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After playing some of their best football since reforming in the first half against Tooting and Mitcham, it seemed hard to believe that just a week later, The Stones were totally disjointed as they struggled away at Harrow Borough.
With Jay Saunders missing through suspension and Kevin Watson struck down with an ankle injury, Lloyd Hume and Alan Walker were forced to make changes to the settled line up that Maidstone had enjoyed since the start of the season.
And for the first time this campaign, The Stones began poorly as they handed struggling Harrow the impetus right from the outset.
With just five minutes played, Ben Lewis missed the ball which let in Dewayne Clarke down the right hand side but the Harrow player thumped his shot wide of the post.
One minute later, Andy Walker was called into action for the first time as he had to block a shot from Jonathan Constant but on eight minutes, it was The Stones who nearly took the lead against the run of play when Danny Leech accidentally headed the ball against the post from an Ian Selley free-kick.
When the ball came into the area, Harrow managed to clear it quickly and not for the first time in the game, they hit The Stones on the break which ended with Ryan Watts crossing for Clarke who saw his diving header expertly turned around the base of the post by Walker.
Maidstone were struggling to find any fluency in their game and they found themselves under pressure as Harrow pushed forwards at every opportunity. On 13 minutes, huge gaps opened up in the Maidstone defence allowing Jamie Laurence to roam forwards but he could not capitalise on the space in which he found himself and just seconds later, Constant’s throw found Clarke who headed the ball just over the bar.
With 22 minutes played, Lewis had to be alert to make a good block to deny Laurence as Harrow once again broke with pace but then, just as the game went past the half an hour mark, The Stones found themselves in the lead. John Wilfort passed to Meshach Nugent who was just inside the box and the Maidstone striker twisted and turned into space before firing an excellent shot past Andray Baptiste.
The Stones improved slightly just after the break and on 56 minutes, Elliot Bradbrook had an opportunity to double Maidstone’s lead only for Baptiste to make a good stop but as the match progressed, the home side began to dominate once more.
On 62 minutes, Clarke found substitute Josiah Hunte and he lashed the ball wide and then two minutes later, Lewis did not attack the ball and it fell to Robin Shroot who should have done better but his weak shot was easily gathered by Walker.
Maidstone did manage to put together the occasional attack and with just under 20 minutes remaining, a good move which stemmed from Nathan Paul winning the ball and finding Wilfort ended with Bradbrook just failing to divert the ball goalwards.
Then on 76 minutes, Lewis was booked as he conceded a free-kick 20 yards from goal and Simon Dahl saw his fierce effort fly just wide of the left hand post before Harrow really should have equalised 12 minutes from time. Bobby Highton got the better of Bradbrook by the touchline and he crossed for the unmarked Clarke who planted his header the wrong side of the post.
However, Maidstone’s luck finally ran out nine minutes from time as Harrow grabbed a deserved equaliser when Constant buried the ball in the bottom left hand corner of the net.
The Stones then had to endure considerable pressure as the home side looked to win the game and on 83 minutes, Harrow appealed for a penalty when they thought that Lewis had pushed Shroot but no spot kick was forthcoming.
Despite this being Maidstone’s worst performance of the season to date, The Stones held on for a point and their excellent away record remains in tact as they are now unbeaten in nine games away from Bourne Park.
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