|
Maidstone United capped a fantastic
season in the best possible style, thumping VCD Athletic
to lift the Kent League Cup for the second time. This
was the fifth meeting of the season between the sides
who had already faced each other in the group stage
of the competition but it was perhaps one of the most
one-sided of the games as Maidstone eased to a comfortable
victory.
There could have been a totally different outcome to
this tie had VCD taken advantage of their early chances.
First, Ashley Probets managed to evade a couple of challenges
in midfield but his eventual shot was poor and it sailed
well wide. Then Danny Penny was guilty of wasting a
good opportunity when he was put through on goal on
the right hand side of the box but he shot straight
into the arms of Pat Mullin.
Slowly, The Stones began to assert themselves on the
game and on 24 minutes Aaron Lacy sent a low ball across
the edge of the box which was picked up by Mo Takaloo.
Takaloo managed to create room for a shot that was saved
by Grant Wallis’ legs and Lee Sperring drove the
rebound wide.
However, on 29 minutes Maidstone did find the back
of the net when Aaron Lacy was fouled in midfield. Jason
Barton, who had an excellent game on his return to the
starting line up, lifted a fantastic ball into the box,
which was headed past Wallis by the leaping Mario Celaire.
Three minutes later, Celaire’s header from a Lacy
corner dropped just over the bar before The Stones doubled
their lead 8 minutes from the break. Lynden Rowland
received the ball close to the penalty area and he beat
Lee Coburn before lashing the ball low into the bottom
right hand corner of the net.
Takaloo then hit the bar with a delicate lob on 41
minutes but he had more luck shortly after half time
when he added the third Stones goal. Lee Sperring and
Lynden Rowland exchanged passes out on the left hand
side and Sperring poked the ball to Craig Roser who
whipped in a cross, which was met by Rowland. Rowland’s
header smacked the cross bar but Takaloo was on hand
to fire the ball into the net.
With 57 minutes played, VCD had a rare attack which
saw Ashley Probets collect the ball deep in his half
before running most of the length of the pitch into
the box but a combination of Mullin and Celaire stopped
his shot heading goal bound.
And then just 5 minutes later, The Stones added a fourth
goal when the Lacy and Ryan Royston combination from
a throw worked to good effect once more and the ball
fell to Takaloo. His first shot stuck Wallis’ foot
but when the ball ballooned up again, Takaloo headed
in his 44th goal of a remarkable season.
There was time for Ashley Probert’s corner to
be headed across the face of goal by Lee Coburn before
Lloyd Hume made a brief appearance as a striker, much
to the delight of the massive Stones support.
After the game, Jimmy Strouts lifted both the League
Cup and Trophy to round off what has surely been the
most exciting and enjoyable season, on and off the pitch,
since The Stones reformed.
< <
< Back to match reports index
|
