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Maidstone United’s
season has not got off to a successful start after they
were defeated by one of the favourites for the Ryman
Premier League title, Carshalton Athletic.
The Robins totally dominated the first half and should
have found themselves five goals ahead before Maidstone
finally threatened the Carshalton goal but in the end,
The Stones created enough chances to have at least claimed
a point.
It took just five minutes for The Robins to have the
ball in the net but the goal was ruled out for a foul
on Jamie Turner. However, Carshalton didn’t let
this disappointment hamper them as they continued to
move the ball forwards quickly at every opportunity
and this paid off on 16 minutes when they opened the
scoring. Bashira Alimi’s shot at the near post
was well saved by Turner but the Maidstone keeper was
powerless to prevent Charlie Ide knocking in the rebound.
The visitors continued to press and on 26 minutes,
Alan Pouton could not get the ball clear from The Stones’
area and he was dispossessed by Ide who shot wide before
Matthew Grey pulled a corner back to the unmarked Scott
Cousins and his fierce curling shot just missed the
goal.
Then on 31 minutes, Richard Jolly raced into the box
pursued by Nathan Paul. Paul slid in and won the ball
cleanly but Jolly fell over and bizarrely the referee
Mr McCoy pointed to the spot. Jolly stepped up to take
the penalty but he was far too casual in his approach
and he blazed the ball out of the ground.
However, it didn’t take long for Carshalton
to double their lead as on 39 minutes the ball fell
to Adrian Toppin who was in space close to the edge
of the Maidstone area and he curled a delightful finish
into the back of the net.
Three minutes later, The Stones had their first decent
opportunity of the afternoon when Meshach Nugent was
fouled out on the right and Pouton whipped in a decent
delivery which was met by the unmarked Peter Hawkins
who headed wide.
Then sixty seconds later, Maidstone should have pulled
a goal back when James Peacock put Nugent in on goal
but Matthew Reed came to the edge of his box and stopped
Nugent’s shot with his legs.
With the game on the verge of half time, the visitors
went close once again when Ide headed just over the
bar and then on 50 minutes, Jolly threaded the ball
into Ide but Turner got a vital touch to divert the
ball wide.
From the resultant corner, play immediately swung
to the other end as a clearance out of defence put Dan
Stubbs through on goal. Stubbs ran from the half way
line and as he got into the box he shot but once again
Reed made a smart block with his legs and Carshalton
scrambled the ball clear.
Tom Parkinson then saw a good effort fly just over
before he was immediately substituted and The Stones
reverted to a 4-4-2 formation with Jimmy Bottle coming
on to play as a left winger. The change helped Maidstone
as they began to gain more possession but The Robins
still threatened on the break and on 59 minutes, Hawkins’
lapse in concentration let in Ide only for Turner to
make a good save to deny the Carshalton striker.
With 65 minutes gone, another good free-kick from
Pouton picked out Peacock whose looping header just
dropped over before substitute Barry Stevens exchanged
passes with Ide before hitting a low shot goalwards
which Turner did well to stop.
Then with stoppage time looming, there was a late
flurry from The Stones when Bottle crossed for Stubbs
who brought the ball down for James Pinnock who saw
his fierce shot charged down and then from the resultant
corner, Ant Bodle had a drive blocked before Peacock’s
header cleared the bar.
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