Saturday 31st December 2011 // Ryman League Division One // Attendance: 458// Report by Ruth Tunnell
Maidstone United said goodbye to 2011 in the best possible manner as they turned on the style in the second half to thrash Whitstable Town.
This was The Stones’ strongest performance for weeks and once they had taken the lead in this game it was clear that confidence was beginning to flow through the side once again.
The match got off to a slow start with the only notable shot before 20 minutes coming from Ash Greenwood who saw his effort from the edge of the box curl away from the left hand post.
Then with 27 minutes played, Maidstone took the lead. Sam Bewick’s free kick from out on the left hand side was sent into the box and good movement from Alex Waugh appeared to distract Jack Smelt in the Whitstable goal allowing Bewick’s shot to sail into the net.
Two minutes later a poor touch from Sam Groombridge allowed Scott Heard to gain possession but the Whitstable player’s shot from distance failed to trouble Daren Hawkes in the Maidstone goal. And shortly afterwards, at the other end, Shaun Welford slipped the ball into Alex Waugh who ran down the left before cutting inside and his low drive went wide of the far post.
Then with the half time interval imminent, The Stones went close to doubling the lead when Groombridge met a cross from Ellis Green from the right and his header just missed the far post.
Three minutes after the break Shaun Welford got on the end of a bouncing ball in the Whitstable box but his half volley when straight to the visiting keeper Smelt. Whitstable then broke quickly and Maidstone were fortunate that Stuart Vahid’s header hit the bar and that Scott Heard could not take the opportunity to tuck the rebound away.
This was to be the only time that the visitors really troubled Maidstone though as The Stones began to crank up the pressure. Welford went close with a header from Green’s corner and then on 66 minutes the ball was laid into the path of Bewick who blasted a drive goalwards and Smelt made an impressive save to divert the ball over the bar.
From the resultant corner, Waugh hooked the ball over his shoulder and it was cleared away from the line by Heard but Maidstone’s dominance finally paid off on 69 minutes when they doubled their lead. Substitute Baff Addae who had been causing the Whitstable defence plenty of problems since his introduction pulled the ball back to Bewick. The Maidstone midfielder then chipped a delightful pass into the box where it was met by Waugh who expertly placed his header past Smelt.
Waugh and Addae both then had opportunities before The Stones scored again six minutes from time with an excellent goal. Substitute James Pinnock found Green who clipped the ball down the left hand side of the box. The impressive Tom Mills looked like he would struggle to make the attempted pass but he got to the ball and sent it into the middle of the box where it was diverted past Smelt by Pinnock.
Another run from Addae one minute later ended with him shooting at Smelt and then with the game in stoppage time, Maidstone rounded off an enjoyable afternoon when Michael Phillips played in Green and he confidently smashed the ball into the net.
Maidstone United: Sam Bewick 27, Alex Waugh 69, James Pinnock 84, Ellis Green 90
Whitstable Town: -
Maidstone United: Daren Hawkes, Tommy Osborne, Tom Mills, Sam Groombridge, Graeme Andrews, Ash Greenwood (Baff Addae 63), Ellis Green, Sam Bewick, Shaun Welford, Alex Waugh (James Pinnock 80), Michael Phillips. Subs not used: Jay Saunders, Danny Lye, Marc Powell.
Whitstable Town: Jack Smelt, Alfie Munday (James Brown 47), Gary Sayer, Shane Hamshere, Steve Lloyd (Ryan Moreby 63), Oliver Thompson, Dane Luchford,(J P Collier 59), Scott Heard, Stuart Vahid, Damian Abel, James Morrison. Subs not used: Joe Hutchings, Dan Hadlow.
