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The Stones have now enjoyed
five games unbeaten and have registered their first
home win of the season in the league following a strong
performance against Aveley who until this fixture were
second in the table.
This was the first time since October last year that
Maidstone had scored four times in one game and after
struggling to create many chances in the early fixtures
of this campaign, The Stones have begun to find some
form when attacking in recent matches.
It took just one minute for The Stones to take the
lead when the ball came to Ashley Ulph inside the box
who lashed the ball into the roof of the net to score
his first goal for United.
However, Maidstone’s advantage only lasted until
eight minutes. Jamie Turner hit a long ball upfield
which James Pinnock could not hold onto and Aveley split
open the Maidstone defence with an excellent pass which
picked out Matt Johnson. Turner came to the edge of
the area to try and snuff out the danger but Johnson
poked the ball past him before stroking a calm finish
into the net.
Four minutes later, Darren Blewitt hooked the ball
wide following a free-kick from Mitch Harris before
Jamie Lynon made a good save to deny Nick Barnes with
his foot and then Barnes headed wide when the cross
came back in from Ant Bodle.
The game continued at a good pace and on 41 minutes
The Stones appealed loudly for a penalty and then were
awarded a corner. Barnes lifted a good delivery to the
back post where it was met by Matthew Wright whose header
crashed off the angle of the goal and in the scramble
Tom Parkinson scored his first goal for Maidstone.
Early in the second half the game was stopped for
about ten minutes following an injury to the linesman
Mr Bryant who was replaced by the Ryman League Secretary
Nick Robinson who had been watching the game. When the
match resumed, Aveley had a couple of chances and from
one of these, Turner had to make a good stop to deny
Sherwin Stanley at his near post.
Then on 66 minutes Maidstone pulled further ahead
with a nicely worked goal. Ulph threw the ball to Peter
Hawkins who crossed to the edge of the box where Nick
Barnes headed the ball down to James Pinnock who swivelled
and drilled the ball past Lynon in the Aveley goal.
Sixteen minutes later, the visitors hauled themselves
back into contention when Hawkins was adjudged to have
handled the ball inside the area and conceded the fifth
penalty to be awarded against The Stones in just ten
matches this season. Ryan Doyle assumed responsibility
for the kick and his weak penalty just beat Turner’s
outstretched foot.
But with the game deep in stoppage time, Ulph found
Jay Saunders who slipped the ball to Nick Barnes who
capped another good performance by placing his shot
past Lynon to ensure The Stones moved up to fifth position
in the league.
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