Maidstone United Reserves 1-1 Herne Bay Reserves

Kent League Division One
05/12/09

The Stones Reserves took on league leaders Herne Bay last weekend in a top of the table clash in the Kent League Division 1.

Herne Bay took advantage of their first team home fixture being cancelled early and fielded a number of their first team squad in this important game.

The Stones meanwhile welcomed back both Keelan Mooney released from first team duties and Ashley Dann following a hamstring injury.

The Stones began the game in the ascendancy and for the majority of the first half had Herne Bay pinned back in their final third. It was only last ditch tackles, good goalkeeping and a good slice of luck for the Bay that the score sheet remained level going into the half time interval.

The Stones did have the ball in the Herne Bay net midway through the first half when Dale Nott Volleyed home superbly from the edge of the area but the goal was ruled out for an earlier infringement. Both Miles Cornwell and Keelan Mooney had good strikes well saved by the Bay keeper but for all of the Stones pressure the all important first goal eluded them.

Herne Bay restarted the second half with the elements in their favour and in the early stages after the restart put the Stones defence under pressure. Richard Knell in the Stones goal was called upon on a couple of occasions to sweep up behind the Stones defence and intercept through balls on the edge of his area.

On the counter attack the Stones still troubled the Bay defence with the speed of strikers Dann and Cornwell and excellent attacking wing play from Mooney and the game was very much in the balance going into the final stages.

With just ten minutes left to play however the Stones conceded the only real effort the Bay had on target in the entire match when a shot from the edge of the area eluded Knell at his near post.

The Stones immediately reverted to a 3-5-2 formation following the goal in an attempt to get on level terms with only minutes remaining. The increased intensity level exerted by the Stones lacked the quality of possession needed until Andy Foster released Mooney on the left wing and the Stones youngster fired home an unstoppable strike for a well deserved equaliser from the edge of the penalty area.

Maidstone United Reserves 5-1 Faversham Town Reserves

Kent League Division One
28/11/09

Maidstone United Reserves comfortably progressed into the quarter finals of the Kent Intermediate Cup this weekend securing their place with an impressive 5-1 home victory.

The Stones playing with a strong wind in their favour in the first half took a quarter of an hour to settle down and adapt to the playing conditions and finally dominate proceedings.

In stark contrast to the previous week when the Stones failed to take their chances this week the Stones were in good form and were very composed in the final third.

The first goal arrived after 17 minutes play when Miles Cornwell released Alex Flisher on the left wing. Flisher cut inside and his shot from the edge of the area was only parried by the Faversham keeper into the path of Brad King who confidently controlled the loose ball before volleying home.

The second goal arrived soon after following good build up play from the Stones and again King was on hand in the penalty area to finish with good composure.

Before the half time interval the Stones had the game under full control when King completed his hat trick again following a good Stones move involving Cornwell and Flisher .

Faversham to their credit came out in the second half and with the elements in their favour tried to insert pressure on the Stones defence, but once again the Stones defensive unit of Foster, Nott, Russell and Mills were very solid and restricted the Lillywhites from threatening Harris in the Stones goal.

Brad King on the counter attack completed a fine afternoon's display of finishing when he added his and Stones fourth after 59 minutes to kill off the tie.

Faversham managed to gain a consolation goal midway through the second period but the Stones immediately replied again at the other end through Scott Ibbertson with a curling free kick that the Faversham keeper could only divert on to the post before crossing the line to complete the 5 - 1 victory.

The Stones will play the winners of Cray Wanderers Reserves and Holmesdale Reserves in the quarter finals on a date to be arranged in December.

Maidstone United Reserves 4-0 Holmesdale Reserves

Kent League Division One
24/10/09

Maidstone United Reserves secured a further three league points at home this weekend against Holmesdale Reserves by a comfortable margin of four goals to nil.

The Stones had to again involve many of the promising under 18 youth team players as Shannon O'Donovan and Sam Morrison were called up to the first team squad and Scott Ibbertson, Steve Elliott and Tyron Smith were unavailable.

Despite the many changes in the squad the Stones settled into the game looking well organised and determined to claim the three points up for grabs.

Youngsters Steve Brading and Alex Flisher on the wings for the Stones again impressed and Tom Mills looked very composed at left back. Sean Johnson and Mickey Pearce took a little while to get to grips with their central midfield pairing but improved immensely as the game progressed.

The Stones took the lead midway through the first half when Ash Russell powered a header goal bound from ten yards out and Miles Cornwell applied a final touch on the goal line to increase his personal tally.

The lead should have been further increased before the end of the first period but both Steve Brading and Ben Palmer fired wide from good positions on the edge of the Holmesdale area.

