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Maidstone United 0-2 Dover Athletic
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Easter Monday 13th April 2009
Ryman Premier Division |
Attendance: 689
Reporter: Darren Lovell |
The
Stones welcomed the newly crowned league champions Dover
Athletic to Bourne Park on Easter Monday in a game played
in front of the largest home league attendance (689) of
the season.
Following the weekend's disappointing 2-0 reverse at Hendon
which almost certainly (barring mathematical improbabilities)
ended Maidstone's play-off aspirations for the season
the atmosphere was somewhat muted with neither side needing
to play for much more than pride at this point in the
season.
In truth, the game never rose above the level of mediocre
at any point during the afternoon, which in part was due
to the very dry and bobbly playing surface. The visitors
had an early penalty appeal turned down in the 12th minute
when Lassana Sidibe was challenged by James Peacock on
the right hand side of the penalty area. It looked for
all the world as if Peacock had tripped the Malian born
player but referee Mr Brook waved play on the relief of
the home side.
Five minutes later Sidibe was again in the thick of the
action as a combined effort from Nathan Paul, Peacock
and the returning Ian Cox resulted in a near post clearance
falling to the striker. His sharp effort from five yards
out was smartly blocked by Andy Walker in The Stones'
goal and this was not to be the last contribution of this
type from the keeper in this game.
United did not make a meaningful effort on Preston Edwards'
goal until the 27th minute when Peter Hawkins headed narrowly
over from Roland Edge's free kick. Meshach Nugent saw
his 20 yard strike comfortably held by Edwards two minutes
before the break after Jay Saunders and Steve Elliott
had combined to play the striker through on goal.
The second half saw Dover effortlessly slip up a gear
or two as they started to play some lovely, neat passing
football that at times stretched the home defence to its'
limits. However, the opening goal did not come from a
beautifully crafted move but from a penalty. Ryan Royston
aimed an air kick at ball sent down the right flank and
when the ball was centred into the penalty area, Peacock
mis-controlled the ball and it subsequently bounced up
and struck his hand.
A penalty was awarded and to rub salt into the wounds
Peacock was cautioned for his trouble. Jon Wallis stepped
up to take on the spot kick responsibility and with only
a two step run up he sent the ball low to the right whilst
Walker dived the opposite way to give Dover a one goal
lead.
In the 63rd minute Lloyd Blackman was dispossessed on
the half way line and a beautiful through ball sent James
Rogers clear, however, Walker was alert and made a fine
block to deny the striker. Within a minute Walker had
excelled again, this time with a double save as he thwarted
firstly Wallis and then immediately afterwards Fran Collin.
Dover doubled their lead with twelve minutes remaining
in clinical style. Shaun Welford was set free down the
right wing and his pinpoint near post cross was headed
powerfully home by Rogers from six yards out. At this
point, The Whites' superiority was clear for all to see
and in fact Walker in goal kept the score line respectable
when he saved yet again, this time from Jerahl Hughes
in a one on one situation in the 83rd minute.
The Stones mustered a couple of late strikes from Nugent
but the Dover goal was not seriously threatened on either
occasion and so Maidstone waved a fond farewell to Andy
Hessenthaler's side as they set sail for the waters of
Conference South in season 2009-10.
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Maidstone
United: -
Dover Athletic:
Frannie Collin 19, 50, Shaun Welford 82
Maidstone United: Walker, Paul, Edge, Peacock
(Parkinson 77), Hawkins, Elliott (Bodle 61), Saunders,
Nugent, Blackman, Cox Subs not used: Northwood, Pascal,
Mooney
Dover Athletic: Edwards, Fish, Hill, Ball, Schulz,
Keister, Wallis, Hessenthaler (Hughes 78), Welford,
Rogers, Sidibe (Collin 64) Subs: Bodkins, Jones, Gore
Man of the Match
Photos
by Steve Terrell
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