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A solitary goal from Mo Takaloo was enough to give The Stones a vital three points as Maidstone kept only their fourth clean sheet in the league this season.
But The Stones were fortunate that Harrow Borough missed two one on one opportunities with Pat Mullin before Takaloo won the game with his fifteenth goal of the campaign.
This was a battling display from Maidstone and the match was notable for arguably Aaron Lacy’s best performance in a Stones shirt. Lacy was outstanding in midfield but afterwards he played down his contribution saying: “I got told to do a particular job today. Everything just fell to me at the right time and sometimes you are fortunate in that the ball comes to you. I definitely think we are going to stay up and hopefully we will be safe by the time we go to Folkestone so that will be a good day out for the team and the fans.”
With Nick Hegley returning to the side following his ankle injury, The Stones reverted to a more familiar 4-4-2 formation and they dominated the home side for long periods in the first half.
Despite this though, it was Harrow who had the first shot on target on three minutes when Maidstone struggled to get the ball clear and the opportunity fell to Victor Asombange who shot straight at Pat Mullin.
Then six minutes later, Nathan Paul gave The Stones fans a scare when he dived to head Bobby Highton’s cross behind for a corner and the ball only just went past the post.
However, slowly Maidstone began to assert themselves on Borough and they had three opportunities inside three minutes to take the lead midway through the first half. On 22 minutes, Ian Selley whipped in a free-kick which was headed wide by Ben Lewis and then just a minute later, another Selley delivery was not properly dealt with by Ben Harris in the Harrow goal and Mark Saunders lifted the ball over the bar when well placed.
But probably the best opportunity Maidstone had in the first half came in the 24 th minute. This time, Selley sent over a cross from the right and Jacob Erskine’s shot was cleared off the line and Alex Tiesse saw his effort blocked before the ball fell to Lee Shearer at the back post but unfortunately the Maidstone defender blasted the chance wide.
Then on 29 minutes, Harrow should have taken the lead when Ben Lewis missed the ball in midfield which left Asombange bearing down in goal with just Shearer in attendance but the Borough striker entered the box and failed to hit the target with his drive.
Just before half time, the home side began to put The Stones under pressure and on 42 minutes, Highton’s long range effort whistled over the bar.
Four minutes after the break, Harrow had a great opportunity to take the lead. Selley’s free-kick was quickly cleared and the ball came out to Asombange who ran from the half way line and found himself with only Mullin to beat but his shot across goal bobbled wide of the right hand post.
Then on 58 minutes, Harrow wasted yet another one on one opportunity when this time, Shearer’s poor header gifted Lee Hall possession but Hall failed to test Mullin and he planted the ball well wide.
These misses were to prove costly as on 75 minutes, Selley’s corner from the left fell to Saunders who drilled a low shot goalwards and substitute Mo Takaloo got the vital touch to ensure the ball crossed the line.
There was a scare for Maidstone just minutes later when James Bent surged forwards and went past Lacy but his rising drive crashed off the left hand goal stanchion.
Then with the game in stoppage time, substitute Zimzon Lelo turned past Marc Clarey who had replaced Shearer but the Maidstone defender recovered well and slid in to make a successful last ditch tackle.
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