Maidstone were urged to pass the ball more fluently and be more composed in front of goal for the second half at the interval to ensure the points were comfortably secured.
Within the first few minutes of the restart the Stones increased their lead following a well delivered corner from Alex Flisher which was powerfully headed into the bottom corner by the influential central defender Russell.

Holmesdale attempted to pass their way back into the match but seldom troubled the resolute Stones defence well marshalled by the confident Richard Knell in the Stones goal.

The Stones made a few second half substitutions in order to get more players valuable match time but still maintained their control of the proceedings and further goals were added by youngsters Sean Johnson and Steve Brading before the close of play.

The Stones move up to second in the league following this result one point behind Herne Bay Reserves but with a game in hand on the leaders.

Thamesmead Town Reserves 1-3 Maidstone United Reserves

Blu3 Cup Second Round
17/10/09

Maidstone United Reserves continued their good early season form this weekend and progressed into the final 16 of the Kent League Division 1 & 2 Cup defeating last season's league and cup winners Thamesmead Reserves at Bayliss Avenue.

The Stones gave debuts to under 18 Ryman youth team player Alex Flisher and also welcomed back experienced forward Tyrone Smith for his first start of the season, following the loss of Steve Elliott called up for first team duties.

Inside the first three minutes of play the Stones got off to a dream start when Alex Flisher's shot from the edge of the area was only parried by the Thamesmead keeper and Miles Cornwell continued his rich vein of scoring by following in and finishing off from close range.

Thamesmead strengthened with fringe players from their first team squad responded to going behind and went on the offensive and Maidstone had to work hard to keep Thamesmead from equalising. However the Stones conceded after 25 minutes when Thamesmead's left midfielder eluded Dan Bowles on the left wing area and cut the ball back into the box where an unmarked Thamesmead central midfielder converted from close range unopposed.

The Stones immediately stepped up their game after conceding the equaliser and from a Flisher corner Tyrone Smith almost gave the Stones back the lead when his near post header flashed just over the bar. The impressive Flisher then went very close himself to scoring when he burst clear of the Thamesmead defence but unfortunately his left footed chip just cleared the bar with the keeper totally stranded.

The Stones deservedly restored the lead after 38 minutes play when a long throw in from left back Andy Foster was flicked on by club captain Ashley Russell and Shannon O'Donovan latched on to the loose ball and finished well from 6 yards out.

At the half time break the Stones reorganised their midfield and detailed Shannon O'Donovan to play a more defensive role to counter Thamesmead's main threat and he played the role superbly enabling the Stones to control proceedings in the second period.

With the Stones dominating possession and resolute in defence it was not long before the lead was increased. Alex Flisher again turned provider when he delivered an inch perfect corner from the right that Tyrone Smith powerfully headed home giving the Thamesmead keeper no chance.

Smith moments later nearly added to the Stones tally when he flashed a left footed drive just past the post from the edge of the area.

Thamesmead had little to offer in reply to Maidstone's dominance but inside the final 15 minutes of play were handed a chance by the official to get back into the game when he awarded them a very dubious penalty. Central defender Dale Nott was adjudged to have pulled down a Thamesmead forward in the area but it was obvious to everyone except the referee that the initial foul was by the forward backing into Nott. However justice was done when Richard Knell in the Stones goal saved the resulting spot kick and ended any real chance Thamesmead had of getting back into the game.

Before the end the Stones had a couple of further chances to increase the lead with the best from Flisher just finding the side netting from a tight angle following good link up play involving Cornwell and Smith upfront.

Maidstone United Reserves 2-0 Thamesmead Town Reserves

Kent League Division One
10/10/09

Maidstone United Reserves top the Kent League Division One table after an impressive performance at home this weekend against Thamesmead Reserves.

The Stones included Brendon Hall, Tom Mills, Steve Brading and Ben O'Neill from their Ryman U18 squad following their good performances with the youth side in the FA Youth Cup. All the youngsters got a taste of reserve team action and showed the strength of the Maidstone United youth teams set up as all performed well and helped secure a valuable three points for the Stones Reserves.

From the kick off Maidstone imposed themselves on the game with wingers Shannon O'Donovan and Steve Brading causing Thamesmead problems in the final third.

Maidstone's early dominance kept Thamesmead under pressure and after 28 minutes the Stones were rewarded for their efforts with the opening goal. Shannon O'Donovan returning to form slipped his marker and delivered a superb left footed cross into the box. Central defender Dale Nott flicked the ball on at the near post and Steve Brading instantly controlled the ball before dispatching confidently into the Thamesmead net.

