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After the highs of last weeks
victory over Beckenham, The Stones were brought crashing
back to earth as they struggled to a draw with Broxbourne
Borough.
It was hard to believe that this was the same side
that had looked so accomplished just seven days earlier,
for Maidstone were truly dreadful.
And Alan Walker was left bitterly disappointed with
his side’s performance. He said: “ It was
definitely a case of after the Lord Mayors Show. With
one or two exceptions, we were very, very poor. I’m
just happy to get another bit of the cherry really.”
There were early warning sides that this was not going
to be a vintage showing from The Stones when after 6
minutes, Lee Newman found himself in space near the
penalty spot but with Pat Mullin advancing, he lifted
his shot over the bar.
However, Maidstone sneaked into the lead with 19 minutes
played. Aaron Lacy pumped a deep cross into the box
and Mo Takaloo had ages to collect the ball, turn and
fire the ball past Mark Hebdon via the foot of the post.
Pat Mullin then produced a superb save to deny Borough
when he reacted quickly to get down to his right and
turn Emil Aiken’s shot around the post.
But with The Stones failing to get into their stride
it seemed inevitable that they would concede a goal
and so it proved shortly before half time. Maidstone’s
lethargic defence should have dealt with a Borough corner
but some reason they froze, allowing ex-United player
Ross Edwards to stab the ball home.
For a brief period after the break, The Stones seemed
a rejuvenated side and Ryan Royston went close with
a curling effort before Craig Roser played a terrific
ball into Nick Hegley who sprinted into space and lashed
his shot against the bar.
United had lost Lynden Rowland at half time to illness
and his replacement Lee Sperring won a penalty with
61 minutes played when he cut inside Adam Norman, only
for the Borough player to bring him down. An extraordinary
incident then followed as Jimmy Strouts insisted that
he, and not the regular penalty taker Takaloo, should
take the spot kick. It was to prove a bad mistake as
Strouts rashly smashed his shot against the bar.
With Bourne Park collectively grumbling at Strouts’
poor finishing The Stones captain quickly redeemed himself,
diving to head in Nick Hegley’s cross.
The lead didn’t last long though as with United
were punished for some inept defending. Aaron Lacy failed
to get anywhere near to challenging Tan Tezel who sent
a low shot goalwards. Mullin did well to get a hand
to the ball but he was powerless to stop the excellent
Aiken knocking in the rebound.
And it could have got much worse for Maidstone with
the game in stoppage time. Ryan Royston was caught totally
flat-footed as Aiken advanced but the Borough striker
put his shot just wide of the post.
So the game entered extra time and Borough should have
won the tie within 4 minutes of the restart. Mullin
came rushing out of his goal to try and clear a long
ball forward but he made a hash of it and struck the
ball against Aiken. With The Stones defence struggling
to get back, Aiken snatched at the opportunity and blazed
the ball over the bar.
Meanwhile, the closest Maidstone came to winning the
tie was after 97 minutes when substitute Jason Barton
sent a terrific drive narrowly over the top of the goal
but had that gone in, it would have been harsh on Borough
who had at least deserved a replay.
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