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For the first time in six years Maidstone United defeated their old Kent League adversaries Ramsgate, thanks to a diving header from Lloyd Blackman just one minute from full time.
This was richly deserved victory for The Stones as despite suffering the loss of Nathan Paul on 38 minutes when the Maidstone player was wrongly sent off, United looked the stronger side in the second half.
As has been the case this season, United started the game at a quick tempo and with just seven minutes played Jay Saunders launched the ball forwards to James Pinnock who ran down the left and sent a low delivery in the box. The ball came to Meshach Nugent who had his back to goal but he turned and hit an excellent shot which flew into the net to give Nugent his first goal for The Stones.
Going behind galvanised the home side and for the next ten minutes they put The Stones under pressure. On 9 minutes, Dan Tanner’s cross into the box fell to Mo Takaloo and Andy Walker had to get down quickly to turn the ball around the right hand post.
Then with 17 minutes gone, Aaron Firth’s goalbound drive struck Ben Lewis’ arm. It had appeared that Lewis was outside the area when the offence was committed but the referee, Mr Conhatzidakis, pointed to the spot and Takaloo scored on his first appearance against The Stones since his return to Ramsgate.
Seven minutes later, Walker had to be alert to deny Firth after Lewis had allowed the Ramsgate player get to the ball just outside the area and two minutes later, Maidstone could not clear their lines and Dane Sutton arrived late to curl his shot over.
Roland Edge then drew a good save from Jack Delo before Maidstone were reduced to ten men with 38 minutes gone. Paul and Joe Dowley contested the ball down The Stones’ right and as Dowley stretched his leg, Paul seemed to jump over the Ramsgate player. However, Mr Conhatzidakis believed that Paul had deliberately left his studs in on Dowley and sent the Maidstone player off.
With the game heading towards first half stoppage time, Ramsgate looked to take advantage of their additional man and Walker kept The Stones in the game as he made two fine saves to deny Takaloo.
Chances were few and far between after the interval but Maidstone were the better side and they had a strong penalty appeal waved away on 52 minutes when it appeared that Elliot Bradbrook’s drive was handled by a diving Ramsgate defender. Then nine minutes later, a good move from The Stones involving Nugent, Pinnock and Jay Saunders ended with Saunders blasting the ball over the bar.
Pinnock was replaced by Lloyd Blackman and with six minutes remaining, the Maidstone substitute had an opportunity when he found himself in space down the left hand side only for him to fire the ball into the stand behind the goal.
But Blackman atoned for this miss with 89 minutes on the clock when Roland Edge sent over a cross which was not properly cleared and Blackman flung himself at the ball and sent a diving header into the far side of the net to give The Stones their fourth win inside six games.
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