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Peter Nott could not have asked for a more difficult start to his career as Maidstone United manager because by the time ten minutes had passed in his first match against Hendon The Stones were already two goals behind.
Nott was not helped by a uneven pitch which contributed to two of the goals and the fact that he could not select a number of key players due to injury as he admitted afterwards: “ We were missing key players and the centre of midfield was always going to be an issue,” he said. “I thought that the team showed lots of character but I think at the moment we have too many young players in the side. I don’t mean any disrespect to them but at this level you would ideally like only two or three youngsters in the team.”
Just six minutes had gone when a mistake from Jamie Turner gifted Hendon the lead as he dived to stop Casey MacLaren’s shot but he went over the top of the ball and MacLaren’s effort ended up in the net.
It quickly got worse for The Stones as three minutes later James Bent headed the ball down into the ground from close range and it crept in inside the right hand post.
Maidstone soon created a chance to get back into the game as on 17 minutes Keelan Mooney raced down the right and delivered a good cross which was met by the diving Ant Bodle but his strong header flew wide.
Unfortunately for The Stones though they fell even further behind on 27 minutes when a long range effort from James Busby appeared to hit a divot and fly past the diving Turner and Hendon should have further extended their lead on 39 minutes when Wayne O’Sullivan crossed to the unmarked Bradley Thomas and his header thumped against the bar.
The Stones started the second half in a lively manner and on 46 minutes Jermaine Darlington showed good persistence to get down the left hand side and send over a dangerous cross which James Parker could not head clear and Pinnock lashed a fierce shot goalwards which was blocked by the keeper James Reading.
Three minutes later Maidstone had another excellent opportunity to score when Ant Bodle threaded the ball into Danny Hockton but as he advanced towards the box he shot wide and then on 63 minutes, Pinnock turned in the box only for Reading to make a good save at the base of his right hand post.
Shortly afterwards, Steve Elliott delivered a deep cross to the back post which was headed across goal by James Peacock and the ball dropped to Hockton who was just yards from goal but he managed to poke his shot wide.
Peacock then went close with an effort from 20 yards but it was the visitors who had the final opportunity of the night when MacLaren once again got into space inside the box but this time Turner made a good block.
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