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For the first time since
March, both of Maidstone’s strikers got on the
score sheet as United made a welcome return to winning
ways in the league.
With The Stones suffering from a number of injuries
and with Jay Saunders suspended, few probably expected
Maidstone to collect all three points but after this
victory, United have now climbed to seventh in the league.
There was little to note until the 29th minute when
The Stones took the lead. Jermaine Darlington combined
well with Matthew Wright close to the edge of the area
and Darlington cut inside before shooting. It looked
as though Craig Ross in the Ashford goal was going to
make a comfortable save but he could only parry the
ball and James Pinnock showed excellent predatory skills
to pounce and lash in his sixth league goal of the season.
As the game moved towards the break, the Ashford had
a couple of chances to get back into the game but Jamie
Turner first denied Brian Haule with a good save at
his near post before keeping Billy Jeffrey’s header
out following a Paul Johnson free-kick.
Five minutes after half time there was a scare for
The Stones as Johnson’s free-kick looked to be
drifting in under the bar until Turner intervened. And
sixty seconds later, Turner was involved again as he
made a save to keep Maidstone ahead and in the resultant
goalmouth scramble, Ashford appealed loudly for a penalty
as they thought that Darlington had handled the ball
on the line.
One minute later, Nick Barnes hit the bar with a well
taken free-kick before Johnson whipped the ball into
the area and Jeffrey’s glancing header failed
to hit the target.
Then on 66 minutes, Maidstone doubled their lead when
Wright received possession in the area before turning
and placing the ball past the stranded Ross. Wright’s
goal was well deserved due to a hard working performance
and the fact that he had not retaliated to some rough
treatment from Ashford’s players most notably
when Davis Haule had struck him in the face just after
half time.
The home side then pushed forwards at every opportunity
as they searched for a way back into the game and three
minutes from time Bryon Harrison found Johnson in space
inside the area who pulled the ball back towards Brian
Haule but Turner was alert to snuff out the danger.
However, the final chance fell to The Stones with
the game in stoppage time when substitute Ashley Dann
picked out Shannon O’Donovan in a good position
inside the box only for Ross to make a good save.
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