|
Maidstone United’s season has drawn to an end in a disappointing manner as The Stones lost for the fifth game in a row and the result means that they have failed to score in six of their last seven matches.
With so many players unavailable, Maidstone were forced to field an unfamiliar line up but they probably would have got a point from the game had Ashley Dann taken advantage of an excellent chance in first half stoppage time.
It was the visitors who had the first opportunity on three minutes when Ashley Dumas’ cross from the left picked out Rikki Burbridge but his downwards header was comfortably held by Andy Walker.
At the other end, Maidstone threatened on 17 minutes when Lloyd Blackman headed the ball into the path of Keelan Mooney who sent the ball into the area and it dropped to Ant Bodle who drew a good save from Tony Tucker in the Billericay goal.
Five minutes later, a burst of pace from Ide Okojie took him to the edge of the area where he unleashed a fierce drive which just cleared the bar before the deadlock was broken on 36 minutes. Sam Morrison was left with two Billericay players to deal with and as a result, Dumas had the simple task of whipping in a cross which eluded Ryan Royston and Burbridge side footed the ball past the stranded Walker.
Three minutes later, Morrison missed a long ball forwards which let in Dave Wareham down the left but as he cut into the box his shot curled wide of the near post.
Then with the game in first half stoppage time, Elliot Bradbrook survived two fouls to barge into the box and he unselfishly squared the ball to the unmarked Dann only for the Maidstone striker to drag the chance wide of the right hand post.
The second half saw only one effort on goal and this came from The Stones on 63 minutes. Bradbrook drove a diagonal pass out to the right hand side of the pitch and Dann did well to dispossess substitute Nick Beale before passing to Steve Elliott who shot over the bar and with that, any hopes Maidstone had of getting back into the game were dashed.
|
