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At the start of this season many Stones fans wished for Maidstone to finish in a comfortable position in the league with an uneventful end to the campaign and so for these people, their wishes have come true as The Stones head for mid table obscurity following their third defeat in as many games.
With both sides having nothing to play for, unsurprisingly this was an uninspiring match which looked certain to end goalless until three minutes into stoppage time when Andy Walker palmed a cross- shot from Ricardo Joseph away from goal but into the path of Jon Palmer who smacked the ball in from 12 yards.
Until that point the closest either side had to come to scoring was when shortly after half time, Ryan Royston had a header cleared by Luke Pieden who was standing on the left hand post.
It wasn’t until just after the half an hour mark that the game threatened to spark into life. Before this, Vinnie O’Sullivan had seen his curling shot from close to the touchline just clear the bar but there was nothing else to note until on 31 minutes when Jay Saunders picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and drove a testing drive goalwards which Craig Ross did well to save.
Then three minutes later, Nathan Paul set up Lloyd Blackman who shot towards the left hand side of the net only for Ross to push the ball away and seconds later, Ant Bodle’s deflected effort found the side netting.
This was Maidstone’s best spell of the game and they once again threatened when Paul sent over a cross from the right which just missed Tom Parkinson and Roland Edge arrived to meet the ball but his low shot was comfortably gathered by Ross.
At the other end, just before half time, the home side had an excellent chance to take the lead when Warren Harris drove over a corner which was met by Michael Peacock whose header just dropped over the bar.
On 49 minutes, Ashford found space going forwards and Bryon Harrison picked out Gavin Smith who looked to be in a good position but he squared the ball and Royston cleared the danger and then at the other end, Royston was involved again three minutes later when this time he headed a deep free-kick from James Peacock over the bar.
Pieden then shot wide as he lost his balance upon entering the Maidstone box before he was called into action to clear Royston’s goalbound effort but it wasn’t until three minutes into stoppage time that the deadlock was broken when Palmer showed good predatory instincts to pounce upon a loose ball inside The Stones’ area to give Ashford Town a narrow victory.
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