| Tooting and Mitcham inflicted Maidstone United’s fifth league defeat of the season way back in November and the same side ensured The Stones’ ten match unbeaten spell was ended just over two months later.
During the past couple of games Maidstone have managed to come from a goal behind to win despite not playing that well. And inevitably their luck dried up on their trip to Imperial Fields as they came up against a strong Tooting and Mitcham side who surely will finish higher than the eleventh place they currently occupy in Ryman League One.
Certainly Alan Walker had feared that a defeat was possible in this fixture saying: “I spoke to the players before the game about the fact that I could see this sort of result coming because we have been poor in the last few games and bad habits have been creeping in even though we have been getting results. We stressed the need for everyone to be organised and do their job and in the first 45 minutes we were woeful.”
But although Maidstone were on the whole poor during the first half, they should have taken the lead with only six minutes played. Pat Mullin’s goal kick was flicked on by Aaron Lacy to Alex Tiesse who outpaced the Tooting defence and elected to shoot early, sending the ball into the Stones supporters amassed behind the goal.
It didn’t take long for Tooting to take control of the game though and Mullin was forced to make two wonderful saves inside two minutes to keep the scores level. With eleven minutes gone, Maidstone allowed Eren Allen far too much time and space and his curling shot from just outside the area looked to be dipping under the bar until Mullin applied a vital touch. Then seconds later, The Stones didn’t pick up Paul Vines who was lurking inside the area and Mullin did well to fling himself to his right to block Vines’ effort.
Mullin has often come in for criticism this season but afterwards Alan Walker was quick to praise his keeper saying: “We have a lot of faith in Pat Mullin, he is a good keeper. Unfortunately when you are the goalkeeper and you make a mistake you are there to be shot at as it inevitably leads to a goal. Today I thought he was excellent and I don’t think he had a chance with any of the three goals.”
Certainly Mullin wasn’t helped by his defence on nineteen minutes when Tooting took the lead after Alan McCleod was once again left unchallenged and he advanced a couple of paces to the edge of the area before arrowing his low shot straight into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
However, within seven minutes Maidstone had equalised following a neat move. Craig Roser planted an excellent pass over the top of the Tooting defence to Nick Hegley and although it initially appeared that Hegley’s touch was far from ideal he managed to get the ball to Mo Takaloo who had his back to goal. Takaloo is always a threat in these situations as Tooting were about to discover as some how he managed to swivel and drive his shot into the roof of the net for his first goal for The Stones since he returned from Ramsgate.
Hegley then forced the Tooting keeper Dave King to block his shot at the near post before Maidstone gifted the home side their second goal of the afternoon. Once again Maidstone’s defence stood off allowing Allen to sweep a cross-field ball into the area where the unmarked Vines gratefully headed in his fourth goal of the season against The Stones.
Half time saw Alan Walker and Lloyd Hume make much needed changes as Lee Shearer and Jason Barton were brought on for Ryan Royston and Errison Ahwan but it was the home side who had the first chance of the second half when Allen’s shot was turned away Mullin at the base of the right hand post.
However, Maidstone upped the temp and on fifty minutes, Sam Tydeman’s strike from long range was deflected over before Tiesse’s effort a minute later suffered the same fate.
Despite enjoying more of the possession in the second half, The Stones could never put Tooting under any sustained pressure, as the opportunity to put the ball into a threatening area in the box was nearly always wasted, for countless times King was able to claim a simple catch.
But on seventy five minutes Maidstone had a chance to equalise when Mario McNish and Nathan Paul combined well on the right and Paul released substitute Simon Austin but as King advanced, Austin rounded the keeper and was forced wide before he could get his shot in on goal.
Then with six minutes remaining, Austin whipped a much welcomed good cross into the box to Takaloo and King some how managed to tip his header round the post for a corner.
With Maidstone pressing for an equaliser Tooting then broke quickly out of defence and Allen managed to hold off the challenge from Roser before ensuring the three points for the home side when he slotted a cool finish under Mullin.
So The Stones now visit Godalming Town looking for a victory to possibly get back into the play off spots and Walker is hoping that his players will give a good account of themselves on Tuesday as he commented: “We’ve challenged the players to show their character and bounce back as we have some tough games coming up. We will now see what the players are made of and whether they can produce a good performance and bounce back against Godalming Town.”
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