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In what is believed to be the first game of its
kind between two Ryman League clubs, the Adult Disability
Sections of Maidstone United and Bury Town faced each
other last Saturday for the Maidstone United Community
Charity Trophy as a curtain-raiser to the senior clubs'
Premier Division clash.
The Maidstone United disability section, known as The
Raiders, was established in 2004 but the adult section
is only two years old, as is Bury's. So the two sides
were evenly matched in their football development history.
This was to be a very big game for both sets of players.
They walked out onto the pitch, lined up in front of
the crowd and took the FA Respect handshake before warming
up with the Maidstone United Mascot Iggy Stone. The
atmosphere was set and referee Jim Reed and his two
young officials were ready. The two captains did the
formalities and the game was under way.
Maidstone made the first attack with Lee Martin going
close. Bury's Dominic started to get a grip of the midfield
and he put in a shot which Tom Mason, the Maidstone
goalie, did well to push behind for a corner.
The gamed settled down with both teams equally balanced.
Maidstone made two changes at half-time, bringing on
James Chandler and Michael Orpin. That allowed Peter
Hewitt to push forward more and support Lee Martin in
attack.
This paid off when Chandler's shot led to a corner
and Joe Martin's kick produced a scramble before Orpin
found the net.
Bury pressed Maidstone back in a hunt for the equaliser
but were caught on the break by Lee Martin and Peter
Hewitt, with Martin smashing the ball in to make the
final score 2-0.





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