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In 2008 it took Maidstone until the end of August to win two games at Bourne Park and after a disappointing performance in the first home game of the season of 2009, The Stones will be hoping that their form at Sittingbourne improves more quickly this year.
Greg Nessling in the Hastings goal only had one save to make during the game but Steve Northwood, a late replacement for Andy Walker who was injured in the warm up, was called upon a number of times and if it was not for his excellent keeping, combined with some wasteful finishing from the visitors, then Maidstone could have been on the end of an embarrassing scoreline.
There was an early warning for The Stones as on 16 minutes, Aaron Lacy played Jay Saunders into trouble close to the edge of the box and Marc Whiteman gained possession and shot goalwards only for Northwood to get down quickly and divert the ball wide. Then shortly after, the ball dropped to Nathan Russell inside the box but from a good position, his effort missed the target.
It took until the 27 th minute for Maidstone to have their first effort on goal when Lacy crossed for Lloyd Blackman who was in acres of space but his header was comfortably held by Nessling and seconds later, Ian Cox's blasted shot appeared to strike a Hastings arm but no penalty was forthcoming.
As the game moved towards the break, the visitors began to gain the upper hand and eight minutes before half time, Russell's header bounced off the top of the bar and then a mistake from Nathan Paul let in Sam Adams only for the Hastings player to drive the ball wide. But the best chance of the half fell to Antonio Gonella who got in behind the Maidstone defence and with only Northwood to beat, he nonchalantly sent the ball over the bar.
The Stones improved briefly immediately after half time following the introduction of Craig Thompson for Lacy and Roland Edge sent a rising drive just over before Thompson's hard work led to Blackman scooping the ball over the bar.
Just past the hour, Northwood made an excellent save to deny Whiteman and then Northwood had to rush from his goal to deny Whiteman once again after Jay Saunders' attempted back pass fell short of the Maidstone keeper.
By now, Hastings were camped in The Stones' half and on 64 minutes, Northwood made a stunning save to deny Russell when he had connected well with a Adams corner.
Maidstone then finally managed to break the spell of Hastings pressure and on 73 minutes, Elliot Bradbrook whipped in a deep corner which was headed towards goal by Ben Lewis only for Nessling to make an excellent save.
But sixty seconds later, Gonella created space on the edge of the area and he curled the ball past the stranded Northwood to give the visitors a much deserved victory.
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