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It seems a bit contradictory to say that a game in which eight goals was scored was poor but this was a match where the quantity of goal mouth action was much greater than the quality of football on display.
Three times The Stones took the lead only to see their advantage wiped out within minutes and it wasn’t until seven minutes from time when United scored their fifth goal that the home supporters could finally start to relax.
Despite both defences looking decidedly shaky though, Maidstone’s Chris Smalling enjoyed an excellent game alongside Ben Lewis who was not fully fit in the centre of defence.
Abingdon started where they had left off on Saturday and on 6 minutes Jamie Brooks had a shot deflected just wide. Then four minutes later, Bill Beechers got in behind Ray Freeman and he forced Pat Mullin to block his drive.
The game then entered a lull which finally ended on 32 minutes when The Stones took the lead and no body probably thought that this would be the first of eight goals inside a fifty one minute spell. Luis Cumbers managed to flick the ball on in the box and when it bounced up at the right hand post, Lynden Rowland bundled in his sixth goal of the season.
Maidstone were in front for just sixty seconds though as straight from the kick off Beechers was allowed to waltz through The Stones defence and plant his shot inside the left hand post.
However, yet again the action swung to the other end and within three minutes the lead was restored once more. Aaron Lacy sent over a deep cross and as Rowland went to meet the ball he was shoved in the back by Tom Franklin. The referee, Mr Scudder, had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Cumbers duly converted the penalty.
The Stones then suffered a huge blow on 39 minutes when Rowland was carried off on a stretcher with a suspected knee injury following a tackle with Michael Alexis and he was replaced by Mo Takaloo.
Straight after the break, Abingdon began to push forwards in search of the equaliser and The Stones were grateful for the presence of Ray Freeman who was on the line to twice head the ball clear following efforts from Franklin and Anaclet Odinhmbo.
Then on 53 minutes, it looked as if the visitors had finally drawn level when Beecher's header appeared to be goal bound only for it to clear the far post by a whisker.
However, four minutes later the inevitable Abingdon goal arrived when Alexis drilled in a deep cross which was brought down by the unmarked Odinhmbo and he had an age to smash the ball in under Mullin's legs.
By this point, each time either side attacked it looked as if they would score and so it was no surprise when The Stones retook the lead only for Abingdon to equalise shortly afterwards. With 63 minutes played, Lacy's throw across the box was flicked on by Smalling and Takaloo latched onto the loose ball to score his fifth goal of the season.
But on 71 minutes, Abingdon were literally handed a way back into the game when the ball struck Freeman's outstretched arm in the box and Ryan Curtis sent Mullin the wrong way from the penalty spot.
With the game entering its later stages the next goal would be crucial and fortunately for The Stones the 75 th minute saw Cumbers complete his hat-trick with an almost comical goal. Nathan Paul was fouled out on the right hand side and Sam Tydeman swung the free-kick into the box. There to meet it was Takaloo and his shot was blocked but the rebound fell to Smalling who reacted quickly and his effort was going in until it stuck Cumbers on the line. Luckily though, Cumbers spun round to poke the ball in from close range.
This time there was to be no way back for Abingdon and The Stones made the last seven minutes more bearable when Alex Tiesse released Cumbers who was close to the half way line. The on-loan striker appeared to be offside but as no flag was forthcoming he raced into the box and although Simon Tricker did well to block his first shot, when the ball looped back, Cumbers rounded off his hat-trick with a neat finish.
There could have been yet another Stones goal on 85 minutes when Cumbers once again found himself in the clear and he unselfishly squared the ball to substitute Alex Tiesse who unfortunately took a long while to get a shot on goal and Tricker parried his effort.
Photos from Steve Terrell
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