The Stones have now failed to beat Ramsgate in eight games after a poor defensive performance enabled Jim Ward’s side to inflict Maidstone’s fourteenth league defeat of the season.
Just like in the games against Wimbledon and Boreham Wood, Maidstone came out of the dressing room half asleep and found themselves trailing after just 75 seconds. A long throw from Lee Minshull on the right hand side was allowed to bounce across the six yard box and The Stones defence stood still as former Maidstone player Nick Davis tapped the ball in at the back post.
However, it did not take long for The Stones to draw level as on five minutes Mo Takaloo registered his thirteenth goal of the season. Sam Tydeman’s corner from the right was punched up in the air by Paul Wilkerson and James Peacock flicked a header goalwards. The ball was then met by Takaloo and despite having his back to goal, his header bounced off the bar and when it dropped back down, the Maidstone striker reacted quickly to send an overhead kick into the net.
Sixty seconds later though, the visitors could have retaken the lead when Stefan Ball turned in the box but he fired across goal.
Ball was involved again on 17 minutes when he once more turned into space and found himself with just Pat Mullin to beat. Mullin made an excellent save however, getting down low to his left to get a hand to the ball. Damien Abel and Ray Freeman were then involved in a race to get to the loose ball which Abel won, but with an empty net to aim at, the Ramsgate player sliced his shot onto the right hand post.
Seconds later, Abel was presented with an opportunity to make amends for this miss when he got in down the right hand side but this time he planted his drive wide of the far post.
With the game being played at a slow pace there was little else to note in the first half except for on 35 minutes, Takaloo’s cross appeared to strike Davis’ arm but no penalty was forthcoming.
Straight after the break, Dan Dalton’s cross into the box reached Minshull and his effort dropped just over the bar.
Ramsgate were to have more luck on 51 minutes though when Conor Hagan should have cleared the ball but he lost possession to Dean Hill who whipped in an excellent cross which was met by substitute Stuart King and he lashed the ball past Mullin.
Four minutes later, Mo Takaloo dived to meet a cross from Nathan Paul but he could not steer the ball goalwards.
Then on 74 minutes, Maidstone drew level. An Aaron Lacy throw into the box was met by Lee Shearer and Wilkerson could only parry the ball. Debutant Jacob Erskine picked up possession and lofted a cross to the back post which was met by substitute Lynden Rowland who headed in his second goal inside four games.
Having got themselves back into the game for the second time, Maidstone’s hard work was quickly undone as on 76 minutes Dolton found himself in space twenty yards from goal and he floated the winning goal in over Mullin’s head.
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