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Goals from James Peacock and Antonio Gonnella were enough to give Maidstone United their first win in six weeks and only their fourth league win at The Homelands this season as they overcame fellow strugglers Waltham Abbey.
This was a hardworking performance from The Stones and they got off to the best possible start when on four minutes a corner from the excellent Gonnella was only headed away as far as Peacock and he riffled a superb finish into the net from about twelve yards.
Maidstone continued to put pressure on the visitors and on 11 minutes Gonnella found Adrian Stone who smashed the ball towards the near post and his effort was blocked before Gonnella had a deflected shot saved by Harry Ricketts after 17 minutes.
As the half wore on, Waltham Abbey began to come more into the game but it was The Stones who looked the more likely to score again. On 27 minutes Danny Hockton ran towards the touchline and pulled the ball back into the area which struck James Elmes and Elmes was fortunate that Ricketts was able to prevent an own goal.
However, Maidstone did extend their lead on 31 minutes when Stone lifted the ball into the area and Gonnella nipped in to head the ball over Ricketts.
Then one minute before the interval a good move down the left from The Stones saw Jermaine Darlington pick out Gonnella who tricked his way into the box but he could only drive the ball across the face of goal.
Five minutes after the break, Andy Walker was seriously tested for the first time during the evening when Maidstone lost possession from their throw and Adam Parker fed Marc Sontag who saw his shot turned round the post by Walker.
Just sixty seconds later Darlington was dismissed when he retaliated to some unwanted attention from Ricci Crace and having a man advantage seemed to give Waltham Abbey some confidence. On 59 minutes, Parker struck a fierce free-kick from the edge of the area which shot through Maidstone’s wall only for Walker to make a stunning save and divert the ball over the bar.
Then fourteen minutes later, Walker once again rescued the home side when he made another great save to push Sontag’s half volley wide and fortunately for Maidstone was to be the last time that the visitors seriously threatened.
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