| The first league meeting between Cray Wanderers and Maidstone United in three seasons ended in success for The Stones thanks to a solitary strike from Alex Tiesse.
The goal was Tiesse's fourth in four games for The Stones and another pleasing aspect of the evening was the fact that Maidstone kept a third consecutive clean sheet for the first time this season.
It was The Stones who dominated the first half and with 10 minutes gone they had their first opportunity when Aaron Lacy's throw was left by the Cray defence and Simon Austin's overhead kick drifted wide of the right hand post.
Austin then carved out another good chance when he did well to cut into the box but as he worked his way across the area he sent his shot curling away from goal.
Then on 31 minutes, Aaron Lacy played a great ball over the top to Nick Hegley who managed to force his shot under Steve Northwood but when the ball broke free Austin couldn’t hit the target.
After dominating for so long, it was a relief for The Stones supporters when the home side finally took the lead on 36 minutes. Lacy's throw into the box was headed on by Mario McNish to Alex Tiesse who was waiting on the six yard box and he turned and fired in from close range.
Going behind seemed to jolt the lethargic Cray side into life and Jamie Wood had their first attempt on goal when he drove a shot over then Ross Lover saw his effort just clear the bar minutes before the interval.
The visitors enjoyed more possession in the second half but they only significantly threatened to score once when Pat Mullin had to leap to his right to turn substitute Jason Stuart's long range strike round the post.
Meanwhile, it was The Stones who had the best chances to add to their goals for tally. Lynden Rowland was brought on in the second half and he two good chances within two minutes but he found the side netting with the first and he lobbed the ball over the bar seconds later when he had time to take the ball further into the box.
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