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Let me take you back to last
April. The final whistle had blown on a cold evening
at Homelands and The Stones had just beaten Bognor Regis
Town 1-0. The home supporters were ecstatic as that
victory ensured safety from relegation. Up until today,
that was the last occasion on which Maidstone United
had tasted the spoils of victory in a home game.
Burgess Hill Town of Isthmian League Division One South
provided the opposition in this Carlsberg FA Trophy
1st Qualifying Round tie, however, there was a nervous
apprehension in facing a lower league foe, as the memory
of FA Cup defeat to Whitehawk, another Sussex side from
the same division earlier this season, was still fresh
in the thoughts of The Stones faithful.
Despite occupying bottom place in the league table,
Maidstone started this game confidently. 8 minutes into
the first half a handball was awarded outside of The
Hillians' penalty area and it was Danny Hockton who
bent a shot from 20 yards over the wall but just wide
of the right hand upright.
Despite further probing by Peter Nott's side it took
until the 26th minute for the next attacking effort
of note. In an incident that epitomised the luck that
The Stones have enjoyed this season, Tom Parkinson's
delicate cross was met by a glancing header from Adrian
Stone. The striker's effort bounced onto the left hand
post and then agonisingly rolled along the goal line
before striking the right hand post before Town keeper
Joel Harding gratefully clasped the ball safely into
his body.
Buoyed by this near miss, the home side continued to
press forward and Stone was again unlucky when his attempted
overhead kick from just inside the penalty area went
straight at Harding who made a simple save. Three minutes
later, James Peacock was penalised for a foul near to
the right hand side of the penalty area, a challenge
that unfortunately takes him to 5 cautions for the season
and a 1 game suspension. From the resultant free kick,
centre back Danny Gainsford found himself completely
free in front of goal but he contrived to head this
chance clear of Andy Walker's cross bar.
Maidstone again pushed forward and in the 37th minute
Joe Vines hooked in a cross deep to the far post. Stone
headed a looping effort back across the target but narrowly
wide of Harding's goal. With half time approaching The
Hillians were awarded a free kick on the edge of the
Maidstone penalty area. Darren Boswell struck a low
firm shot from 20 yards but Walker got down well to
comfortably gather the shot.
The second half began with a Stones goal. Hockton played
the ball into the path of Simon Glover who made his
way past his opponent. After checking inside from the
left flank, Glover clipped the ball into the area with
his right foot. The ball deflected upwards and was threatening
to dip under the cross bar and caused Harding to scramble
back towards his line. He managed to palm the ball against
the cross bar but the pace had been taken off of the
ball and it fell apologetically into the path of Stone
who had the simple task of knocking the ball into an
empty net.
Burgess Hill took a few minutes to regain their composure
and in the 59th minute they had a good chance to draw
level. Parkinson missed his clearance close to half
way and allowed Titus Patterson to run through on goal.
Vines managed to close him down and the striker was
forced into striking his shot over the cross bar. Within
two minutes The Stones had the ball in the net again
but Hockton was adjudged to have been marginally offside.
Town squandered a second good opportunity in the 68th
minute. Giuseppe Sanso found himself through one on
one with Walker but the stopper managed to spread himself
to make a fine block. The ball scrambled around the
home team penalty area for a few seconds before the
referee eased any Maidstone fears by awarding a free
kick. Within a minute the visitors had an appeal for
a penalty turned down by Mr Ramsey as Peacock's challenge
on Boswell was adjudged to be fair.
With just 13 minutes remaining The Stones secured their
progress into the next round with a second goal. Stone
forged forward and struck a shot from the edge of the
area which was parried by the diving Harding. However,
Hockton was as alert as ever and was on the spot to
tuck the ball in from close range for his 6th goal of
the season.
With time against them Burgess Hill attacked and Danny
Curd turned sharply in the penalty area before firing
an effort straight at Walker. From the very next phase
of play, Hockton again had the ball in the net. Unfortunately,
he was ruled to have unfairly outmuscled Neil Watts
in the build up and his powerful shot counted for nought.
Time was now ebbing away with the game became quite
stretched and Stones' sub Des Boateng went on a jinking
run to the by-line before pulling the ball back into
the path of Stone who saw his snap shot blocked. Within
a minute, another substitute Jake Hobbs, saw his run
and deep cross tipped over the cross bar for a corner
by Harding. Burgess Hill were still intent on attacking
and only a superbly timed tackle by Parkinson in his
own penalty area prevented Curd from getting a shot
away. The ball ran loose from this challenge and Curd
attempted to chip the ball into the far corner but only
succeeded in putting the ball over the bar.
Undeterred, there were two more efforts from the visitors
in stoppage time. Lloyd Skinner stretched at the far
post to attempt to turn the ball home but he found an
equally determined stretch from Ant Bodle had blocked
his shot. Then with almost the last kick of the game,
Gainsford fired in a low drive from the resultant corner
kick only to see his effort miss the target by less
than a yard.
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