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The Stones’ injury crisis shows no signs of ending after Nathan Paul, Ben Lewis and Lee Shearer all ended the AFC Wimbledon game on Maidstone’s lengthy casualty list.
Despite falling two goals behind in an exciting opening to the match, The Stones put Wimbledon under pressure and could have found themselves level by half time. However, the game began to change when Maidstone lost the influential Lee Shearer to a dead leg and once debutant Conor Hagan had been sent off there was to be no way back into the game for The Stones.
With AFC Wimbledon in great form having unbeaten since the start of December, the last thing Maidstone would have wanted was to fall behind to an early to an early goal. However, their worst fears were realised when Mark Beard’s shot struck Ben Lewis’ arm with just one minute gone and Mark De Bolla sent Pat Mullin the wrong way from the penalty spot.
After just 10 minutes, Wimbledon increased their lead. A corner from the right hand side was swung into the box and Jake Leberl flicked his header goalwards which then diverted into the net by Tony Finn.
However, within three minutes, The Stones pulled a goal back. A good move initiated by Hagan saw Nick Hegley pass the ball to Craig Roser and his cross was headed onto the bar by Alex Tiesse. When the ball dropped back into the box, Mo Takaloo pounced to steer in his 11 th goal of the season.
This seemed to give Maidstone a much needed boost of confidence and they began to assert themselves upon the visitors. On 15 minutes, The Stones were unfortunate not to draw level when Lewis headed Hagan’s corner against the bar and Takaloo’s subsequent shot was scrambled off the line.
Three minutes later, Rob Owen volleyed a goal kick from Lee Butcher into space for Nick Hegley to chase and Hegley ran into the box before hitting his shot agonisingly wide of the far post.
With 22 minutes played, it was Wimbledon’s turn to go close when De Bolla’s corner came out to substitute Anthony Howard but his powerful header hit the advertising hoardings to the right of Mullin.
Mark Beard was then booked for diving in the box when Lee Shearer won the ball off him before Wimbledon were reduced to ten men when Daniel Webb was dismissed for a dreadful two footed lunge on Hagan.
Three minutes before the break, Tiesse could have shown greater awareness when Paul sent a low ball into the box but his first touch was poor and when he managed to pull the ball back, it was cleared.
On 51 minutes, Tiesse showed good skill to turn in the box and lay the ball off to Hegley and although Takaloo tried to knock Hegley’s shot past Butcher the Wimbledon keeper gathered the ball.
Sixty seconds later, the visitors broke quickly and Steve Ferguson found himself with just Mullin to beat but his shot was comfortably saved.
Maidstone then lost Shearer to injury and Hagan picked up his first booking on 52 minutes before Lebrel’s effort was stopped by Mullin’s foot.
Then on 54 minutes, Hagan’s good debut came to an abrupt end when he was dismissed for his second booking inside two minutes.
There after, Wimbledon dominated the proceedings and they should have improved their goal difference but despite their superiority, they could not find their way past Mullin.
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