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With a lengthy injury list and with one eye on Saturday’s FA Cup game against Wimbledon, Alan Walker and Lloyd Hume made four changes to the line up which had faced Hornchurch on Saturday. But despite this, Maidstone looked the stronger team as they knocked a disappointing Hornchurch side out of the FA Trophy.
The home had a few attempts on goal early on with Kris Lee, Simon Parker and Andy Tomlinson all trying their luck before James Pinnock forced Dale Brightly to turn his shot towards the left hand post wide on 15 minutes.
Just like in the first tie on Saturday, there was little goal mouth action but as the game approached half time, Maidstone began to increase the pressure and on 39 minutes, a neat move ended with Pinnock firing over.
Then one minute later, an Aaron Lacy long ball was not cleared by Mark Goodfellow and Pinnock gained possession but from a tight angle, he smashed his shot into the side netting.
As the game entered first half stoppage time, Hornchurch then had an excellent chance to take the lead when they quickly broke and Simon Parker found himself with only Walker to beat but he tried to chip Walker and the Maidstone keeper comfortably caught the ball.
It did not take long for Hornchurch to be made to regret this miss as shortly afterwards Maidstone won a corner down the left hand side. Andy Martin swung in the cross which was flicked on by James Peacock and the ball fell to Jay Saunders who was lurking on the other side of pitch. Saunders did well to cut back into the box and his shot was blocked but it came to Bradbrook who saw his first effort stopped by the Hornchurch defence before he picked his spot and directed the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Early in the second half, The Stones had two opportunities to increase their lead but Peacock’s shot from close to the penalty spot was deflected over the bar and then from an Ashley Ulph cross, Pinnock headed wide.
Then on 64 minutes, Seb Schoburgh was fouled in a central position twenty yards from goal and substitute Lloyd Blackman saw his free-kick curl just wide.
Hornchurch’s first chance of the second half came two minutes later when Mark Janney whipped a free-kick into the box and Mark Goodfellow was unmarked but his header flashed wide.
With The Urchins pushing forwards, Maidstone were looking to hit the home side on the break at every opportunity and on 68 minutes, Schoburgh carried the ball forwards with a run which took him to the edge of the area before he unleashed a shot which was turned round the post by Dale Brightly.
Ten minutes from time, substitute Ant Bodle drew a good save from Brightly and just a minute later, Maidstone made sure of their place in the next round when Martin crossed and Pinnock headed in his second goal in as many games.
However, there was still time for a nervy finish as with 90 minutes on the clock, substitute Ross Wall pulled a goal back for the home side but The Stones saw out the three minutes of additional time to book their trip to Swindon Supermarine in the next round.
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