|
Maidstone United now have just three games remaining in which to preserve their Ryman Premier League status after they were comprehensively beaten by in-form Ashford Town.
If The Stones are to beat the drop they will have to show a significant improvement in their defending and finishing as for so like much of this season, they let in sloppy goals and were wasteful when presented with opportunities to score.
It was United who started the more brightly of the two sides and with just two minutes played, Ian Selley picked out Ben Lewis who headed the ball back across the goal and Russell Canderton had to be alert to put the ball out. From the resultant corner, Selley’s cross was dropped by Paul Burgess in the Ashford goal and Lewis back heeled the ball but Burgess recovered to snuff out the danger.
On seven minutes, Selley and Lewis combined again when Selley sent another deep free-kick into the area and Lewis, who was in a good position, launched himself at the ball but unfortunately could not make sufficient contact.
However, with just ten minutes played, Ashford opened the scoring in a depressingly familiar manner to so many of the goals Maidstone have conceded this season. A diagonal ball out to Warren Harris out on the left hand side left Craig Roser stranded and Harris raced to the by-line before cutting into the area. Harris then played a simple pass back to Ricky Wellard who easily side footed the ball past Steve Northwood.
There after, Maidstone dominated the remainder of the half and they had six chances to level the scores before the break.
With 16 minutes gone, Jacob Erskine flicked a header into the path of Alex Tiesse who blazed the ball over the bar from the left hand side of the area. Then four minutes later, a looping Aaron Lacy throw was headed backwards by Lewis and the ball bounced just inches wide of the right hand post.
Despite being under pressure, the visitors could have doubled their lead on 28 minutes. A poor pass from Lacy to Roser allowed Scott Todd to gain possession and the Ashford striker drew a smart save from Northwood.
Two minutes later, a burst of pace from Tiesse took him past Vinnie O’Sullivan and this time it was Burgess’ turn to pull off a good save as he tipped Tiesse’s rising drive over the bar.
Tiesse was then presented with an even better opportunity to score when Mo Takaloo slipped the ball through to him but unfortunately, the Maidstone striker’s weak shot dribbled wide.
Although he had missed a couple of chances, Tiesse did not let this affect his confidence and on 40 minutes, a neat move saw Mark Saunders release Tiesse but with a number of Maidstone players waiting in the box, Tiesse sent a wild shot over the bar.
Three minutes before half time, it looked as though The Stones would finally draw level when the ball dropped to the unmarked Takaloo and his shot appeared to be heading inside the right hand post before Burgess scrambled across and blocked Takaloo’s effort.
However, just after the break, Maidstone did equalise when Lacy’s throw was headed backwards by Lewis and the ball bounced in to give Lewis his first goal for The Stones.
Unfortunately though, the scores did not stay level for long as with 55 minutes played, Maidstone failed to get the ball clear, despite having numerous opportunities to do so and predictably when the ball came to Paul Johnson on the edge of the area, he curled a great finish into the right hand side of the net.
Saunders then had a header cleared off the line following a Selley corner before Harris had a difficult chance to score when he was left unmarked by Lacy as Johnson’s free-kick came into the area but the Ashford player volleyed the ball over.
With 67 minutes gone, substitute Sam Tydeman’s free-kick was cleared off the line and from the subsequent corner, Lee Shearer was presented with an opportunity but he headed the ball wide.
A good move from Maidstone moments later ended with Erksine’s shot being blocked for a corner before Shearer should have at least hit the target from another header but once again he failed to test Burgess in the Ashford goal.
Not for the first time this season, Maidstone then were made to rue their failure to convert the opportunities which came their way as on 73 minutes, Ashford hit The Stones on the break and Todd crossed for Gavin Smith who scored with a fantastic volley.
Five minutes later, The Stones’ misery was complete when Wellard found Smith inside the area and with the Maidstone defence static, Smith drilled in his second goal of the afternoon.
< <
< Back to match reports index
|
