|
Maidstone United kicked off
their 2010-2011 season with an entertaining and enjoyable
game against Kent League side Erith & Belvedere.
With a match day squad of 22 players at his disposal,
manager Peter Nott elected to field two separate XI's
for this fixture with a view to giving every player a
minimum of 45 minutes playing time. With the hosts taking
a similar approach to the game, what resulted was two
even halves of football that were not punctuated by numerous
substitutions. The game flowed nicely as a result of this
approach and was a far better spectacle than many pre-season
games are.
Both sides settled into a neat passing style as the
ball more often than not stayed on the deck and it took
only six minutes for The Stones to create their first
effort on goal. Ashley Ulph floated a free kick into
the penalty area and this was met by the head of Danny
Hockton who saw his header loop onto the top of The
Deres' cross bar. Within 4 minutes the home side had
created a good chance of their own. Marcus Cassius,
a new loan signing from Bromley, sped past James Peacock
on the left flank and pulled a low, hard cross beyond
keeper Harry Lee. With a striker hurting towards goal,
Ashley Ulph stretched full length to hook the ball from
the goal line to keep the scores level.
Within a minute, striker Adam Marsh chipped a decent
effort narrowly over the bar from 18 yards out before
the home side went 1-0 ahead. A corner on the left from
Adrian Deane was headed home from close range by Cassius
despite the attentions of keeper Lee. This was a disappointing
goal to concede considering that Cassius was one of
the smallest players on the pitch and that no defender
appeared to mark him despite him standing directly in
front of goal.
For a few minutes Erith & Belvedere got their tails
up and pushed forward. Cassius shot narrowly wide of
goal from 25 yards out before Cameron Deyton saw his
shot from 20 yards, deflected by a challenge from Nick
Davis, strike the left hand post and go out for a corner.
The Stones maybe should have levelled matters in the
20th minute when Simon Glover headed straight at Richard
Stroud in The Deres' goal following a deep cross from
Adam Marsh.
With the lively Cassius continually running at the
Maidstone defence Peacock was drawn into a rash tackle
that earned him a yellow card in the 34th minutes. Fellow
centre back Davis was also fortunate to escape caution
when he pulled Cassius down as he ran towards goal.
Although avoiding a caution, Davis did suffer a badly
bruised left ankle in the challenge.
Simon Glover, who looked strong and assured in midfield
shot narrowly over before Mooney's corner was headed
goalwards by Hockton. However, a defender on the line
was able to keep the home side in front with a fine
headed save on the line. The last first half incident
of note came from Adrian Deane who saw his low drive
from the edge of the area tipped around the post by
the outstretched left hand of Lee.
Maidstone looked the more assertive of the two sides
for the majority of the second half and Adrian Stone
and Antonio Gonnella in particular showed a positive
attitude for the game. 10 minutes into the second half
Marc Cumberbatch was upended in the penalty area and
referee Mr Bakalarz awarded The Stones a penalty. Youngster
Jake Hobbs stepped up to take the spot kick and his
well struck effort was superbly saved by Stroud with
a full length dive to his left.
Just after the hour, a long throw from Simon Pettit
was headed narrowly over the bar by Stone before finally
the equaliser was scored. A short free kick was laid
back to Gonnella inside the penalty area and his mis-hit
shot found Stone unmarked 10 yards from goal. Stone
swung his right boot through the ball and fired a low
shot through a crowded six yard box to score Maidstone's
first goal of the season.
|
