One // Attendance: 396 // Report by Ruth Tunnell.
For the third time in a row The Stones have been beaten after they went down to a last gasp penalty that was converted by Walton Casual’s Glenn Stanley.
After seeing their fourteen match unbeaten run brought to a halt by Faversham, Maidstone have been struggling to regain the form which made them so formidable early on in the season and The Stones just didn’t have the spark to break down a well organised Walton Casuals side.
With ten minutes played, Gareth Williams in the Casuals goal reacted quickly to come off his line and deny Sam Bewick with a save using his legs and then six minutes later, Alex Waugh juggled the ball in the box before hitting it over the bar.
Shortly afterwards, Tom Mills made an excellent tackle to deny Liam Holden before the visitors had a couple of efforts with Stanley and Holden both forcing Daren Hawkes to dive and save their shots and then Antony Morrison saw his header loop onto the roof of the net with 41 minutes played.
The Stones improved after the break and on 55 minutes Danny Lye won a header in midfield and Waugh picked up possession before he slipped it into James Pinnock but Williams was once again quick off his line and he snuffed out the danger.
Five minutes later Maidstone thought that they had taken the lead when Waugh rose to head Tommy Osborne’s cross into the net but the referee, Mr Ions, ruled that Waugh had fouled Williams in the process.
The Stones were then able to introduce Alex Flisher and Shaun Welford and Flisher was involved on 66 minutes when Pinnock did well to make room for a cross down the right hand side and Flisher’s diving header at the near post flew just wide.
At the other end, the visitors had an excellent chance to take the lead with 20 minutes to go when the ball came to the unmarked Holden and with the goal at his mercy he slipped as he went to shoot and he couldn’t take the opportunity that had come his way.
Shortly afterwards Osborne’s cross into the box was met by Flisher who headed it back across the area to Welford but the Maidstone striker nodded the ball straight to Williams in the Casuals goal.
The play then switched to the opposite penalty box and on 74 minutes Hawkes made a fine save to deny Arthur and then moments later Arthur pulled the ball back to Stanley who volleyed over when well placed.
With eight minutes to go Welford battled hard to win possession just outside the area but as he charged into the box he over hit the ball and Williams dived to gather the ball at his near post.
Then with the game in stoppage time Holden went over inside the box and Stanley converted the resultant penalty to ensure that The Stones now haven’t won in the league for nearly a month.
Maidstone United: -
Walton Casuals: Glenn Stanley 90 (pen)
Maidstone United: Daren Hawkes, Tommy Osborne, Tom Mills, Lee Gledhill, Graeme Andrews, Sam Bewick, Ellis Green, Danny Lye (Jay Saunders 90), Alex Waugh (Shaun Welford 64), James Pinnock, Michael Phillips (Alex Flisher 58). Subs not used: James Abraham, Marc Powell.
Walton Casuals: Gareth Williams, Lee Cooper, Bradley Duke, Craig Lewington, Richard Taylor, Jon Boswell, Antony Morrison (Danny Fernandes 56 (Zac Horkan 90)), Josh Gallager, Alfie Arthur, Glenn Stanley, Liam Holden. Subs not used: Harry Hoadley, Chris Davidson, Adam Fletcher.