Thamesmead responded to going behind well and attempted to bombard the Stones defence with long balls into the area but central defensive pairing Nott and Russell aided by Dan Bowles and Andy Foster in the back four were superb in dealing with the Thamesmead forwards. Debutant 17-year-old Brendon Hall in the Stones goal showed maturity beyond his years with good handling, positioning and organisation of the Stones defence.

The half ended with just the one goal advantage to the Stones but O'Donnovan went very close just before the break to make it two when his diving header at the far post narrowly missed the target after good work down the Maidstone right wing.

In the second half Thamesmead reverted to a 4-3-3 formation in an attempt to fight their way back into the game and put further pressure on the Stones defence. The Stones however soaked up the pressure well and always looked likely to increase the lead on the counter attack with hard working Sam Morrison and Miles Cornwell combining well up front.

On 75 minutes the lead was increased when Morrison raced down the right before delivering in a dangerous ball into the Thamesmead area, the cross was deflected towards goal by a desperate lunge from a Thamesmead defender which was well saved but only parried by the keeper and Cornwell was on hand to finish from close range and secured the deserved win.

Maidstone travel to Thamesmead next weekend in the League Cup and look forward to cup action for the first time this season.

Whitstable Town Reserves 2-2 Maidstone United Reserves

Kent League Division One
26/09/09

This is a game that the Stones should have won comfortably to claim top spot in the league but woeful finishing left them hanging on for a solitary point and third position.

The Stones were soon into their stride and opened their account within 10 minutes after a clever reverse pass from Ben Palmer set Miles Cornwell clear and he executed his finish perfectly by lobbing the advancing goalkeeper.

Soon after Cornwell changed from hero to villain as he inexplicably passed to an Whitstable player after receiving the ball from a throw in and a quick through ball found their forward in space to fire home to equalise. The Stones responded well but Palmer, Cornwell and Steve Elliott all squandered easy chances from close range. Once again Ash Russell was in commanding form and his powerful header was acrobatically saved and in the scramble that followed Cornwell was adjudged to get the final touch to put the Stones 2-1 up at the break.

The Stones were forced into making changes due to injuries and substitute Damian Rollinson soon found himself on the end of a good chance but he too failed to put the game beyond reach. As the Stones tired Whitstable enjoyed more possession of the game and Harris pulled off a great save to keep them at bay. However he was soon beaten as the Stones defence failed to clear a lofted through ball leaving the Whitstable forward enough time to pick his spot to equalise.

The tiring Palmer was then unfortunate to see his overhead kick hit the cross bar and Rollinson was then guilty of missing another gilt edged opportunity. With the clock ticking away Shannon O'Donovan needlessly handled in the area to concede a penalty but a superb full length save from Harris saw this action packed game end 2-2.

Maidstone United Reserves 1-0 Ashford Town Reserves

Kent League Division One
19/09/09

The Stones first home league fixture of the season secured a third win from four matches played and kept them in close contention at the top of the Kent Bulmers League Division One.

After the disappointing defeat at the hands of Dartford Reserves last weekend the Stones were desperate to get back on a winning run against local rivals Ashford Town.

Again the Reserves had enforced changes due to first team requirements with Keelan Mooney coming back into the starting line up alongside youngster Sean Johnson, replacing Meshach Nugent and Nick Barnes who returned to first team duties.

Mooney partnered Miles Cornwell in attack and both were guilty of missing early chances as the Stones dominated the early exchanges. Sean Johnson forced the Ashford keeper into a superb one handed save after 20 minutes play and the continued pressure on the Ashford goal finally rewarded the Stones with an opener after 35 minutes play.

Billy Morrison celebrated his 21st birthday with a well struck left footed volley from just inside the Ashford goal area that gave the keeper no chance and the Stones a deserved first half lead.

The goal however inspired the visitors to raise their game and with five first half minutes remaining the Stones were indebted to goalkeeper Adam Harris to keep them ahead. Diving full length to his left Harris pulled off a first class one handed save to deny an Ashford forward from the equaliser following his excellent 25yard thunderbolt free kick.

The Stones made a couple of early changes in the second period following minor injuries to Cornwell and O'Donovan with Damian Rollinson and Karl Lucas returning to action.

Despite the introduction of fresh legs to the Stones line up it was Ashford that mainly attempted to force play in the second period with the Stones prepared to soak up pressure and attempt to catch their visitors on the counter attack. Ben Palmer replaced the tiring Johnson for the final quarter in an unaccustomed central midfield role and the Stones despite Ashford's continued pressure seldom looked in trouble of conceding an equaliser with captain Ashley Russell giving a solid man of the match display at the heart of the Stones defence.

