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This was the first ever meeting
between Concord Rangers and Maidstone United and it
was a lively and entertaining affair throughout. The
Beachboys have enjoyed a rapid rise from the Essex Senior
League and in a scenario that mirrors The Stones' own
rise from the Kent League a few years ago they look
set to make their mark in this their first ever season
at Step 3 of the Pyramid.
The home side played the first half at an intense tempo
which The Stones struggled to come to terms with early
on. Both of the Elmes cousins (Harry and James previously
of Waltham Abbey) and the former Chelmsford City strikers
James Lawson and Bertie Brayley posed constant questions
of the visitors' defence.
Aside from a 20 yard shot over the bar from Danny Hockton
in the 2nd minute, Rangers had little to worry about
in the first half. Lawson had two efforts on goal inside
a minute, the first earning a corner, the second effort
narrowly clearing Andy Walker's cross bar. In the 20th
minute Jake Hobbs gave away possession to Lawson and
he fed the ball through to Brayley but his shot was
well blocked by Walker. Less than 60 seconds later,
the impressive Marc Sontag fired a low drive from outside
the area which Walker turned away for another corner.
Sontag was eager to push forward at every opportunity
and he was again involved in a clever free kick in the
35th minute. Brayley, instead of shooting, squared the
ball to Sontag who opened up his angle by touching the
ball around Colin Richmond with his first touch before
firing a low 20 yard effort narrowly wide of goal.
The pressure that The Beachboys had exerted throughout
the first half finally paid dividends 6 minutes before
the break. In a lightning quick move the ball was switched
from left flank to the right where former Stones full
back Taylor Sinfield took possession. He pushed forward
and put in a great cross which led to Brayley firing
home from 6 yards to make it 1-0.
The second half began with a more determined looking
Maidstone and this was emphasised when Simon Glover
smashed James Elmes in an aerial challenge in the 46th
minute. The Stones' captain was cautioned for his challenge
which left the Concord man laid out on the ground and
perhaps on another day the referee might have deemed
a stronger sanction more appropriate.
Concord continued to press and a moment's hesitation
from James Peacock let Lawson gain control on the left
wing 30 yards from goal. The striker quickly cut inside
and fired a powerful shot which Walker was able to parry
away. Just 60 seconds after this, Lawson again beat
Peacock and when through on goal he failed to beat Walker
in a one on one situation, The Stones' keeper again
earning his corn with a good block.
Somewhat against the run of play Maidstone scored an
equaliser in the 57th minute. A ball was played down
the right wing and Colin Richmond delivered a superb
far post cross which was met by the head of Hockton
who powered the ball past Dale Brightly emphatically
for his first goal of the campaign. Sadly for The Stones,
parity lasted for barely a minute as Rangers regained
their lead. A cross from the left was not cleared and
with at least half a dozen defenders in the penalty
area, Lawson found himself unmarked and with the ball
at his feet just 3 yards from goal.
Maidstone then began to have their best period of the
game but were unable to carve out any clear cut goal
chances. However, the home side still showed their attacking
threat when a misjudgement from Peacock, when he thought
the ball was going to run dead, allowed Harry Elmes
to retrieve the ball. He pulled back a good cross to
James Elmes but his strong shot was again very well
saved by Walker who let Peacock know exactly what he
felt about his judgement in no uncertain terms!
With the game in the second minute of stoppage time,
Hobbs conceded a soft foul 30 yards from his own goal
on the right wing. Russell Pond delivered a pinpoint
free kick onto the head of captain Steve King and he
out jumped Peacock to power home a header beyond Walker
to make it 3-1.
The scoring was not over though as The Stones immediately
launched an attack and substitute Antonio Gonnella delivered
a great cross from the touchline which Hockton headed
back beyond Brightly in emphatic style to score his
and Maidstone's second goal of the night. With time
rapidly running out, The Stones immediately forced a
corner which was taken by Gonnella. The flag kick found
the head of Peacock who completely out leapt his marker
but agonisingly the central defender's header glanced
off of the top of the cross bar and over.
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