In
spring like conditions at Bourne Park The Stones struggled
for any fluency for the second week running as they blundered
along to a 1-1 draw in this Kent derby game against Margate.
With United sitting comfortably in mid-table and now increasingly
unlikely to figure in either the promotion play-offs or
the relegation scrap, for the first time this season a
Maidstone game had a distinctly "end of season"
feel to it.
Margate for their part were far more lively and with a
little more luck they would have secured all three points
today. With former Stones Pat Mullin and Aaron Lacy turning
out for the Thanet side and former Gate favourites James
Pinnock and Jay Saunders turning out for The Stones, there
were plenty of players on view who wanted to "get
one over" their previous clubs.
What should have been obvious to The Stones was the potential
threat of Aaron Lacy's long throw-ins. However, despite
from benefitting from six years worth of Lacy throw-ins,
The Stones continually put the ball into touch within
Lacy's firing range.
From a 13th minute Lacy throw-in, the ball was knocked
into the area and skipper Ben Lewis sent a powerful header
towards his own top corner necessitating a fine reaction
save from Andy Walker. Within three minutes The Gate were
ahead. A free-kick on the right flank was superbly played
into the "corridor of uncertainty" by Joe Healey
and Kenny Pratt added a deft headed flick to send the
ball nestling into The Stones goal as the defence stood
statuesque in pose.
This setback temporarily spurred The Stones on and Elliot
Bradbrook had an effort easily saved by Pat Mullin before
two minutes later James Pinnock lobbed a shot over the
crossbar when well placed. Nathan Paul went down under
a slight challenge in the area but Mr Woodward turned
down the appeal for a spot kick before Lloyd Blackman
was denied a shooting chance as Mullin cleared from the
edge of his box.
The game's one moment of rancour occurred eight minutes
before the half time break when Peter Hawkins, after fouling
Kenny Pratt, drilled the ball into the Margate man from
close range. Gate captain Ryan Peters took exception to
this and as a result, a minor melée ensued and
both Hawkins and Peters were cautioned for their trouble.
The second half saw a little more determination from the
home side and Elliot Bradbrook volleyed over the bar following
a neat flicked header from Jay Saunders. Margate showed
their attacking potential though as they counter-attacked
swiftly in the 59th minute. Peters played Pratt through
with a simple pass, Pratt outpaced Lewis and Hawkins but
Walker saved his side with a great save in a one on one
situation.
The visitors' profligacy in front of goal was punished
three minutes later as Lloyd Blackman crossed the ball
into the penalty area and the cross was handled by Kieran
Morris. Blackman took on the responsibility from the spot
and fired his kick low and firm to the left of Mullin
who made a valiant effort to stop the kick.
Walker was again called into action in the 71st minute
when defender Dan Stubbs struck a speculative 35 yard
shot towards goal. The ball swerved and dipped and Walker
kept the ball out from just below his crossbar, however
the ball ran loose in front of goal and The Stones custodian
dived bravely at the feet of Pratt to force the dangerous
striker to lift his effort narrowly over the bar.
With three minutes remaining, Mullin repeated his first
half effort of beating Blackman to the ball at the edge
of the area and within one minute Margate squandered
their best chance of the game. Another counter-attack
set Peters free and he managed to take the ball around
Walker in goal but he somehow failed to score as his
shot hit the side-netting much to the relief of the
majority of the crowd of 411.
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Maidstone United:
Blackman 67
Margate: Pratt
16
Maidstone United: Walker, Paul, Edge, Lewis,
Hawkins, Parkinson (Bodle 46), Nugent, Saunders, Pinnock,
Blackman, Bradbrook (Peacock 78) Subs not used: Northwood,
Pascal, Sinfield
Margate: Mullin, Morris, Robinson (Quain 81),
Haverson, Stubbs, Wheatley, Lacy, Wilson, Healey, Peters,
Pratt (Coleman 90) Subs not used: Treadwell, Ohakham,
Rowlands
 Alan
Walker
Man of the Match
Photos
from Steve Terrell
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