|
The Stones have the advantage
going into the second leg of the League Cup semi final
against Hythe following a narrow victory.
However, the game will be remembered for an extraordinary
incident towards the end of the first half. With 42
and a half minutes on the clock the referee, Mr Carter,
decided it was time for his half time refreshments and
called a halt to the proceedings. By the time he realised
his error most of the players were off the pitch and
heading for the dressing room but he called them back
to play out the remaining minutes.
Chances were few and far between in the opening 45
minutes but The Stones took the lead with just 8 minutes
gone. Lee Sperring slipped the ball to Craig Roser who
sent over a deep cross. Jimmy Strouts' initial header
was palmed away by the outstretched Nick Day but Nathan
Paul was on hand to fire the ball in from close range.
Three minutes later Hythe came close to equalising
when Damien Abel lashed a shot just past the post.
Then with 30 minutes gone, Jimmy Strouts put a looping
header over the bar before he saw another header scrambled
away three minutes later.
But within 4 minutes of the restart, Hythe drew level
when Roy Guiver connected with Adam Todd's cross and
headed the ball back across goal and in off the inside
of the post.
This signalled the start of Hythe's best spell as Maidstone
struggled to find any rhythm. With 62 minutes played,
Lee Sperring lost possession in the Hythe half. The
home side broke quickly with Ian Hayes carrying the
ball to the edge of the area before shooting just wide
of the corner of the goal.
Moments later Scott Lindsey made a vital interception,
stretching to cut out Richard Sinden's ball across the
box before The Stones regained the lead with a good
goal.
Paul sent an excellent diagonal ball out onto the wing
to Nick Hegley who had replaced Sam Tydeman at half
time. Hegley cut into the box and crossed for Mo Takaloo
to head in despite the best efforts of Day to keep the
ball out.
However, the lead was nearly short lived as straight
from the kick off Aaron Lacy lost concentration and
Terry King ran into the area before shooting across
the face of goal.
This was to be Hythe's last opportunity of the evening
though and The Stones will be favourites to reach the
final when the sides meet again in two weeks time.
< <
< Back to match reports index
|
