Maidstone United’s long unbeaten run has finally come to the end as they missed a host of chances to slump to defeat for the first time in thirteen matches.
Before the game, manager Alan Walker had spoken about the need to start the game well and score as quickly as possible, but unfortunately for The Stones the early goal went in at the wrong end as far as they were concerned for Chatham Town took the lead after just fifty one seconds.
Straight from the kick off, the first of two crucial lapses in the Maidstone defence, let in the on-loan Ramsgate players Shane Suter and Gavin Schulz and Schulz sent his shot across Pat Mullin into the far right hand corner of the net.
Conceding early seemed to shake The Stones’ confidence and on six minutes, Chatham opened up the United defence once again but Steve Davis’ drive went wide.
Desperate to get back on level terms, Maidstone finally began to put the Chatham defence under pressure and on twelve minutes Ryan Royston headed past the post before Mo Takaloo had a shot held after good work on the edge of the box once again.
Then with twenty five minutes played, The Stones did draw level thanks to a special goal from Simon Austin. Takaloo hit the ball forward to the Maidstone striker and with the Chatham defence retreating, Austin let the ball bounce before hitting a superb dipping volley straight into the middle of the net which left John Whitehouse stranded on the edge of his six yard box.
As The Stones looked to build on this excellent goal, they began to create more opportunities and on thirty three minutes Nick Hegley found himself one on one with Whitehouse but he dithered, allowing Whitehouse to collect the ball. Then on the stroke of half time, Takaloo hit the bar for the third game in succession with a free kick from the edge of the box.
After the break, The Stones continued to press and within five minutes of the restart, they should have added at least two goals to their tally. The first chance fell to Hegley after he was put clear by Austin but he shot across the face of goal and then Hegley did well to win possession close to the Chatham area and release Takaloo but with just Whitehouse to beat, Takaloo put the ball straight into the Chatham keeper’s arms.
At the other end, Chatham then proved that they still were a threat on the break as Schultz passed to Davis and his shot deflected just wide but at this point, Maidstone were very much on top and on fifty two minutes, Royston’s header only just missed the target as he rose to meet Sam Tydeman’s corner.
Eight minutes later, Suter acrobatically tried to prevent a corner with an overhead kick but his clearance fell to Hegley on the edge of the box and his shot looked to be heading through a crowd of players into the net, only for Whitehouse to make an excellent reaction save to his left hand side.
Lynden Rowland then replaced Austin and Rowland should have had an immediate effect when he was put clear by Aaron Lacy. Rowland raced to the edge of the area where he was met by Whitehouse, and frustratingly for The Stones, once again they couldn’t find their way past the Chatham keeper.
uch wastefulness in front of goal was always going to return to haunt Maidstone and on eighty two minutes a Chatham free-kick led to Schulz bundling in the winner from close range.
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