| For eighty six minutes of this match, it seemed as if The Stones were finally going to get their first points on the road this season but then like so often in recent weeks, the United defence went to sleep and allowed substitute Dean Green to set up Belal Aiteouakrim to fire in the winner at the near post.
This was a cruel blow for Maidstone who had matched the early leaders of the Ryman Premier Division throughout the game but although this was a vastly improved performance from The Stones, they still managed to concede two sloppy goals and disappointingly they created few goal scoring opportunities.
It took until the sixteenth minute before Maidstone put the Hendon under pressure with a good run from Nick Hegley but his low ball into the box was comfortably cleared and Hendon quickly broke only for Marc Leach to drive his shot just over from a good position.
On twenty seven minutes, a Ben Lewis throw dropped to Andy Martin but his overhead kick was held by Richard Wilmot in the Hendon goal and six minutes later, Lloyd Hume hurled his crutches to the floor in despair as Hegley looked to be racing clear only for the referee Gary Evetts to rule that The Stones player had handled the ball in the process. Hume had even greater reason to be frustrated just seconds later as from the free-kick, Hendon won a corner which was swung in by Jamie Busby and the unmarked Brian Haule headed the ball into the net.
The Stones responded well to going behind though and on thirty five minutes, Lee Shearer’s headed effort went wide and three minutes later, Errison Ahwan should have equalised but his weak shot was scuffed off the line.
Six minutes before the interval, Ray Freeman threw the ball to Martin who sent a terrific shot on the turn goalwards but his effort was tipped over the bar by Wilmot and then just after the break, Martin was involved again when he swung in a corner but Ben Lewis planted a free header wide of the left hand post.
It was then the home side’s turn to dominate proceedings and on fifty five minutes, Freeman had to be alert to make an excellent challenge to stop Lubomir Guentchev’s charge towards goal then on seventy minutes, Hendon should have doubled their lead. A United attack broke down when Lewis could not connect with a Freeman pass and Busby quickly gave the ball to Aiteouakrim who comfortably sailed past Nathan Paul only to shoot wide with just Pat Mullin to beat.
The Stones then took full advantage of this let off as within sixty seconds they finally scored their first away goal of the season when Hegley got the vital touch in a goalmouth scramble.
On seventy five minutes, Hendon could have retaken the lead when Davis Haule set up Busby but he hit his shot straight at Mullin and the same players combined again two minutes later, when from Busby’s corner, Davis Haule’s header only just cleared the angle of the post and bar.
With five minutes remaining, Mullin made an excellent save to deny Davis Haule but just one minute later he could do nothing to prevent Aiteouakrim scoring at the near post.
With the game entering stoppage time, a trademark throw from substitute Aaron Lacy was controlled on his chest by Mo Takaloo who was very close to goal and unfortunately for The Stones his over head kick rose over the bar.
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