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After several seasons of
relative FA Cup success, Maidstone United's troubled
campaign continued as they fell at the first hurdle
in this year's competition. The story was not so much
that they were beaten but it was the manner of the defeat
that left so many associated with the club, both officials
and supporters alike, frustrated and bitterly disappointed.
Whitehawk, a suburb of Brighton, are a club on the
rise. Following a couple of successful FA Vase campaigns,
which included a heartbreaking semi final defeat and
last season's Sussex County League title success, The
Hawks have spent the necessary money required to bring
The Enclosed Ground up to Ryman League status. With
such a good playing record in the last few seasons,
manager Peter Nott and his assistant Tony Cornwell were
well aware of the task ahead of them in this cup tie.
The weather conditions were turning autumnal in the
build up to kick off as a persistent drizzly rain slickened
up the large sloping playing area. The Stones were forced
into one change from the previous fixture at Concord
Rangers as Joe Vines was cup-tied. However, he was replaced
by last season's Supporters' Player of the Year, Peter
Hawkins, who was signed on Thursday evening from local
rivals Tonbridge Angels. Also making his first appearance
of the season was veteran ex-pro Jermaine Darlington
who replaced Tom Parkinson and Simon Pettit who returned
from injury in place of Colin Richmond.
The game began quietly with neither side creating much
in the way of chances until The Stones took the lead
in the 20th minute courtesy of a Paul Armstrong own
goal. Pettit launched a long throw into the penalty
which was firstly flicked on by Simon Glover and then
in turn headed goalwards by Danny Hockton. Hawkins was
bearing down on goal and his presence caused Armstrong
to head into his own net from a few yards out.
The visitors having got their noses in front then began
to play the better football of the two sides and in
the 31st minute they came close to doubling their lead.
Jake Hobbs flighted in a corner which was only half
cleared to the edge of the penalty area where Hawkins
met the ball on the volley. His low drive into the crowded
area appeared to be inadvertently blocked by Hockton
and the ball ran loose to Ant Bodle but his shot on
the turn was deflected narrowly wide of goal for a corner.
Four minutes later Maidstone had a "goal"
disallowed by referee Dan Cook. Another long throw from
Pettit was won in the air by Hockton. The burly striker
brought the ball down and turned whilst firing away
a shot on goal. This effort was partially blocked and
Hawkins lunged in to beat goalkeeper Alan Mansfield
to the ball and turned it home from about a yard out.
The Stones' joy was short lived though as Mr Cook spotted
an "infringement" that few others saw to cancel
the effort out.
This turned out to be a key turning point in the game
as the Premier Division team yet again fell foul to
conceding a goal in the five minute period immediately
before the half time break. With four minutes of the
first half remaining the home side levelled the scores.
Jamie Brotherton ran into the box at Jermaine Darlington
and managed to fire in a low cross cum shot which Andy
Walker only managed to parry. Unfortunately, rather
than parrying the ball out for a corner, the ball bounced
into the six yard box where Whitehawk debutant Ben Godfrey
pounced to fire the ball into the roof of the net from
no more than a yard out.
To add insult to injury at this point, it became apparent
that Jermaine Darlington had suffered a recurrence of
his hamstring injury as he attempted to challenge Brotherton
as he made his surge into the area. He was immediately
replaced by Tom Parkinson and now looks set for a further
period of inactivity on the sidelines.
A minute before the break, in a pre-cursor to what
was going to occur later in the game, Pettit got involved
in a robust session of "handbags" with The
Hawks skipper Darren Budd. Both men were surrounded
by pumped up team mates and when order was restored
both Pettit and Budd were cautioned.
At half time, the home side made two substitutions.
Lee Jewall replaced Budd whilst veteran Stuart Tucky
was replaced by talented ex-Dover Athletic striker Jerahl
Hughes. Whitehawk had undoubtedly received a flea in
their ear during the interval as they were noticeably
playing with more vigour. Sadly The Stones appeared
to have lost any drive whatsoever and it was not long
before Whitehawk started to boss affairs all over the
pitch.
Ryan Andrews showed a rare glimpse of attacking gumption
when he struck a decent 20 yard shot towards goal but
this was one of the last occasions in the game where
Maidstone asked any questions of the home side's defence.
Two minutes after this Hockton limped off with a thigh
strain to be replaced by Adam Marsh. The niggle in the
game that surfaced just prior to the half time break
was never far from the surface and two swift yellow
cards were issued, one to Andrews for a rash foul on
Hughes and within a minute of that, a caution for Godfrey
for a rash foul on Andrews.
In the 65th minute the tide finally turned as Hughes
gave Whitehawk a 2-1 lead. A long clearance put Hughes
away down the centre of the field and he held off the
attentions of Andrews, who having just been booked was
not in a position to make the challenge that he would
have wished for. Walker came out to the edge of his
area but a moment of hesitation from the normally reliable
stopper allowed Hughes to skip around him. On another
day Walker would have cleared through the ball (and
most likely the player too) to clear up the danger but
sadly he only effected a half block and half hearted
"rugby tackle" on his opponent that was neither
effective nor brave enough. This mess left Hughes with
the simple task of rolling the ball into the empty net.
Three minutes later Hughes was causing The Stones'
defence more problems as he skipped past Hawkins and
squared the ball across goal for Josh Jones to shoot.
On this occasion Walker redeemed himself with a brave
save at the feet of the striker at the cost of a corner.
With fifteen minutes of the game remaining, the task
for Maidstone became that much more difficult as Marsh
was sent off for foul and abusive language towards the
referee. A few moments before his dismissal Marsh had
had his appeal for a free kick turned down by Mr Cook
and he had noticeably berated the official because of
this decision. Within seconds Marsh was involved in
an aerial challenge which saw a Whitehawk defender fall
heavily as Marsh "created a back" for him.
The free kick decision was clear but Marsh continued
his verbal assault of the referee. Initially a yellow
card was due to be issued to the Stones youngster but
such was the nature of his tirade that this card swiftly
became a straight red.
Down to ten men and 2-1 down with only a quarter of
an hour to play, clear heads and strong resolve were
required by Maidstone but sadly neither of these qualities
were evident in James Peacock. Less than two minutes
after seeing Marsh dismissed, Peacock made a crude high
lunge on Hughes from behind. The challenge was well
inside the home team's half of the field and in an area
where a challenge was not even required. Nonetheless,
Peacock recklessly challenged Hughes with his boot just
below hip height and left Mr Cook with probably his
easiest decision of the afternoon. As Peacock left the
field of play so did any lingering chances of Maidstone
United's continued participation in this season's FA
Cup.
With just three minutes of time remaining the final
nail was placed in The Stones' FA Cup coffin. With only
nine men on the field and committing numbers to attack
in a vain attempt to save the tie, Whitehawk made a
quick break. Hughes led a two on two break by outpacing
Jake Hobbs and he got a shot away which Walker really
should have held comfortably. However, in a performance
to sum up the team's wretched afternoon, the ball spilled
from the keeper's hands into the path of Godfrey who
was left with the simple task of knocking the ball home
from about a yard out.
On a miserable afternoon weather wise, the loyal Stones
away following witnessed a truly miserable performance
from their team and so prematurely ends another FA Cup
journey.
MATCH
HIGHLIGHTS FROM FATV
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