Saturday 17th December 2011 // Ryman League Division One // Attendance: // Report by Ruth Tunnell
Following Maidstone United’s thrashing at Worthing which saw The Stones beaten for the fifth consecutive game, it seems hard to believe that this is the same side that marched to the top of the Ryman One South table and remained undefeated for fourteen matches.
This was a disappointing display from The Stones and although they were not helped by the dismissal of Lee Gledhill with just 20 minutes played, Jay Saunders will be concerned with a number of things including some aspects of Maidstone’s defending and the fact that they rarely troubled Alan Mansfield in the Worthing goal.
There was an early scare for the home side when Sam Bewick turned on the edge of the box and sent a volley over the bar before The Rebels came close to opening the scoring with just five minutes played. Tom Manton clipped a good ball down the left into Mike Huckett who pulled the ball back to Steve Davies. Davies managed to evade Tom Mills and his low shot was heading into the net until Graeme Andrews intervened with a goal line clearance.
But with 17 minutes played Worthing did take the lead when Maidstone could not clear their lines and the influential Jamie Brotherton played the ball into Manton who drove the ball past the stranded Daren Hawkes.
Three minutes later matters got even worse for The Stones when they failed to win the ball in midfield allowing Davies to race into the box pursued by Gledhill. Unfortunately for Maidstone Gledhill brought down Davies and was dismissed before Huckett dispatched the resultant spot kick.
Having gone two nil down the visitors then had a good spell and on 28 minutes Tommy Osborne’s deep cross was headed over the bar by Shaun Welford and then with half an hour gone, Welford was on target this time when he converted Alex Flisher’s cross.
Two minutes later Worthing appealed loudly for a penalty when they felt that Jay Saunders had handled the ball inside the box. And then at the other end, with 38 minutes played, Bewick lifted a ball over the top of The Rebel’s defence for Flisher but a heavy touch from the Maidstone player allowed Mansfield to gain possession.
Five minutes before the break The Stones were fortunate not to fall further behind when Hawkes threw the ball to Lye who gifted Manton possession and Lye had Hawkes to thank for saving his blushes and parrying Manton’s shot.
However, The Stones were finally made to pay for some poor defending with 42 minutes played when their defence stood and watched as Brotherton’s deep cross was headed in at the back post by Davies.
Six minutes after the break Worthing added a fourth goal when Osborne could not clear the ball and it was worked to Luke Gedling who was allowed time to drive a low shot past Hawkes from the edge of the area.
Then just past the hour mark, Brotherton dribbled the ball towards the area before it came to Davies who saw his shot fly just wide of the right hand post and with 66 minutes gone, Maidstone switched off as a Worthing throw came to Huckett who scored with an excellent finish.
With 72 minutes played, the unmarked Paul Kennett saw his header bounce just wide and minutes later, Andrews gifted Davies possession and Hawkes was forced to make two saves before Lye cleared the ball off the line.
Twelve minutes before full time, Kennett was sent off for a second bookable offence after bringing down substitute Michael Phillips twenty yards from goal in a central position and from the resultant free-kick, substitute Alex Waugh made Mansfield parry the ball.
The final opportunity of the game fell to Worthing though as with 80 minutes played, Brotherton went past Lye and decided to shoot as he reached the edge of the area and his fierce effort thumped just wide.
Worthing: Tom Manton 17, Mike Huckett 20 (pen) 66, Steve Davies 42, Luke Gedling 51,
Maidstone United: Shaun Welford 30
Worthing: Alan Mansfield, Matt Piper, Steve Metcalf (Mark Pulling 59), Paul Kennett, Matt Hurley, Glen Woodburn, Jamie Brotherton (Shaun Charles 85), Mike Huckett, Steve Davies, Tom Manton, Luke Gedling (Billy Franks 88). Subs not used: John Lansdale, Darren Budd.
Maidstone United: Daren Hawkes, Tommy Osborne, Tom Mills (James Pinnock 84), Lee Gledhill, Graeme Andrews, Sam Bewick (Michael Phillips 69), Ellis Green, Jay Saunders (Alex Waugh 45), Shaun Welford, Danny Lye, Alex Flisher. Subs not used: Ash Greenwood, Sam Groombridge.
We are better then this back to basics i think.