|
A stunning strike from Conor Hagan saw Maidstone complete their first league double of the season as The Stones came from behind to nick the win at Boreham Wood.
With 54 minutes played, Sam Tydeman lofted an inviting pass into the box which picked out the unmarked Hagan. Maidstone’s latest signing chested the ball down before rifling a delightful finish off his right foot into the roof of the net at the near post.
This was a rare moment of quality in a mediocre match but it was one which left Alan Walker delighted: “The goal Conor scored was worthy of winning any game” he said afterwards.
However, few would have thought that The Stones would register their tenth win of the season when they conceded yet another early goal. With three minutes on the clock, Mark Smith sent a free-kick from the half way line into the box which was missed by the jumping Errison Ahwan. The ball fell to Marvin Samuel and although he could not make good contact with his first effort, The Stones defence remained static and allowed him to fire the ball past the stranded Pat Mullin.
The Stones were struggling to find any fluency as the ball was constantly knocked up field and possession was lost and it was the home side who looked more incisive going forwards. On 19 minutes, Tom McGowan’s corner was met by Ryan Moran and his header came back off the bar to Luke Gregson whose shot looked certain to go in, before Mullin intervened with an excellent save to tip his effort onto the bar. When the ball fell in the six yard box for a third time, the influential Ben Lewis vitally put it behind for a corner with Chris Bangura waiting to pounce.
Then against the run of play and with half time looming, Maidstone equalised with their first shot on target. Tydeman delivered an excellent free-kick into the box and with the Boreham Wood defence asleep, Lynden Rowland nipped into score his eighth goal of the season.
The Stones emerged from the break looking more organised and nine minutes into the second half, they took the lead thanks to Hagan with only their second, and last, shot on target of the afternoon.
Ten minutes later, Paul Abbott created space for a shot from the edge of the box which only just went wide but it was not until the last ten minutes when the home side began to exert any serious pressure on The Stones. On 81 minutes, Boreham Wood broke quickly and Simon Thomas received possession just inside the box. He struck a good drive across the goal and Mullin made a smart save to palm the ball away before Craig Roser hit the ball out for a corner.
The Stones were then forced to play the last five minutes with only ten men when Rob Owen limped off with a reoccurrence of his hamstring injury but Maidstone managed to hang on to record their first win since Boxing Day.
< <
< Back to match reports index
|
