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The fight for the Kent League
title will go right to the wire after both Maidstone
United and Beckenham Town won their penultimate games.
On paper, The Stones’ home
tie against VCD might have been a potential banana skin
for their title hopes but an excellent second half performance,
coupled with some ill disciplined behavior from the
visitors, saw Maidstone win comfortably.
Manager Lloyd Hume wasn’t happy with his side
at half time though saying: “In the first half
I thought we were quite poor and at half time I wasn’t
best pleased. But in the second half we did very well
and we won the game convincingly. It was a good win
as they are a good side.”
It was VCD, fielding three ex-Maidstone players, who
looked the better side early on and Lee Coburn was close
to applying the vital touch with 3 minutes played but
the ever reliable Craig Roser managed to get the ball
clear. Then just 6 minutes later, Steve Hogg headed
a deep corner back into the 6 yard box which Pat Mullin
managed to punch away as far as James Brown and his
diving header hit the side netting.
Slowly, The Stones began to impose themselves on the
game and Nick Hegley and Leroy Huggins saw their efforts
miss the target before Mo Takaloo had a goal ruled out
for offside with 32 minutes played. However, 3 minutes
later, Maidstone did edge in front when Sam Tydeman
sent a quick free-kick into Takaloo who turned and picked
out the unmarked Lynden Rowland at the far post and
he fired in his 24th goal of the season.
Just before half time, VCD blew a great chance to equalise
when Mark Greatorex burst clear of the Maidstone defence
but he elected to shoot early and in the end, his effort
was no where near troubling Pat Mullin in goal.
With 51 minutes played, James Brown found himself the
first of a number of players to make it into Mr Kelly’s
notebook for persistent fouling which was to signal
the start of a bad tempered period of play in which
the referee struggled to maintain control.
VCD were enjoying another spell of possession though
and nearly scored when Maidstone failed to close down
Mark Horan who strolled towards the area before unleashing
a fierce drive which only just cleared the bar.
However, The Stones killed off any lingering VCD hopes
of getting back into the game on 65 minutes when Jim
Strouts put a good ball over the top into Nick Hegley
who waited for the Athletic keeper Grant Wallis to commit
and curled a neat finish into the far corner of the
net.
Strouts then saw a header cleared off the line before
substitute Scott Lindsey conceded a free-kick in a central
position with 83 minutes gone. Ashley Probetts whipped
the ball towards the 6-yard box and Pat Mullin managed
to get a hand to Chris Whitehouse’s header but
the ball flew back into the air and Roser had to be
alert to stop substitute Juan Ramirez’s shot crossing
the line.
Following the corner, The Stones broke out of defence
and eventually, Strouts played Rowland through on goal.
Rowland entered the area and instead of electing to
shoot, unselfishly squared the ball to Takaloo who side
footed his finish into the empty net.
By now, VCD had lost their discipline and on 84 minutes,
Horan was dismissed and apparently shown the red card
twice for his actions. Greatorex was next to follow
when he was fouled by Roser and then he aimed a kick
at the Stones defender leaving Mr Kelly no option but
to show him a second yellow card and send him off.
There was still time for substitute Lee Sperring to
put Rowland through on goal again but Rowland attempted
to round Wallis and the VCD keeper did well to gather
the ball.
So if Maidstone are to be champions they need to beat
Sevenoaks Town next week and hope that Erith and Belverdere
take points off Beckenham. Its certainly making for
an exciting end to the season but will Lloyd Hume be
keeping an eye on events at Park View Avenue? He said:
“ No I wont to be honest, we’ve got to go
to Sevenoaks and do our job and hope and pray that Erith
do their job and get the result. It’s the hardest
game Beckenham could have had other than us so we are
blessed in that way. But if they come through that game
and they win they deserve to win the championship. However,
if we get the result and get the championship no one
will be happier than me.”
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