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Maidstone United are beginning to make a habit of coming from behind to register important points this season. After turning around a two nil deficit against Ramsgate last month, this time The Stones came away from high flying Tonbridge with a point after trailing by the same margin. And Maidstone may even feel disappointed they did not snatch the victory after an excellent second half performance saw them dominate the home side and create numerous chances on goal.
With Ian Cox unavailable and Ben Lewis suspended, The Stones gave a debut to Peter Hawkins who is on loan from Ebbsfleet in defence. At times in the first half though, the Maidstone back line struggled to effectively deal with balls into the box with John Wescott in particular, proving to be a constant threat.
However, it was the visitors who nearly took the lead with just a minute gone when Meshach Nugent flicked the ball over the Tonbridge keeper Lee Worgan only for the ball to trickle against the outside of the right hand post before being scrambled clear.
But the deadlock was broken on five minutes when an attempted clearance from Roland Edge took an unfortunate deflection which sent the ball into the path of Carl Rook who advanced into the box. James Peacock could not dispossess the Tonbridge striker and he drilled a cross into Wescott who had time to miscontrol the ball before slamming it past the stranded Steve Northwood.
The Stones then had a good chance to respond quickly when Elliot Bradbrook's free-kick picked out the unmarked James Pinnock who headed over and there after Tonbridge dominated for long spells.
On 15 minutes, Wescott's corner caused confusion in the box and Leon Legge's header looked to be going in until Northwood expertly tipped the ball over the bar and twelve minutes later, another Wescott delivery created an opportunity but this time Rook put the ball wide.
Despite being under pressure, Maidstone occasionally threatened on the break and on 28 minutes, the excellent Bradbrook picked out Pinnock whose shot on the turn was stopped by the diving Worgan.
But on the half hour point, Tonbridge extended their lead. James Peacock's frustration led to him conceding a free-kick 35 yards from goal which was pumped into the box by Wescott. The ball looked to be going out until Legge stretched to hook it back across into the middle and Rook had the simple task from finishing from just inside the six yard box.
Shortly after, a mistake from Hawkins let in Wescott down the right and he found Ade Olorunda but before the Tonbridge striker could shoot, Nathan Paul made a crucial challenge.
As soon as the sides returned from the break, Maidstone looked a transformed side and they pinned Tonbridge back at every opportunity. On 49 minutes, some excellent work from Nugent set up Lloyd Blackman and with the goal at his mercy, he side footed the ball wide.
Two minutes later, Blackman was fouled 20 yards from goal and from the resultant free-kick, Bradbrook's curling effort came off the underside of the bar and back into the area. With a queue of Maidstone players lining up to take advantage, the chance fell to Jay Saunders who saw his fierce half volley crash off the top of the bar and fly behind for a goal-kick.
By now it was beginning to look like it was not going to be Maidstone's afternoon but they kept up the momentum and their desire paid off on 55 minutes when Bradbrook whipped in a corner which was met by Pinnock before being knocked on by Saunders and Nugent's deflected shot entered the net.
Hawkins was then fortunate not to concede a penalty when he clearly handled the ball inside the box whilst at the other end, Ashley Ulph's free-kick was weakly punched by Worgan and Saunders saw his header cleared off the line by Legge.
The Stones kept up the pressure but it looked as though their chances of getting anything from the game had been severely dented when Pinnock was dismissed for a second yellow card and then with the game moving towards full time, there was a disturbance off the pitch.
When play resumed on 80 minutes, Aaron Lacy took a free-kick and with the Tonbridge players seemingly distracted by the events of the previous few minutes, Roland Edge ghosted into space to head in his second goal of the season.
Having draw level, Maidstone pushed forwards in search of the winner and on 88 minutes, Nugent drilled an inviting ball across the six yard box which only just missed the stretching Saunders and then with the game in stoppage time, Bradbrook picked out Nugent but as the Maidstone striker entered the box he elected to shoot early and he blasted the ball into the stand.
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