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Goals from Ian Selley and Meshach Nugent were enough to give The Stones a comfortable victory in the derby against Margate as Maidstone United moved up to fifth place in the Ryman Premier League table.
Both sides had opportunities early on and the closest Margate came to scoring was on 4 minutes when a hooked effort from Mike Power dropped just over the bar and then eleven minutes later, a free-kick from Wayne Wilson curled inches wide.
Nathan Paul was enjoying a lot of possession down the right hand side and on 22 minutes his low cross was hit goalwards by the former Margate striker James Pinnock but Scott Chalmers-Smith gathered the ball.
Moments later, Meshach Nugent saw a long shot fly just wide of the left hand post before a fantastic move from The Stones on 32 minutes nearly ended with the first goal. Pinnock carried the ball forwards and released Paul who twisted and turned his way to the by-line and sent over a cross which Lloyd Blackman headed against the bar and then from the rebound, Neil Smith’s header was held by Chalmers-Smith.
However, five minutes later Maidstone did open the scoring when Ian Selley, who was over on the right hand side of the pitch and about 25 yards from goal, attempted a cross which flew into the left hand side of the net.
As the game moved towards half time, The Stones continued to create opportunities and Pinnock had a low shot held by Chalmers-Smith before on 45 minutes, the Margate keeper made a good save to deny Pinnock once again as the Maidstone striker burst through on goal.
The home side emerged from the break determined to draw level and on 51 minutes, Wilson went close and then Mo Takaloo found himself in space down the right hand side but the former Stones striker sent his shot wide of the far post.
Takaloo was involved again on 57 minutes when a great bit of individual skill saw him drag the ball past Ian Cox before he turned and fired the ball goalwards only for his effort to be expertly turned wide by Walker.
After a strong start to the second half, Margate were then hit by the sucker punch when The Stones doubled their lead on 59 minutes. Selley drilled in a deep corner which was headed back across by Jay Saunders and Nugent turned the ball over the line from close range.
There after, The Stones had a couple of opportunities to extend their lead. On 72 minutes, Seb Schoburgh’s pace took him clear of the Margate defence down the left but from a tight angle he found the side netting and then with six minutes remaining, Chalmers-Smith blasted a free-kick into Pinnock who gained possession and with the Margate keeper backtracking, Pinnock shot early and his effort curled wide.
Then on 88 minutes, Saunders found himself in space on the edge of the area but he was denied a goal on his return to his former club as Chalmers-Smith made a good save.
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