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Danny Hockton was once again Maidstone United’s hero as he grabbed the only goal against his former side to avenge The Stones’ defeat to Margate on Boxing Day.
After a good victory away at Hastings on Monday, The Stones appeared more confident than in recent weeks and they managed well despite the loss of Jay Saunders before the game through injury and the sending off of James Peacock for two avoidable bookable offences.
It was Maidstone who enjoyed the best of the opening exchanges and on six minutes a good spell of possession saw Tom Parkinson spread the ball to Dean Hernandez-Bradshaw who found James Pinnock on the edge of the area and his shot was parried by Matt Reed in the Margate goal.
Four minutes later, Hockton should have put The Stones in front when he was presented with a free header from a Nick Barnes corner but he put the chance wide and two minutes later, Hockton got on the end of a cross from the excellent Jermaine Darlington and once again, the Maidstone striker failed to hit the target.
As the half wore on, the home side began to come more into the game and on 21 minutes, Wayne Wilson’s corner was volleyed wide by Charlie Read but this was to prove Margate’s only attempt on goal until after the break when they emerged from the interval the livelier of the two sides.
On 51 minutes, former Stones striker Lloyd Blackman found himself with only Jamie Turner to beat but he fired his shot well wide but sixty seconds later, Blackman came close to making up for this poor effort as he struck the ball goalwards only for Turner to make a great save and turn his drive onto the post.
Shortly afterwards, Ben Clarke surged towards goal and exchanged passes with Anthony Joseph but just as Clarke looked to pounce as he entered the area, Turner rushed from his goal and snuffed out the danger.
It was then Maidstone’s turn to apply pressure and on 62 minutes Peacock delivered a good cross which was flicked on by James Pinnock to Nathan Paul who saw his shot blocked.
The Stones continued to press and this paid dividends on 63 minutes when Barnes sent over a corner from the right hand side and the unfortunate Reed dropped the ball in front of Hockton who could not miss from close range.
Fourteen minutes from time, Tom Parkinson made an excellent tackle to deny Blackman and when the ball broke loose, Joe Healy shot straight at Turner and then nine minutes from time, Clarke cut inside Nathan Paul only to curl his shot high and wide of the target.
Two minutes later, a long ball out of the Margate defence found Healy in a great position and this time it was Paul’s turn to make a vital block before Healy went close to forcing an equaliser in stoppage time when Turner did well to parry his shot and Darlington had to be alert to deny substitute Sam Cliff from the rebound.
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