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The Stones collected another 3
points in Group C of the Premier Division Cup with a
victory over a determined Tunbridge Wells side at Bourne
Park.
However, with the satisfaction of
a return to winning ways after two successive cup defeats,
came the disappointment that this game was played out
in front of the smallest home attendance for a Maidstone
United fixture since their elevation to the Kent League.
Just 98 hardy souls braved the windy chill of a Wednesday
evening in Sittingbourne. Although the game itself was
not a classic, those present were treated to 5 goals
from two sides both intent on getting a positive result.
The visitors got the upper hand in matters very early
in proceedings. Just 5 minutes were on the clock when
a poor header from Jason Barton back to keeper Pat Mullin
was seized upon by Mike Ward. He made no mistake from
6 yards out, powering his effort past the exposed Maidstone
keeper.
The pattern of recent Stones’ performances then
followed, with periods of dominant possession without
much to show for their effort. Mo Takaloo and Lynden
Rowland combined well, with Rowland putting his left
footed shot into the back of the net. Unfortunately,
the assistant’s flag was raised for offside. Then,
just four minutes later in the 15th minute, Jimmy Strouts
missed the first of three good opportunities to level
the score.
The first two of his efforts were dragged across John
Whitehouse’s goal, the third effort was hit tamely
with his weaker left boot directly at The Wells’
stopper. The building frustration amongst the hardy
souls present was relieved in the 29th minute via an
equaliser courtesy of Rowland.
It is fair to say that this goal had some fortune attached
to it. Strouts threaded a through ball along the ground
in the middle of the pitch which Rowland ran on to.
He looked suspiciously offside but the assistant referee
Mr Grant kept his flag down. Driving down on goal Rowland
was presented with a one on one challenge with Whitehouse.
The clash for the ball between the two occurred just
outside the penalty area and it appeared to some that
Rowland may have handled the ball as it went past the
keeper. Neither referee Mr Andrews nor Mr Grant saw
this infringement and Rowland confidently slotted the
ball into the empty net from just inside the box.
The only other goal chance of the half fell to the
visitors. Dave Hassett found himself with the ball at
this feet inside The Stones’ area but his hurried
shot was smothered by the advancing Mullin to keep the
half time scores level.
Maidstone started the 2nd half brightly and within
three minutes of the restart, Takaloo blazed over from
2yards after Rowland and Stouts combined well on the
left to set up this golden opportunity. However, within
one minute the home side were in front. A typical jinking
run from Nick Hegley saw the wide man strike a shot
that Whitehouse could only parry and Strouts followed
up to smash home the loose ball from almost on the goal
line.
The spirit of Martin Farnie’s Wells side was shown
to great effect in the next minute though, as the red
tide poured forward and levelled the score. John Sinclair
sent a dangerous cross into the penalty area from the
left and Ward again found himself with time and space
inside the Maidstone penalty area to control the ball
and to drill it home at the far post.
An entertaining start to the second half peaked four
minutes later when The Stones regained the lead with
what was to prove to be the winning goal. Craig Roser
struck a low left footed pass through midfield from
his left back position into the path of Rowland. Again
Whitehouse rushed out from his goal and in effect made
a block tackle on the Maidstone striker. The benefit
of Rowland’s continued desire to chase seemingly
lost causes was highlighted when he got the stroke of
luck needed as his tackle with The Wells keeper saw
the ball fly straight into the net from the edge of
the box. This was a fine reward for a player that has
put in consistently high tempo performances this season.
Despite a final flourish from Tunbridge Wells, they
could not muster a significant effort on the Maidstone
goal to secure an equaliser. This result leaves VCD
top of Group C with 7 points, The Stones have 6 points,
The Wells 4 points and Deal Town prop up the group without
a point to their name. Each side has now played three
games and the top two sides will progress to the quarter
finals.
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