| After a difficult start to their Ryman Premier League season, a cup tie against Kent League side Erith and Belverdere proved to be just the tonic for The Stones.
Although this was not a polished performance from Maidstone, they never looked in danger of losing the game and Erith were slightly fortunate in that they restricted The Stones to scoring just three goals.
“I don’t know whether Erith were just having a bad day but it was a comfortable victory” said Alan Walker. “Two years ago we were playing at that standard of football and it showed today how far we have come during that time. However, I still thought that we made a couple of mistakes and against better sides we would have got punished.”
It took eight minutes for Maidstone to edge in front. A Pat Mullin goal kick came out to Aaron Lacy on the left and he swung a perfect cross into Andy Martin who had been left in an astonishing amount of space. Martin had time to bring the ball down with his chest before riffling his shot past the stranded Grant Wallis.
“We are delighted with Andy’s goal” said Walker, “Out of the squad only Mo and Andy would have attempted to bring the ball down, most would have flashed a header at it or something.”
Following the goal, The Stones became totally dominant and on twelve minutes Lynden Rowland’s shot from close range was bundled over the bar by Wallis before Rowland’s scuffed effort on nineteen minutes was just cleared off the line.
Then on thirty minutes, Maidstone’s pressure finally paid off as they doubled their lead. Martin played a short corner to Nick Hegley on the edge of the area and although Wallis managed to parry his shot, the Erith keeper could do nothing to prevent Rowland from scoring from the rebound.
The Stones then nearly let the visitors back into the game on sixty two minutes when a huge gap opened up in the Maidstone defence allowing Nick Smith to race into the area but fortunately Mario McNish managed to get the ball away for a corner.
Erith were then made to regret this wasted chance as within three minutes, Maidstone had added to their lead once more. A deep free-kick from Lacy was headed up into the air by Errison Ahwan and with Wallis drawn from his goal, substitute Mo Takaloo pounced to fire in his second goal of the season.
Ahwan then saw a header only just clear the bar before a superb pitch long run from Nathan Paul ended with his cross being volleyed wide by Hegley.
Maidstone brought on Jimmy Strouts with fourteen minutes remaining and during this time he was unfortunate not to score. His first effort on goal came on eighty six minutes when his shot on the turn was turned past the post by Wallis and then just seconds later, Strouts’ fierce drive was crucially blocked by substitute Chris Perifiman. Then with the game in stoppage time, Lacy crossed for Strouts and his header bounced off the underside of the bar before being scrambled away to safety.
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