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This may be a new look Maidstone
United side but the same old problems are still proving
costly. Just like so often last season, the Stones should
have won the game comfortably but instead a defensive
mix-up gifted Sittingbourne a fortuitous victory.
That said, there was a lot about
the performance to please Alan Walker and he chose to
focus on this after the game saying:“In the first
45 minutes we were outstanding and we created lots of
one on one chances. Coming off at 0-0 unbelievably flattered
them. We then made some changes and the young keeper
who came on wasn’t perhaps as switched on as he
should have been and it cost us but I'm not worried
about that because there are lots of positives to take
from tonight.”
With the exception of their winning goal, Sittingbourne's
best chances of the evening came early in the first
half and they should have taken the lead with just 6
minutes played. A communication error between Lloyd
Hume and Ryan Royston allowed Clint Gooding to take
the ball forward and play in Bradley Spice but his rushed
shot flew wide.
Pat Mullins then reacted well to push aside a free
kick from Spice but from then onwards the Stones dominated
the half and squandered a number of good opportunities.
The first of these came when Jimmy Strouts' header
struck the underside of the bar and Mo Takaloo could
only find fresh air as he swung at the rebound. It was
the start of a frustrating evening for Takaloo who could
have had at least four goals in the first half. However,
he forced Lee Friend to make a good save from a curling
shot and Friend came to Sittingbourne's rescue again
when Simon Austin put Takaloo through on goal. Then
just a minute before half time, a sweeping move involving
Gary Kimble and Nathan Paul ended with a deep cross
and Friend kept Takaloo's drive out once more.
There was no way past the excellent Friend for the
Stones although Austin must have thought he was going
to score with 61 minutes played when he latched onto
substitute Bradley Sandeman's cross but Friend, at full
stretch, palmed the ball away.
In contrast, Sittingbourne didn’t threaten the
Stone's goal at all in second half but a horrendous
defensive mix-up between the substitutes Richard Mannerings
and Gary Hemens gifted the Brickies the winner in the
79th minute. Both players dithered as the ball rolled
back into the box and although Lee Browning's shot came
back off the post, Clint Gooding slotted in the rebound.
There was time for Jimmy Strouts and Lee Browning to
clash a couple of times and the second incident saw
Strouts booked after a high challenge on Browning incensed
the Sittingbourne players but the landlords held on
for their first victory over their tenants.
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