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A hat-trick from James Pinnock, coupled with a late strike from Elliot Bradbrook, ensured that Maidstone avenged their four - nil defeat against Hastings United last season in the best possible manner.
This was a dominant performance from The Stones and for long periods of the game they were camped inside the Hastings half. The only concern was the fact that having gone a goal in front, Maidstone were creating numerous chances but had failed to convert them until twelve minutes from time, when Pinnock’s second of the afternoon opened the floodgates.
From the outset, Maidstone looked to take control and on three minutes, Meshach Nugent crossed for Elliot Bradbrook who saw his header blocked. Then two minutes later, the Hastings’ keeper Greg Nessling spilled Nathan Paul’s cross into the path of Jay Saunders who miss-hit the ball wide.
On seven minutes, there was a scare for Andy Walker as Scott Ramsay struck a speculative shot from the half way line which only just went wide but this was one of the rare times that Hastings threatened as Maidstone dominated.
Having started strongly, The Stones then made their dominance pay on 13 minutes when they took the lead. Kevin Watson brought the ball down the right hand side before delivering a deep cross which was headed down by Bradbrook and James Pinnock hooked the ball in from close range to register his first competitive goal for The Stones.
Maidstone then had a great chance to extend their lead shortly afterwards when Saunders released Nugent who let the ball bounce a couple of times before lashing his shot wide of the post.
Just like in the game against Harlow, The Stones began to let their opponents back into the match around the half an hour mark and on 32 minutes, Maidstone’s defence stood off as Marc Whiteman received possession and struck the ball goalwards only for Andy Walker to get down well to his left and turn the ball around the post.
Whiteman then had three further opportunities inside five minutes to equalise for the home side. The first chance saw him cut inside Ben Lewis before firing wide of the right hand post then he got past Lewis again on the half way line before advancing towards the area and smacking a fierce shot which cannoned off the inside of the post. The ball then came back into play and fell to Whiteman and this time he saw his shot deflect just wide.
Having survived this brief spell of Hastings pressure, The Stones looked to extend their lead and two minutes from the break it seemed as if they would add to their tally when Watson’s pass found Bradbrook who slid in and poked the ball past the on-rushing Nessling only for Nathan Russell to clear the ball off the line.
The Stones continued to press Hastings back at every opportunity at the start of the second half and on 52 minutes Pinnock took the ball well on his chest but Nessling palmed his resultant shot away and then from the corner, Saunders’ header flew just over.
Bradbrook then had a couple of chances to score before he struck a good corner on 78 minutes which was met by Ian Cox and Pinnock bundled the ball over the line.
The home side then had a rare attack which ended with Walker having to tip a strike from Antonio Gonnella round the post and on 82 minutes, Rhys Whybourne shot wide.
Five minutes from time, substitute Lloyd Blackman neatly flicked the ball over his head into the path of Paul who went round Russell and pulled the ball back into the middle. There to meet it was Pinnock who took a touch to knock the ball to his left before curling a good finish into the left hand side of the net to complete his hat-trick.
Then with one minute remaining, The Stones rounded off an enjoyable afternoon when Saunders had a shot blocked and Bradbrook smashed the ball in from close range.
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