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After the recent disappointments against Staines Town and Ramsgate, Maidstone finally made a return to winning ways with a narrow victory over Hendon who are currently in the worst form of all the Ryman Premier League sides.
The Stones had to do it the hard way though after they had thrown away a goal lead with some kamikaze defending to give Hendon the advantage at the break. United were perhaps fortunate not to fall further behind early in the second half but slowly, Maidstone began to grow in confidence and the introduction of Aaron Lacy and Lynden Rowland had the desired effect as both the substitutes were involved in the winning goal.
After some sluggish starts from Maidstone in recent weeks, it was a relief for Stones fans to see their side begin brightly and not find themselves trailing after conceding an early goal. On 17 minutes, Conor Hagan brilliantly beat Alan Massey down the right hand side and sent over a cross which Hendon only just managed to clear with Jacob Erskine waiting to pounce.
Hendon’s Luke Blackmore was looking particularly nervous in goal and Maidstone should have exploited this on 22 minutes. Hagan’s corner from the left was bizarrely punched up in the air by Blackmore and the ball dropped to Ben Lewis who hit a fierce drive goalwards only for Blackmore to redeem himself with a good save.
Two minutes later, Maidstone broke quickly through Alex Tiesse who found debutant Andy Pugh and his clipped shot curled wide of the left hand post and then at the other end, there was a scare for The Stones as Lubomir Guentchev sailed past Craig Roser before shooting into the side netting.
The game was then brought to life with a stunning strike from Pugh who had received possession from Erksine before powering past Lee O’Leary and smashing a left footed shot past Blackmore from just outside the box.
Having been the better side and taken the lead, the goal should not have had a detrimental effect on The Stones but unfortunately it did and their defence fell apart as soon as Hendon kicked off allowing O’Leary to score from close range.
Just when most would have thought Maidstone could not defend any more poorly they proved that they could on 40 minutes when they allowed Brian Haule and Davis Haule to combine inside the area before Brian Haule’s weak shot some how squirmed off Steve Northwood’s hand and trickled into the net.
On the stroke of half time, the visitors could have killed the game off but Brian Haule’s shot was headed off the line by Craig Roser and on 52 minutes, the Hendon player had another opportunity to put the game beyond Maidstone but this time he put the bal over when he was well placed.
As is often the case, Hendon were made to regret this wastefulness in front of goal as Maidstone began to put the visitors under pressure. With 59 minutes gone, Blackmore was forced to parry a shot from Hagan and then two minutes later, he flung himself to his right hand side to make a good save to deny Pugh.
By now, James Peacock and Alex Tiesse had been replaced by Aaron Lacy and Lynden Rowland and on 67 minutes, Rowland rose well to knock the ball down to Erskine who turned and allowed the ball to bounce before riffling an excellent finish into the left hand corner of the net.
Lacy and Rowland were involved again five minutes later as the ball came to Pugh who set up Hagan and his rising drive struck the cross bar before going over for a goal kick.
However, an important winner for Maidstone finally arrived just three minutes from time when Lee Shearer flicked on a Lacy throw and Rowland some how bundled in his tenth goal of the season from only a couple of yards out.
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