Heybridge Swifts 2-1 Maidstone United

Maidstone United: Lynden Rowland 22 (pen)

Heybridge Swifts: Robbie King 44, 76

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Maidstone United: Lee Shearer, Nathan Paul, Craig Roser, James Peacock, Chris Smalling, Errison Ahwan, Rob Owen (Ray Freeman 69), Aaron Lacy, Steffan Gaisie, Lynden Rowland, Nick Hegley (Mo Takaloo 72). Subs not used: Rob Lyall, Jim Bodle

Heybridge Swifts: Richard McKinney, Daryl Bourgeois, Danny Barber, Robbie King, Ian Wiles, Tobi Jinaou, Matthew Batt (David Wareha 77), Adam Gillespie, Stafford Browne, Mark Reddaway, Gary Burrell. Subs not used: Adam Passfield, Ryan Hull, Alex Rowe, Ollie Morris-Sanders

Alan Walker (2.0MB)

Maidstone United’s lack of substitute goalkeeper proved costly as The Stones were defeated for the seventh time on their league travels this season. With Pat Mullin suffering from a thigh injury, Lee Shearer was forced to play in goal and despite his best efforts he was twice beaten by shots that a regular goal keeper would have saved.

“Pat’s injury came totally out of the blue” said Alan Walker afterwards. “Otherwise I could have got a young keeper in for the game. I think that if we had played a recognised keeper in goal tonight then we would have got all three points.”

However, for the first forty minutes of the game, Shearer was rarely tested as Maidstone proved that the best form of defence is attack.

On 16 minutes Craig Roser’s cross into the middle of the box was met by debutant Steffan Gaisie and he played the ball back for Lynden Rowland whose lot shot was smothered by Richard McKinney in the Heybridge goal.

Two minutes later, Gaisie cut inside from the right and his strong drive was parried and then on 21 minutes, Nick Hegley was fouled in the box by Ian Wiles as he came inside from the left flack. The responsibility of the penalty fell to Lynden Rowland and he placed the ball down the middle of the goal.

On 26 minutes the home side should have been awarded a penalty when Errison Ahwan’s outstretched arm made contact with the ball but Heybridge did pull themselves level on 40 minutes when Robbie King’s shot from 35 yards squirmed underneath Lee Shearer’s outstretched hand and inside the left hand post.

Seven minutes after the break Maidstone were unfortunate not to regain the lead when Chris Smalling’s effort was cleared off the line and then on 68 minutes Rowland released Gaisie but with only McKinney to beat, he hit his shot straight at the Heybridge keeper.

Then on 71 minutes, Gary Burrell found himself in a good position only to screw the ball wide but King was to have more luck five minutes later when he hit another hopeful shot goalwards which went underneath the diving Shearer to give Heybridge all three points.

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