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This was a game of two penalties, one awarded and one not. Despite the visitors’ dominance in the number of goal scoring chances created during this very open game, the outcome of the final result basically boiled down to the interpretation of two incidents in the second half by match referee Mr Jayes.
The Stones were awarded an incredibly soft 47 th minute penalty when Conor Hagan enticed defender Ben Gracey into a clumsy challenge inside the penalty area. With a minimal amount of contact made, Hagan hit the deck in a manner in which 70s and 80s Maidstone hero Frank Ovard would have been proud to have emulated. Mo Takalobighashi stepped up and coolly slotted his spot kick into the net past Sam Tanner in the Leyton goal.
With a fraction over quarter of an hour to play, Marvin McCoy burst past Ray Freeman and cut across the front of the defender as they entered into the penalty area. McCoy’s movement caused Freeman to adjust his step and inevitably contact was made with the back of the Leyton forward’s heels. McCoy hit the deck and it seemed certain that the referee would award a spot kick but to the amazement of most people present in the ground, Mr Jayes waved play on. Leyton were distraught at the decision and of course if the penalty had been awarded Freeman may well have been shown a red card too. When you’re at the bottom of the league table and struggling to pick up any points at all, it’s this kind of decision that can seal a team’s fate.
Maidstone ’s early dominance should have yielded a goal as early as the 6 th minute of the game when Takaloo threaded a lovely through ball to Lynden Rowland. His powerfully struck shot produced a magnificent save from Tanner as he tipped the ball over the cross bar. As good as the save was, it was hard to deny that Rowland really should have scored.
The Stones continued to push forward and a fine right wing run from Nathan Paul saw a terrific low cross driven across the face of the goal. Sadly there was nobody in front of goal to add that decisive scoring touch. Following this both Ben Lewis and Nick Hegley had efforts saved by Tanner.
Leyton reminded their visitors that they could pose a problem at the other end too when Roderick Osei-Owusu thrust forward his right foot to send a dangerous cross towards goal from 8 yards out. Only the alertness and agility of Pat Mullin in goal thwarted the striker as he dived full length to stop the ball on the goal line.
In the last five minutes of the first half Nathan Paul had a fine low 25 yard strike tipped away by Tanner before Takaloo struck a beautiful curling free kick from the edge of the penalty area flush against the post. The rebound fell to Hegley but he spooned the rebound high and wide.
With Takaloo having given The Stones the lead from the penalty spot in the 47 th minute, many people wondered how many goals Maidstone would go on to score. It wasn’t for the want of trying but the ball just would not hit the net. Takaloo was replaced by Alex Tiesse after an hour, partly due to the striker receiving a knock from two heavy challenges and partly due to the escalation of his verbal spat with Leyton captain Des Thomas.
Tiesse looked certain to double United’s lead in the 68 th minute when Hegley sent over a delightful cross from the left flank. The Ivorian striker met the ball with a powerful header but he managed to direct his effort straight at Tanner who yet again made a marvellous save. With Maidstone failing to capitalise on their goal scoring chances Leyton sensed that they could maybe break their run of 10 successive defeats and on several occasions McCoy caused a few moments of stress in the United penalty area. Having had a solid penalty appeal turned down McCoy again beat Freeman and curled a wonderful shot just wide of Mullin’s goal from the edge of the box.
Having picked a verbal spat with Takaloo, Leyton captain Des Thomas turned his attention to a physical spat with Conor Hagan. With both players finding themselves on the floor after a robust challenge, Hagan suddenly recoiled as if he had been given an electric shock. Words were exchanged and the referee stopped play. Hagan incensed by what had happened rolled up the right sleeve of his shirt to reveal to the referee a large and open wound which had been caused by the teeth of Thomas. Amazingly, Mr Jeyes had an indifferent attitude to Hagan’s wound and failed to administer any punishment whatsoever.
After a reminder from the home side that the points were not safe, The Stones continued to look for a second goal. Tiesse, Hagan and Hegley all had late chances to secure the points but failed to do so. At full time it was Maidstone who picked up maximum points and Leyton whose unwanted losing streak stretched to 11 games. However, it was probably the referee who influenced the outcome of this game more than any player did.
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