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Peter Hawkins was Maidstone United’s hero as he rescued a point for The Stones with a well taken late goal.
After Tuesday’s night defeat to Dartford, Maidstone were keen to start hauling their way clear of the relegation places but after disjointed performance against the team directly above them in the table The Stones will be grateful to have claimed a point.
Maidstone started brightly and on one minute Ant Bodle carried the ball down the left hand side before curling his shot into the arms of Tony Kessell.
Then just three minutes later Steve Elliott sent a cross into the box which was met by Bodle and his header grazed the base of the right hand post.
On twenty minutes Cray had a decent penalty appeal waved away after Leigh Bremner was bundled over in the box by a combination of Rob Lyall and Hawkins and then shortly afterwards Andy Walker made a good save to deny Lewis Wood.
However, the deadlock was broken on 24 minutes when Jamie Wood squared a free-kick on the edge of the area to George Porter and his shot deflected into the net off the unfortunate Lyall.
Three minutes later Maidstone should have equalised after debutant Dean Rance headed the ball into the path of Alex Tiesse who found himself with only Kessell to beat but the Cray keeper made a good stop with his feet.
Just before the break Walker kept The Stones in the game when he did well to tip a header from Porter over the bar and this was to prove to be the last effort on goal until the 74 th minute when Jamie Wood’s corner picked out Mark Willy whose headed effort clipped the bar.
Then with six minutes remaining, there was relief for The Stones faithful when the home side pulled level after Rance slipped the ball into Hawkins who was in space inside the area and he kept his composure before sending the ball past the stranded Kessell.
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Maidstone United: Peter Hawkins 84
Cray Wanderers: George Porter 24
Maidstone United: Andy Walker, Rob Lyall, Roland Edge, Ant Bodle, Peter Hawkins, James Peacock, Steve Elliott (Antonio Gonella 64) Craig Stone, Alex Tiesse (Charlie Stimson 69), Danny Hockton (Lyndon Rowland 61), Dean Rance. Subs Not Used: Ashley Ulph, Adam Harris.
Cray Wanderers: Tony Kessell, Aaron Day, Colin Luckett, Des Boateng, Mark Willy, John Guest, Jamie Wood, Tommy Tyne (Gio Fulloni 85), Leigh Bremner, Lewis Wood, George Porter. Subs not used: Richard Morgan, Khankie Charles, Ross Lover, Ian Jenkins.
Peter Nott
Man of the Match
Poll
Pictures from Steve Terrell
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