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MAIDSTONE advanced to the
second qualifying round of the FA Cup after a comfortable
win over lower league opposition at the Homelands on
Saturday, with goals from Jay Saunders and Jimmy Bottle
representing a relatively meagre return for a dominant
display.
If the object of the exercise was to get into the
next round and collect the three large with a minimum
of fuss Maidstone nearly passed with flying colours,
but there was nearly a nasty sting in the tail, with
Aaron Firth sent off and Bedfont pulling a goal back
in the 90th-minute that kept the home fans, who made
up 290 of the total of 294, on edge.
Mesach Nugent and Nick Barnes were away with the reserves
trying to regain match-fitness and Ashley Ulph was listed
as a sub despite failing to recover from the injury
he sustained against Tonbridge last week, but the 11
men United started with always looked to have enough
quality to deal with a Bedfont side yet to lose a game
in the Combined Counties League.
This was a game that, like Roger Waters' solo career
and the Stone Roses' Second Coming, won't live long
in anyone's memory, but within two minutes Nathan Paul
nearly recreated last week's 90th-minute equaliser,
floating in a cross that visiting keeper Del Lewis lost
in the sun as it landed inches from the crossbar.
Seven minutes later the Stones were in front when
Dean Hernandez-Bradshaw's cross was emphatically headed
home by Jay Saunders and the same combination combined
on 16 minutes, with Saunders this time seeing his effort
smack against the bar.
On 37 minutes James Pinnock's class created another
chance for Saunders, who was inches over from 20 yards
and Tom Parkinson and Roland Edge both squandered half
chances before Lewis denied Hernandez-Bradshaw in a
one-on-one at the end of the half.
Within a minute of the restart Marcis Fearon had the
visitors' first serious effort on goal, but Maidstone
remained in control and the only surprise was that it
took 75 minutes for the second to arrive, when a cross
somehow fell to Bottle, who volleyed home and didn't
even celebrate, either because he couldn't believe he'd
been given so much space or because he was waiting for
a flag.
But there was no hint of offside and by doing his
job first and asking questions later Bottle did exactly
what a young pro should do.
Aaron Firth then did exactly what a young pro shouldn't
do in the 81st minute when he felt he'd been fouled
by Rob Sterry and went looking for revenge.
The retaliation was so obvious the referee had no
option but to show him a straight red card, but even
with ten men United looked comfortable, until the
final minute Bedfont were awarded a penalty for an apparent
push and Liam Hind scored, giving the vistors a faint,
unfulfilled, hope of snatching a replay.
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