The Stones travel away to Whitstable Reserves next weekend and will hope to continue their good early season form with an additional three points, but certainly need to work on clinical finishing on the training ground to make sure they dominate games from the early stages with more goals.

Margate Reserves 0-2 Maidstone United Reserves

Kent League Division One
29/08/09

The Stones good early season form continued last Saturday travelling away to Margate Reserves in the Kent League Division One encounter.

With Dan Stubbs and Ant Bodle recalled to first team duties and replaced with Tom Parkinson and Dean Bradshaw to gain some match fitness, the Stones management team decided to keep the winning 3-5-2 formation that had been so successful in their previous game away to Chatham Town Reserves.

In the first half Maidstone dominated play and kept Margate pinned back in their half for long periods. Miles Cornwell created the Stones first real chance when he broke clear of the Margate defence. Having rounded the advancing keeper, his shot unfortunately was cleared off the line by a recovering Margate defender to deny the Stones the lead.

Fellow strike partner Damian Rollinson tested the keeper from outside the area soon after but also missed a glorious chance on the half hour, snatching at an opportunity from 10 yards out.

A catalogue of missed chances from Tom Parkinson, Shannon O'Donovan and Cornwell followed up to the half time break and the Stones were unrewarded, despite dominating the half.

Margate restarted the second half in the ascendancy boosted by the fact that the Stones had failed to score in the first period. For 20 minutes they kept Maidstone on the defence but failed to create any real clear cut opportunities with Bowles, Nott and Russell again in good form for the Stones.

After 25 minutes of the second half, under 18 keeper Lewis Jones, making his Reserve Team debut, had to go off injured suffering from bruised ribs following a collision with a Margate forward.

With no substitute keeper on the bench due to unavailability, midfielder Steve Elliott volunteered his services to replace the injured Jones. Karl Lucas and Scott Ibbotsen were introduced in order that the Stones could revert to a 4-4-2 formation at this stage. The character of the team and possibly the formation change seemed to galvanize the Stones from this point in the game and the introduction of Ben Palmer upfront swung the game in Maidstone's favour.

The powerful Palmer on 78 minutes latched on to a Stones through ball and struck an unstoppable volley past the stranded Margate keeper from the edge of the penalty area.

The young Stones forward followed this effort up seven minutes later with an equally well taken goal this time chipping the advancing Margate keeper as the defence stopped and claimed for an offside decision.

The brace from Palmer sealed victory for the Stones who as a team showed a good team spirit throughout the match and without doubt deserved the three points on offer.

Chatham Town Reserves 1-4 Maidstone United Reserves

Kent League Division One
25/08/09

Maidstone Reserves commenced their league 2009/10 season campaign with a stylish performance away to local rivals Chatham Town on Tuesday night.

The Stones gave debuts to new signings Dan Bowles and Damian Rollinson and also first team member Danny Stubbs. Towards the end of the game under 18 players Tom Mills and Sean Johnson also made their first senior appearances from the substitutes bench.

Maidstone opted for a 3-5-2 starting formation and within the first two minutes of play took an early lead following early pressure. Steve Elliott delivered a pin point corner from the left and Captain Ashley Russell soared above his marker to thunder his header high into the Chatham net.

The central midfield three of Stubbs, Bodle and Elliott dominated play in the early stages and the lead was extended after twelve minutes play when Elliott stole possession and burst forward before chipping the Chatham advancing keeper from 25 yards out.

The Stones back three of Bowles, Nott and Russell were seldom troubled in the first half and contributed to the Stones stylish performance by playing the ball out from defence superbly and ensuring the team were able to have the lions share of possession. Cornwell and Rollinson worked in tandem up front holding the ball up well and allowed link up play and support to arrive from midfield areas where Stubbs excelled with his tireless runs and energy levels.

A third goal arrived ten minutes before the half time interval, Sam Morrison's cross from the right was well controlled by Cornwell and he set up O'Donovan on the edge of the Chatham penalty area. O'Donovan side stepped his marker and fired home with a left footed drive from just inside the area.

After the half time break Chatham changed formation to mirror the Stones 3-5-2 line up and benefitted from this in the early stages of the second period. Chatham's pressure was rewarded with a goal for their efforts but further attempts from long range were comfortable dealt with by Richard Knell in the Stones goal.

The Stones were able to introduce youngsters Sean Johnson and Tom Mills together with Karl Lucas in the final 20 minutes of play. The fresh legs enabled the Stones to regain control of the game and after 80 minutes the hard working Rollinson was felled in the Chatham area. Morrison stepped up and side footed the resulting penalty into the corner of the net sending the Chatham keeper the wrong way and sealed a convincing victory for the Stones by four goals to one.