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March has not been a good time for Maidstone United. After eight league fixtures played so far this month The Stones have won just one game and their terrible run of form means they are now hovering just above the relegation zone.
United could not have got off to a worse start in this fixture against the Ryman League’s other Stones as on two minutes they failed to stop Charlie Mpi running down the left. His cross came to Danny Spendlove and although his shot was blocked no one could prevent Ryan Ashe from steering the ball past Andy Walker.
The home side were poor in the first half which was not helped by the fact they were often over run in midfield and on 24 minutes they were fortunate not to fall further behind when Mpi found Callum Martin inside the area but he could not get enough power on his strike.
Then ten minutes later, Ashe’s free-kick came to Mpi who saw his effort deflect wide and from the resultant corner, Martin went close with a header.
At the other end, Rob Lyall lifted a shot over the bar from distance on 36 minutes and then two minutes later, Lyall accidentally gifted the ball to Spendlove close to the Maidstone area but the Wealdstone player could not capitalise on the opportunity.
Maidstone improved greatly after the break and on 55 minutes they drew level when James Peacock showed good skill to turn into space out on the right wing and his deep cross ended up flying into the far side of the net.
Three minutes later, Lee Chappell made good progress down the left for Wealdstone and clipped the ball into Mpi who shot wide and then sixty seconds later, Maidstone were once again loose with their possession in midfield which presented Martin with a chance but he drove the ball across the face of goal.
Then on 62 minutes, Lyall conceded possession in the middle of the park and Spendlove slipped the ball into Martin who dispatched a confident finish past Walker.
The home side came close to equalising again with twenty minutes to go when Danny Hockton found Adrian Stone with a good ball and Stone saw his shot come off the Wealdstone keeper Sean Thomas but it didn’t have sufficient momentum to cross the line and it was eventually cleared.
Two minutes later, Martin got the better of Tom Parkinson and his drive deflected off substitute Chris Saunders only for Walker to get down and stop the ball at the base of his right hand post and then shortly afterwards, Wealdstone broke quickly and Martin once again forced the Maidstone keeper into a good save.
The game quickly moved to the other end and Hockton drew Thomas from his goal and the Wealdstone keeper did well to concede a corner. The cross was swung in from Gonnella which was punched by Thomas as far as Roland Edge who headed the ball back into the middle of the box to Lyall who nodded in from close range.
Having twice come from behind there was then a crushing blow for Maidstone when with just six minutes remaining Walker made a good save to deny substitute Greg Ngoyi and despite Saunders’ best efforts, Martin slid in to force the ball into the net.
There was still time for the home side to create two further opportunities but on 86 minutes Peacock put in substitute Lyndon Rowland who saw his early shot held by Thomas and then deep in stoppage time, Gonnella crossed for Peacock but the Wealdstone keeper once again made a comfortable save.
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