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The Stones are still searching
for their first home win of the new season and a disappointing
performance against Tooting means that they have now
collected just five points from their opening five fixtures.
Maidstone were second best in this encounter as they
struggled to break down a strong Tooting side and like
in so many recent matches, The Stones struggled to carve
out many goal scoring opportunities.
The first half was a scrappy affair but it was the
visitors who enjoyed the best of the early chances.
On 14 minutes, Ashley Ulph allowed Jason Henry to wriggle
clear and Jamie Turner made a good block to deny Henry
at the near post.
Then seven minutes later Ulph was exposed again as
he was caught out by a long ball forwards enabling Paul
Vines to run towards the area but Vines’ attempted
lob deflected wide.
The game then entered a lull which was broken on 37
minutes when Ulph conceded a free-kick which was pumped
into the box by Colin Hartburn and Mitchell Nelson’s
header bounced off the bar before being scrambled behind
for a corner.
Up until this point The Stones had not threatened
but that changed on 41 minutes when a strong challenge
from Ulph in midfield saw the ball get played forward
to the recalled Dan Stubbs who advanced towards the
area and struck a low shot which beat Dave King in the
Tooting goal.
After the break, the visitors continued to ask questions
of the Maidstone defence and on 49 minutes Paul Vines
picked out Byatt who smashed the ball goalwards only
for it to rise and cannon off the cross bar. Then five
minutes later, a neat move from Tooting ended with Turner
making a brave block to deny Paul Vines as the striker
slid in at the near post.
Maidstone then enjoyed their best spell of the game
during which time substitute Ashley Dann had two chances
to score and Dann also saw a long range effort just
fail to hit the target but The Stones couldn’t
force a second goal and they were made to regret that
when on 70 minutes, Tooting equalised. Paul Vines was
fouled inside the D of the area and Joe Vines took the
free-kick which hit the right hand post before entering
the net.
Then just five minutes later, Tooting struck again
when this time Aaron Goode rose at the left hand post
to place a header past Turner in the Maidstone goal.
For the remainder of the game it didn’t look
like The Stones would get back on level terms until
the 89 th minute when Ulph delivered a good cross and
James Pinnock’s header looked goalbound but unfortunately
for Maidstone King intervened to turn the ball round
the post.
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