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It has been a long time since Maidstone United supporters have had something to get excited about on the pitch but thanks to two goals in stoppage time from the Danny Hockton and Tommy Whitnell, which dumped Cray out of the FA Trophy, there is finally a buzz about The Stones again.
During certain points of this game, few would have envisaged that Maidstone would have come away from Hayes Lane having won their second game in a row for the first time since April as Cray created enough chances to have ensured their progress to the next round.
The first of these came with just eight minutes played when former Maidstone player Chris Saunders lifted a clever ball into Richard Whyte but Andy Walker was alert and snuffed out the danger.
Sixty seconds later Saunders tested Walker again when he let fly from just outside the area and this time the Maidstone keeper tipped the ball over the bar.
Cray continued to dominate and on 16 minutes Walker held Laurent Hamici’s effort before the Maidstone keeper managed to parry Aaron Day’s drive from 25 yards.
Then on 23 minutes Cray should have opened the scoring when Whyte found himself in space just outside the six yard box with only Walker to beat but from a good position he fired the ball wide of the left hand post.
Three minutes later the home side had another opportunity when Alex Bentley picked out Hamici and from close range he headed wide and after this, The Stones finally started to come into the game.
On 28 minutes Maidstone had their first chance of the afternoon when the influential Alex Flisher lifted the ball into Sean Johnson who elected to shoot quickly and his scuffed effort failed to trouble Dave King in the Cray goal.
As the first half wore on The Stones had two penalty appeals waved away and the first of these came on 35 minutes when Flisher appeared to be pulled back inside the box by Ross Lover. Then on 41 minutes Jake Hobbs’ cross seemed to strike Rhys Coleman’s arm but the referee, Mr Faye, decided not to award a spot kick.
Just after the break Flisher got in down the left hand side and hit a fierce shot at the near post that was fumbled by King and then from the resultant corner Danny Hockton hooked the ball goalwards only for Lover to make a vial clearance.
But the deadlock was finally broken with 53 minutes played. Danny Phillip’s shot from 25 yards looked to be heading into the net until Walker intervened with a stunning save. Unfortunately for The Stones though, Walker could do nothing to prevent Mark Willy heading Cray in front from the resultant corner from Lover.
Cray looked to build on this lead and for the next fifteen minutes they dominated The Stones. On 54 minutes Hamici’s shot deflected off Peter Hawkins and Walker had to make an important save at the base of his left hand post and then four minutes later Lozano got past Kane Rice down the right hand side only to lift the ball just over the bar.
Despite being under pressure, Maidstone did carve out a good opportunity on 59 minutes when Flisher flicked the ball into the path of Hockton who fired the ball high and wide as he entered the Cray box.
Just after the hour, Walker made two impressive saves to deny Whyte before Hamici could only find the side netting from close range following another Lover corner.
By now, Maidstone were beginning to push for an equaliser and on 74 minutes Colin Richmond’s corner came to substitute Tommy Whitnell who saw his effort cleared off the line. The play swiftly moved to the other end and Whyte got the better of another Stones substitute Tom Mills and pulled the ball back to Lozano who completely missed the ball when well placed.
Mills was involved again in a more positive way for The Stones twelve minutes from time when he was instrumental in a neat move down the left that ended with Hockton failing to hit the target. Then sixty seconds later, Hockton had an even better chance to bring The Stones level when he was put in on goal by Flisher but he failed to take the opportunity.
Five minutes from time Rhys Coleman saw red for a crude challenge on Rice just outside the Cray area and then from the free-kick Hockton’s effort looked to dipping under the bar until King intervened with a good save.
With the game approaching full time, Maidstone desperately sought to exploit their man advantage and their pressure finally paid off when Mills provided an excellent cross, which Hockton headed into the net.
Then with the game deep stoppage time, The Stones snatched a winner when Flisher crossed for Whitnell whose diving header at the back post flew past King.
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