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Two goals from Jay Saunders
were enough to give Maidstone a share of the points
in the clash of The Stones.
Both sides created numerous chances in this close
encounter but United will be disappointed that the two
Wealdstone goals stemmed from defensive errors.
On 13 minutes Charlie Mpi got on the end of a long
throw only for his shot to deflect wide and then five
minutes later, Maidstone had their first significant
attack of the game when Ashley Dann did well to get
into between two defenders to reach a long ball from
Antionio Gonella and he forced Sean Thomas into a smart
stop at his near post.
Then on 20 minutes, Maidstone were perhaps fortunate
not to concede a penalty when Peter Hawkins appeared
to handle the ball inside his box before Wealdstone
had a fantastic opportunity to take the lead but with
only Jamie Turner to beat, the unmarked Marvin McCoy
headed the ball over the bar from close range.
The action continued to move from end to end and on
28 minutes Kieron Forbes threaded the ball into Greg
Ngoyi but Turner was alert and dived into to claim the
ball with his hands and then The Stones’ keeper
reacted quickly on 36 minutes to tip a goal bound cross
from Calum Botham over the bar.
Wealdstone continued to attack at every opportunity
and Chris O’Leary saw a low effort from the edge
of the area stopped and it was then James Pinnock’s
turn to go close on 45 minutes when his fierce drive
from just outside the box whistled inches wide.
But the closest any side came to breaking the deadlock
in the first half came in stoppage time when Aaron Gayle
delivered a deep corner which was met by the towering
Alan Massay and his header smacked the bar.
One minute after the restart, Maidstone should have
edged in front when Pinnock played in Dann but as The
Stones’ striker entered the box he lifted the
ball over the bar. However, the away side did open the
scoring on 59 minutes. Nathan Paul was fouled close
to the half way line and James Peacock pumped the ball
deep into the box where he picked out Roland Edge who
crossed for Jay Saunders and his glancing header flew
into the net.
Three minutes later, an acrobatic effort from Charlie
Mpi just missed the goal and then at the other end,
an excellent cross from substitute Dean Hernandez-Bradshaw
was met by the diving Pinnock and his header flew inches
over the bar.
Then on 73 minutes, Wealdstone pulled themselves back
into the game when Peter Hawkins missed a header which
let in Mpi who rounded Peacock with ease before finishing
confidently giving the home side their first goal of
the new season.
Five minutes later, Turner kept the scores level when
he tipped Forbes’ goalbound effort over but he
could do nothing to stop Wealdstone taking the lead
on 80 minutes. Once again Peacock was outdone by the
pace of Mpi and as Mpi charged into the area Hawkins
clattered into him. The referee Mr Forrester had no
choice but to point to the spot and Ryan Ashe smashed
the ball down the middle of the goal.
It took just two minutes for Maidstone to draw level
though. Hernandez-Bradshaw’s corner from the right
came out to substitute Alan Pouton who sent a fierce
pass back out to Hernandez-Bradshaw and this time his
cross was met by first Roland Edge and then Saunders
who got the vital touch to send the ball looping into
the net.
There was still time for either side to grab a winner
and the home side should have snatched the victory five
minutes from time when Chris O’Leary found himself
just yards from goal as everyone stopped expecting O’Leary
to be ruled offside but the Wealdstone player was wasteful
and placed his tame header into Turner’s hands.
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