|
Another below-par
display from The Stones saw them beaten for the second
pre-season game in succession.
Although pre-season
results do not matter one iota, the lack of cohesion
at the back must be a concern for Alan Walker and Lloyd
Hume as the new season approaches. Last season, The
Stones conceded just 23 goals in the league but already
they have let in 10 goals in 7 games.
 And
it was sloppy defending again which saw Beckenham Town
take the lead after 11 minutes when Danny Wilson crossed
for Jones Awuah to head in past Chuck Martini in goal.
Awuah’s contribution to the game was brief however,
as he was forced off with just 24 minutes played when
he landed awkwardly on his ankle following a tackle
from Mario McNish.
The Beckenham striker was replaced by Joe McDonald
and within 3 minutes McDonald had doubled the visitor’s
lead. Tony Sinclair played Martini into trouble with
a short back-pass and from the resultant throw, the
ball bounced in the box to Tony Gallagher. Martini did
well to partially block Gallagher’s shot and Sinclair
stopped the ball from crossing the line but the clearance
fell to McDonald who thumped the ball back in from close
range.
It took until the 33rd minute for The Stones to register
an attempt on the Beckenham goal when Jimmy Strouts
headed wide and then Strouts came close to equalising
when he hit the side netting following a good move involving
Kane Rice and Nick Hegley. 
Maidstone then had a good shout for a penalty ignored
just before half time when Steve McKenzie appeared to
deflect Lynden Rowland’s header over the bar using
his arm.
But Alan Walker was disappointed with The Stones’
performance in the first half saying: “It was
a total shocker. There is no doubting the talent we
have got in the dressing room but today we lacked the
desire. Without a shadow of a doubt the Beckenham team
wanted to compete more than we did. I think it was a
case again of playing a team of supposedly lower division
opponents and thinking we have got a divine right to
just stroll about and everything will work for us and
I’m quite pleased that that has happened, as it
is another valuable lesson that they have learnt. “
The second half, however, saw a much more determined
display from The Stones but they should have fallen
further behind on 63 minutes. Sinclair once again put
Martini in trouble with a weakly hit back-pass which
was intercepted by Ashley Carew but Carew’s curling
effort was diverted wide by the diving Mario McNish.
Three minutes later, Kane Rice was inches away from
equalising for Maidstone. Rice took a free-kick out
on the left hand touchline at least 35 yards from goal
and his curling shot deceived Darren Ibrahim in goal
and bounced down on top of the crossbar.
But with 71 minutes on the clock, The Stones found
themselves back in the game when an Aaron Lacy special
bounced in the box, substitute Andy Hart did well to
flick the ball back into the middle and Tony Sinclair
guided the ball past Ibrahim.
Lifted by the breakthrough, The Stones pressed Beckenham
back in their half for the remainder of the game. With
3 minutes remaining, Strouts saw a well-struck low free-kick
deflect past the right hand post and from he following
corner, Rice saw his drive blocked on the line.
Then with the game in stoppage time, Sinclair had a
chance to snatch an equaliser but his header from Lacy’s
long throw looped over the bar.
<
< < Back to match reports index
|
