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Following Maidstone's impressive
victory away at Folkestone on Monday night Alan Walker
rang the changes in the side with just four players
opening the game that had started down at The Buzzlines
Stadium.
The result was a rather patchy and indifferent performance
as The Stones lost their way after conceding a sloppy
goal towards the start of the second half as Walker
commented after the game: " The result doesn't
bother me but the performance bothers me. I was pleased
with the way we started the second half but we lost
our shape once we conceded a silly goal and lost the
game because of it."
Maidstone also lost three players - Sam Tydeman, Nick
Hegley and Errison Ahwan - to injuries during the match
but Walker didn't feel particularly concerned by any
of them saying: " All three have got little niggling
hamstrings but I don't expect any of them to be too
serious. Sam and Nick came off because they were feeling
tight and Errison is not available anyone on Saturday
so he is going to get a good rest until at least the
game at Aveley."
The Stones played some neat football in the first half
and a good move with 19 minutes gone saw Leory Huggins
slip the ball through to Kane Rice but his lob over
the advancing Gary Hopper just cleared the bar.
However, with 26 minutes played The Stones found themselves
in front when Adam Ling put the ball into his own net
following a Tydeman corner.
And 5 minutes later, Jason Barton really should have
doubled the lead following another Tydeman corner but
he snatched at the opportunity and screwed the ball
high and wide from just 6 yards.
Hopper then made a good save from an Andy Hart long-range
effort before reserves and under 18 keeper Adam Harris
made an equally impressive save, tipping Nick Smith's
fierce drive onto the bar and over for a corner.
But just after the break, Harris was powerless to stop
Lordswood equalising. Barton made a hash of his clearance
and the ball fell to Shawn Hetterley who made no mistake
in finding the back of the net.
Then with 64 minutes played, Lordswood grabbed the
winner when Gary East cut inside into the box and despite
Harris getting a hand to his shot, the ball sailed into
the far right hand corner of the net.
There was time for trialist Lee Bremner to draw a goal
line save from Hopper and for Mo Takaloo to go close
to scoring twice but Maidstone couldn't in the end force
an equaliser.
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