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Maidstone United secured
their most impressive pre-season victory to date as
they overcame a strong Dagenham and Redbridge side.
It was the visitors who had the first opportunity of
the evening when John Nurses' snap shot was held by
Pat Mullin.
But there after, it was The Stones who enjoyed the
best of the first half as they put pressure on the Dagenham
goal.
A quick break on eleven minutes was initiated by Nathan
Paul carrying the ball into the Dagenham half and finding
Alex Tiesse. Tiesse whipped in a long cross and just
as it seemed as if the ball was going to fall to Mo
Takaloo, it was deflected away for a corner.
Some good football from The Stones just three minutes
later saw Simon Austin curl a delightful ball over the
top to Nick Hegley who checked in the box before passing
to Tiesse who fired wide of the left hand post.
Tiesse was involved again on twenty minutes when he
should have been flagged offside but he wasted the opportunity
and sent the ball over the bar.
Another break from Maidstone on twenty eight minutes
ended with Mo Takaloo hitting his shot into the ground
and eventually wide and then Austin went close with
a cross which turned into a shot and just swung wide
of the far post.
On thirty four minutes, it seemed as if The Stones
would finally break the deadlock. Tiesse and Takaloo
exchanged passes and Takaloo shot low at the far post
but just as if seemed his effort was going to sneak
inside the post, the Dagenham keeper Tony Roberts made
an excellent instinctive save to push the ball round
the post.
Shortly before half time, Dagenham felt they should
have had a penalty when Glen Southam thought he had
been fouled by Mario McNish in the area and then just
seconds later, a mass scuffle was sparked when Nurse
appeared to kick McNish. When the players had finally
been separated, the referee, Ian Fissenden booked three
players from each side.
Unsurprisingly, Dagenham emerged from the break a rejuvenated
side and in between McNish and Lee Shearer coming close
to putting their ball into their net, the visitors also
hit the post.
On fifty two minutes, the pressure finally told and
Dagenham broke the deadlock. McNish got caught out of
position after roaming forwards and when the ball was
pumped forwards, Ben Lewis dithered allowing Paul Benson
to nip in and loft the ball over Michal Czanner.
However, within five minutes The Stones had drawn level
when Martin sent another fantastic clipped ball out
to Tiesse who entered the box and shot low past Roberts.
Subsitute Jamie Taylor then wasted a good opportunity
for Dagenham on seventy two minutes and at the other
end, Martin was guilty of missing a similar opportunity
as he blasted the ball onto the clubhouse from close
range.
With the game appearing to meander towards full time,
there was an exciting end to the match as with just
three minutes remaining, Kane Rice's volley was diverted
past Roberts by substitute Tyrone Smith.
Then just sixty seconds later, Chris Moore skipped
into space inside the box and aimed his shot towards
the top right corner but he was denied by a fantastic
save by Czanner who managed to tip the ball onto the
bar.
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