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For the third time this season, The Stones found themselves on the end of a defeat to Billericay Town, but unlike on the other two occasions, Maidstone were unlucky not to have claimed a draw from the game.
However, despite playing against ten men for just over an hour, The Stones failed to put Ronnie Worster in the Billericay goal under any concerted pressure and when Lynden Rowland’s header flashed wide in the 68 th minute when he should have scored, it was predictable that the visitors would punish Maidstone for this miss.
“We didn’t deliver the ball into the box with any quality” Alan Walker said afterwards. “We had one or two opportunities to put the game out the way but we just didn’t take them. I don’t feel that we are anywhere near the standard required at this football club for this level of football. Some of our players just can’t cope at this level and so we are looking to bring in better players.”
After conceding early goals in their last two games, the last thing Maidstone would have wanted was the ball dropping to the unmarked Steve Heffer following a Leon Hunter free kick on two minutes but the Billericay player fired wide.
The game then entered a lull and it wasn’t until the 26 th minute when Billericay had another opportunity when Bradley Wood-Garness sailed past Craig Roser but his shot from twenty five yards didn’t trouble Pat Mullin.
Then two minutes later, the game was brought to life when Ben Lewis stooped to head the ball and was inexplicably assaulted by Paul Shave. It was a horrendous challenge and the referee Mr Meilack had no choice but to dismiss Shave.
Following the sending off, Maidstone began to look the better side but Billericay still looked threatening on the break. On 40 minutes, Billy Bricknell got away from Chris Smalling and his low drive just missed the far post.
Sixty seconds later, Mo Takaloo’s free kick took a deflection off Darren Blewitt and struck the bar before going out for a corner. Sam Tydeman then swung the ball into the box which was met by Lee Shearer at the far post and his header was cleared off the line.
After the break, Maidstone continued to enjoy the greater share of possession and on 52 minutes, Mo Takaloo drew a good save from Worster when the Billericay keeper had to tip Takaloo’s lofted shot over the bar.
Four minutes later, a misplaced pass from Smalling allowed Billericay to push forwards but the Maidstone defender recovered well to turn Wood-Garness’ cross behind with Bricknell waiting to pounce.
Then on 68 minutes, the deadlock should have been broken. Tydeman whipped in an excellent cross to the unmarked Lynden Rowland and with only Worster to beat, Rowland failed to hit the target and his header bounced wide of the left hand post.
At the other end, with 73 minutes gone, Wood-Garness got in behind Smalling and passed to Michael Black but Mullin made a good save to deny the Billericay substitute.
However, Mullin was less fortunate six minutes later as the visitors took the lead. Once again, Billericay had broken out of defence and it had appeared that Smalling was shoved by Bricknell as he tried to clear the ball. No free kick was forthcoming though and Billericay quickly regained possession and passed to Bricknell whose shot squirmed through the arms of Mullin before coming to rest just inside the left hand post.
There was still time for Lewis to have a fierce shot blocked on the line following a Tydeman corner but Maidstone couldn’t force an equaliser and slipped to their thirteen defeat of the season.
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