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An improved performance from The Stones saw
them claim a point against Burgess Hill after Simon
Austin had scored Maidstone's first goal in 232 minutes
of football.
It was The Stones who enjoyed the better of the opening
stages and Andre Foster produced a good save at the
near post to deny Simon Austin.
But with their first attack, Burgess Hill managed to
undo Maidstone's defence when a scramble in the box
ended with Joe Bye turning and guiding the ball in with
15 minutes played.
Maidstone continued to push forward at every opportunity
but all to often the final ball into the box or resultant
shot wasn't good enough.
However, on 34 minutes Kane Rice saw a long range effort
go close and then a minute later, Sam Tydeman played
Nick Hegley in only for Foster to block the shot with
his legs.
Burgess Hill had lost Clay Laymont with a suspected
ruptured achillies tendon just before the break but
they were still managing to stretch the Maidstone defence.
On 50 minutes Lew Watts allowed Ashley Jarvis to slip
past him but Jarvis elected to shoot early and missed
the target.
This was to prove costly for the Hillians as only a
minute later Maidstone equalised. Simon Austin saw his
initial shot parried by Foster and Craig Roser managed
to regain possesion and send the ball back into the
box. Foster, under pressure from Leroy Huggins, dropped
the cross and Austin buried the ball from close range.
There after both sides had opportunities to snatch
a winner. Luke Gedling and Kevin Budge had good chances
for The Hillians whilst Simon Austin saw one shot go
just wide and Foster excellently parried another fierce
effort.
However, any chance that Maidstone had of grabbing
all three points disappeared in stoppage time when Nick
Barnes was dismissed for elbowing Neil Watts and leaving
the Burgess Hill player with a suspected broken nose.
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