Tuesday 21st August 2012 // Ryman One South // Attendance – // Report by Ruth Tunnell
With only two games of the season played, The Stones have already scored and conceded seven goals. But after the disappointment of Saturday, at least this time Maidstone emerged victorious from another match with plenty of goalmouth action.
As Whitstable are known for their threat in the air and from set pieces, Jay Saunders elected to change the side with Tim Olorunda coming into midfield and Shaun Welford being deployed in the lone striker role. It was Olorunda who had an immediate impact on his return to the side as with 15 minutes played, he curled a stunning strike into the net from outside the area.
For the majority of the first half, The Stones had kept Whitstable at bay but with 32 minutes gone, Ian Pullman let fly from distance and his effort only just cleared the right hand post. Then one minute later, The Oysterboys drew level when Shane Hamshare threw the ball into the box and it bounced over two Maidstone players before Michael Everitt nipped in to score at the near post.
However, four minutes before the break, Maidstone were in front once again when this time a long ball forward left Shaun Welford one on one with Whitstable keeper Rob French. Although Welford could not find a way past French, the ball came back out to Michael Phillips who continued his good start to the season and slotted home his second goal in two games.
The game could have had a different outcome had Whitstable taken the chance that came their way with just seconds played of the second half. Damien Abel sent the ball into the box and Hamshare went flying as he went to meet the cross. The referee, Mr Ions, perhaps surprisingly felt that Hamshare had been fouled by Tom Mills and pointed to the spot but Jake Beecroft’s straight penalty was well saved by Deren Ibrahim.
The Stones took confidence from this miss and they twice threatened through Phillips and then Tim Olorunda before Sam Bewick’s cross-shot flew just wide of the left hand post. Bewick and Philips were involved again on 69 minutes when Bewick lifted a delightful ball into Philips down the right hand side and Phillip’s shot was heading in until French intervened with an excellent save.
Then four minutes later, The Stones finally added a third goal when Tim Olorunda curled a shot from distance towards goal and it appeared that French was going to claim the ball. However, French got into a muddle and dropped the ball as he jumped to catch it and it bounced off the post to the waiting Shaun Welford who pounced to score his first goal of the season.
As the game moved towards its conclusion, Bewick whipped in a dangerous cross which was met by Welford and his glancing header flew wide and then Maidstone were sloppy with possession and allowed substitute James Morrish to shoot from distance but Ibrahim stopped the ball close to his right hand post.
There was then a nervy end to the game for the travelling Maidstone fans when with the game in stoppage time, Mills tripped Pullman inside the box and the Whitstable striker converted the resultant penalty but fortunately for The Stones, they held on for their first win of the season.
Whitstable Town: Michael Everitt 33, Ian Pullman 90 (pen).
Maidstone United: Tim Olorunda 15, Michael Phillips 41, Shaun Welford 73.
Whitstable Town: Rob French, Scott Heard, Sam Groombridge, Michael Everitt, Josh Hare, Laurence Harvey, Jake Beecroft, Stuart Vahid (Dane Luchford 63), Ian Pullman, Damien Abel (James Morrish 77), Shane Hamshare (Dan Whisker 77). Subs not used: Nick Shaw, Jake McKenzie.
Maidstone United: Deren Ibrahim, Tommy Osborne, Tom Mills, Nicky Humphrey, Graeme Andrews, Tim Olorunda, Ben Davisson (Danny Lye 61), Sam Bewick, Shaun Welford (Paul Booth 86), Kaiyne Woolery, Michael Phillips. Subs not used: Ade Olorunda, Ryan Cooper, Charlier Mitten.
