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Maidstone United’s home crowds this season are significantly down on recent years and if they continue to perform in the manner that they did against Boreham Wood, few people are going to come flocking back through the turnstiles at Homelands.
The Stones’ quest for three points was perhaps not helped by the boggy conditions but the visitors managed to carve out a number of good opportunities whilst Maidstone were left to rue Peter Hawkins’ bad miss from close range midway through the second half.
It was Boreham Wood who were the better side early on in the game and on 19 minutes Inih Effiong was allowed to roam down the right and he squared the ball to Lee Allinson who was in space inside the area. Just as Allinson shot he was upended by Jamie Turner and the referee, Mr Bentley, has no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Mario Noto assumed responsibility for the penalty and he confidently fired it into the net.
Two minutes later John Clements crossed from the right and Leon Hunter’s diving header deflected wide before The Stones finally had an effort on goal on 29 minutes when James Peacock met Nick Barnes’ deep free-kick but he headed the ball into Tony Tucker’s hands.
Eight minutes before the break, Noto hit the top of the bar with a cross and this was to be the last attempt on goal from either side until the 64th minute when the visitors should have extended their lead.
The Stones had improved after half time but they got caught on the break when their free-kick was comfortably dealt with by Boreham’s defence and Effiong was put through on goal. Effiong ran into the box and with only Turner to beat he shot at the near post only for Turner to make a good save and push the ball away.
Three minutes later, Maidstone finally created a goal scoring opportunity when there was a scramble in the box and the ball dropped to Nick Barnes who saw his effort blocked. The Wood could not clear their lines though and eventually the ball came to Peter Hawkins who was about five yards out but with the goal at his mercy, Hawkins blasted the opportunity over the bar.
Then on 83 minutes, a goal kick from Turner was flicked into the path of James Pinnock but the Maidstone striker never got the ball under control and his weak shot past Tucker got stuck in the mud before being cleared for a corner.
And this was to prove to be The Stones’ last effort on goal as Boreham Wood comfortably saw out the rest of the game and in fact it was the visitors who should have scored again when Allinson was put clear with a minute remaining but once again Turner made a good block.
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