|
Maidstone United’s injury nightmare deepens after Nathan Paul received a nasty gash to his shin in the draw with Hastings United. Paul suffered the injury following a tackle with Tim Olorunda at the end of the game and required hospital treatment.
“Nathan has suffered a cut which has gone right down to the bone” said Alan Walker. “He was in quite a bit of pain and I think he might be out for a month. It’s just the way things are going at the moment. We seem to be getting injury after injury and I was just thinking we were beginning to see the light with our key players starting to get to a point where they might feature at some stage over the next few weeks. But we have just got to get on with it and I am hoping that I will be able to arrange some cover using some youngsters from Gillingham in the mean time.”
The Stones were poor during first half and it was the visitors who looked the stronger side. With 22 minutes played, Russell Eldridge swung a free-kick into the box and the ball fell to Sam Adams who sent a half volley goalwards which Steve Northwood, who enjoyed a good debut in the Maidstone goal, dived to stop.
Adams was then allowed the time and space to roam forwards two minutes later and his fierce drive from 30 yards fizzed over the cross bar.
However, on 31 minutes, Maidstone had a great chance to take the lead when Nathan Paul curled over a cross and Lynden Rowland’s diving header went past the left hand post.
Steffan Gaisie, who was making his home debut for The Stones, then headed over when well placed before the visitors took the lead with 35 minutes played. Hastings were awarded a free-kick in a central position 40 yards from goal which was lofted into the box by Eldridge and Adams delivered an excellent cross for Ade Olorunda to head the ball in at the far post.
After the break, Hastings were content to try and sit back and protect their lead as they sought their first away win of the season and this only invited Maidstone to push forwards at every opportunity. On 59 minutes, Alex Tiesse was sent on to replace Gaisie and he nearly had an immediate impact as with his first touch he flicked the ball into the air and with his second, he kicked the ball back over his head and his shot smacked off the cross bar.
Hastings still looked a threat on the break though and on 61 minutes Ade Olorunda squared the ball to Adams and Northwood expertly blocked his shot as he scampered across the goal towards his left hand post. Then four minutes later, Adams was looking to burst in behind the Maidstone defence and he was clipped by Craig Roser who was booked by the referee Mr Lugg.
The visitors had a further opportunity to extend their lead on 68 minutes when Scott Kirkwood found himself in space inside the box and Northwood beat away his drive which was heading for the inside of the near post.
Then just three minutes later, The Stones pulled themselves level. Aaron Lacy’s corner from the right hand side was met by the excellent Chris Smalling and he was unfortunate to see his header bounce off the cross bar for the second match in a row. When the ball dropped, James Peacock stooped to head the ball and the referee adjudged that he had been impeded by a raised foot from a Hastings player. An indirect free-kick was awarded on the edge of the six yard box and Hastings put nine players on the goal line. From the free-kick Rob Owen touched the ball back to Mo Takaloo who picked his spot and fired the ball inside the left hand post to register his 63rd goal for The Stones on his 100th appearance.
Both sides then had chances to nick a winner. On 89 minutes, Maidstone broke quickly only for Tiesse to rush his shot and fail to trouble Lee Worgan in the Hastings goal and then at the other end, Ade Olorunda was guilty of missing an even better opportunity in stoppage time as with only Northwood to beat, he planted the ball into the advertising hoardings behind the goal.
< <
< Back to match reports index |
