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This was arguably The Stones' best performance of
the season as they romped to an extremely impressive
3-0 away win over promotion hopefuls Carshalton Athletic
at Colston Avenue. In "Vivaldi" like conditions
of sun, hail, wind and rain The Robins started brightly
and an early corner kick saw Liam Harwood's strong header
blocked by a happily fit again Jay Saunders. The loose
ball fell to Lewis Gonsalves and he acrobatically hooked
a shot back towards goal but thankfully it went narrowly
over Andy Walker's goal.
The Stones soon settled and playing up the slope and
against a strong wind the new formation of 3-5-2 seemed
to suit the team as a whole. Ryan Royston made his second
Stones debut in a back three together with Ben Lewis
and the re-signed Peter Hawkins. Despite playing for
his "parent" club Ebbsfleet United on Thursday
evening, the club were able to complete a deal late
on Friday evening to ensure that the experienced defender
was able to play for a third month on loan with The
Stones. Nathan Paul and youngster Tom Parkinson (who
had a very impressive game) filled wing back roles and
in doing so complimented the midfield of Saunders, Roland
Edge and James Pinnock. However, it was up top where
Maidstone rediscovered their spark as both Lloyd Blackman
and Meshach Nugent enjoyed the better of the afternoon
over their defensive opponents.
It was Nugent who broke the deadlock and what a goal
it was! Walker's kicked clearance was flicked on in
midfield to the strong striker about 40 yards from goal.
Nugent was able to beat Harwood (who signed for Carshalton
from Bristol Rovers this week) in an aerial challenge.
He collected his own header and drove purposefully towards
goal and then from 25 yards out he let fly with a venomous
right footed strike that flew into the top left hand
corner of Phil Wilson's goal. This goal seemed to set
The Robins onto the back foot and Maidstone took control
of the game at this point.
It was of little surprise when United doubled their
lead in the 33rd minute and this goal encapsulated a
real "Roy Of The Rovers" moment. James Pinnock
played in a corner from the left which was headed towards
goal by Lloyd Blackman. Lurking dangerously at the near
post was Ryan Royston and he flicked his header goalwards
and sent to the ball into the net. The celebrations
that followed were joyous both on the pitch and on the
impressive bank of Colston Avenue terracing as The Barmy
Army's hero had scored on his return to the club in
true comic book hero fashion.
The Robins reminded their visitors of their potential
for attacking prowess just four minutes later when from
a Maidstone corner the home side launched a rapid counter-attack.
A deep right wing cross found the league's leading marksman
Richard Jolly at the far side of the penalty area and
his sharp 20 yard strike whistled narrowly over the
bar.
The home side were forced into a double substitution
at half time to try and change their fortunes with one
of the switches forced by the injury of captain Junior
Kadi (who formerly coached the exciting Beckenham Town
side with Gavin Rose in our Kent League promotion season)
after he was caught by a heavy challenge from one of
his former protégés Nathan Paul, a challenge
for which he was cautioned. However, these changes did
not appear to have the effect that Robins' manager Hayden
Bird desired.
A deep cross into the penalty area by Tom Parkinson
caused panic as keeper Wilson fumbled the cross. Adrian
Toppin hammered a clearance away but the ball struck
Harwood on the back and the ball narrowly went beyond
the goal post for a corner rather than a spectacularly
bizarre own goal. To their credit, the home side did
fashion three goal attempts before The Stones put the
game out of their reach. A 52nd minute corner was flicked
on at the near post and Charlie Ide guided the ball
just wide of the back post. Eight minutes later Andy
Walker showed his worth as he denied substitute Jamie
England with a full length diving save from his 25 yard
drive. Just four minutes later Ide centred the ball
and it was knocked down to the dangerous Jolly but his
effort from 8 yards out was well saved by the ever alert
Walker.
Maidstone finally secured the three points that their
play deserved in the 75th minute. Another Walker clearance
was flicked into the channel for Lloyd Blackman to run
onto and his confident low shot from the edge of the
box whistled past the unprotected Wilson in the home
goal to nestle in the bottom corner of the net. With
the game won, the management team were able to give
valuable playing time to Steve Elliott, Keelan Mooney
and Nerada Pascal, with Parkinson, Blackman and Nugent
being replaced and all being given standing ovations
from the delighted away following as they left the field.
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