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Maidstone United’s strong start to the season continues after they registered their first home win of the campaign, and only their second victory at Bourne Park, in 2008.
Last season, it took The Stones twelve matches and until the 13 th October to reach a double digits points tally but this year, that feat has already been achieved before the end of the first month of the season.
Maidstone should have taken the lead inside the first minute against Hendon when Meshach Nugent exchanged possession with Elliot Bradbrook and Nugent then picked out Nathan Paul who was in acres in space inside the box but Paul’s weak shot was scrambled off the line by Kevin Maclaren and goalkeeper Joe Welch.
However, Welch was beaten with just 10 minutes played when Jay Saunders won possession in midfield and released James Pinnock who confidently raced into the area and dispatched a low shot past the Hendon keeper.
Two minutes later, The Stones doubled their lead when Bradbrook’s deep free-kick reached Kevin Watson at the back post who dived to head the ball and his effort bobbled into the net.
Pinnock then had a tricky opportunity to put Maidstone firmly in control of the game but his acrobatic half volley cleared the bar and then Hendon suddenly found themselves back in the match when they scored from their first attack. Sam Byfield caused Andy Walker to dive to save his shot but The Stones’ keeper could not hold onto the ball and Chris Bangura was on hand to finish from close range.
Welch was the busier of the two keepers as the half progressed and he made a smart save on 28 minutes to deny Saunders who had hit a good volley goalwards and then sixty seconds later, Charlie Mapes sloppily gave the ball away allowing Ian Selley to pick up possession and fire a low shot which Welch blocked.
Then suddenly, Maidstone began to look uneasy and sat back allowing Hendon to push forwards.On 32 minutes, Roland Edge made a vital tackle in the penalty area to whip the ball off Brian Haule’s toes just as it looked as though the Hendon striker was about to shoot. Shortly after, Haule then had another opportunity when he found himself with only Walker to beat but as the ball bounced, Haule lofted his effort over the bar.
One minute before the break, a neat move from Hendon saw them play the ball around the edge of the Maidstone area and Jamie Busby arrived to shoot just wide of the post and then with the game in first half stoppage time, Bangura’s header struck the bar following a Hendon corner.
After the interval, the visitors had another spell of pressure and Walker turned a free-kick from Byfield around the right hand post but there after, chances were few and far between as the heat took its toll on the players.
With five minutes remaining, Pinnock found substitute Lloyd Blackman in space down the left and the Maidstone striker ran into the box and composed himself before smashing in his first goal for The Stones.
But there was still time for a nervous finish for The Stones fans as with the game two minutes into stoppage time, Busby opened up the Maidstone defence and picked out Haule who finished from close range but the goal came too late for Hendon to rescue a point.
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