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After Andy Ford’s resignation in mid-week, Jay Saunders took charge of The Stones for his first game as manager but unfortunately for Saunders, the match ended in another home defeat for Maidstone.
For 84 minutes of this fixture it looked as though Maidstone might put an end to their losing streak but then they got caught on the break and former Stones striker Tony Boot showed the sort of precision in front of goal that United so desperately need.
There was little to choose between the two sides in a scrappy first half. Both teams lost their number fives early on to injury and the disrupted start to the game meant that it took a while to settle down.
With 18 minutes played Billericay got through Maidstone’s defence and a cross was driven at the near post to Cedric Ngakam whose shot deflected just wide.
Then at the other end, on 32 minutes a free-kick from Andy Walker picked out Gary Wharton who drove the ball across the face of goal.
Sixty seconds later Wharton passed to Jay May who found Alex Flisher inside the area but Flisher was closed down quickly and Nick Morgan in the Billericay goal comfortably gathered his deflected drive.
Due to the lengthy stoppages early on in the game, there was five minutes of additional time at the end of the first half and during this the visitors were awarded a penalty after Nathan Paul tripped Micah Hyde inside the box. Ngakam stepped up to take the spot-kick and he put it down the middle of the goal only for Walker to make a superb save with his legs.
Just past the hour the visitors had another good chance to take the lead when Junior Hyde’s long throw into the area came to Harrison Chatting whose looping header went over the bar.
Then sixteen minutes from time Charlie Allen got in behind Ronayne Marsh-Brown down the left hand side and he pulled the ball back to Benson Kpaka only for Simon Glover to make an excellent block and divert Kpaka’s effort over the bar.
At the other end a good run from substitute Ellis Green ended with Dan Stubbs hitting a weak shot wide but unfortunately for The Stones Jay Saunders got caught in possession on 84 minutes and Boot raced clear before thumping the ball past Walker.
With the game in stoppage time a corner from Green came to Saunders who shot on the turn but he couldn’t hit the target and then right at the death, Billericay once again broke quickly and this time Boot squared the ball to Allen who side footed the ball into the net.
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