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For the eighth time in nine matches, The Stones tasted defeat but at least they put up a fight against a Lowestoft side pushing hard for promotion.
After Maidstone’s defence had been ripped apart in the last two games, Andy Ford picked Simon Glover and Jay Saunders as the two centre halves and as a result The Stones looked much more assured at the back.
Lowestoft pegged Maidstone back early on but it was The Stones who had the first opportunity of the game when Colin Richmond’s corner came to Saunders who fired the ball wide of the left hand post.
Sixty seconds later a mistake from Richmond let in Jamie Forshaw but Andy Walker came off his line quickly and got a vital touch to deny the Lowestoft striker.
Then on 12 minutes the visitors came close to taking the lead when Walker parried Adrian Forbes’ shot from a central position and Saunders had to be alert to clear Forbes’ follow-up effort off the line.
With 28 minutes played Ronayne Marsh-Brown’s cross eventually reached Danny Hockton but he could not direct the ball on target and then seven minutes later a long ball forward from Michael Phillips dropped just in front of Andrew Reynolds in the Lowestoft goal and Hockton’s attempted lob went wide.
Hockton was to have an even better opportunity in first half stoppage time when he received the ball in space inside the area but he sliced the chance wide the right hand post.
Unfortunately for The Stones though they were punished for a defensive lapse on 52 minutes which allowed Forbes to cross to Forshaw who lashed a fine finish past Walker.
Three minutes later Forshaw nearly doubled Lowestoft’s lead only for Walker to make an excellent save and tip the ball over before Hockton went close with a free-kick from twenty yards.
As the game moved towards full time Maidstone pushed hard for an equaliser and a shot from substitute Jimmy Humphris through a crowd of players went straight at Reynolds and then on 76 minutes Richmond crossed for May who headed over the bar.
But the best chance for The Stones came just a minute later when substitute Gary Wharton showed impressive strength to win the ball down the right and he squared the ball to May only for Reynolds to make a double save to twice deny the Maidstone striker from close range.
Then with one minute remaining Maidstone won a corner, which was taken by Alex Flisher, and his cross dropped to Saunders who sent the ball over the bar and with it went any hopes The Stones had of getting a point from the game.
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