Late goals from Sam Corne and Matt Rush gave the Stones an important 3 points in their quest to finish in the top seven after dispatching a strong Chelmsford City outfit who have been in great form of late and complete a league double over the Clarets.
The gaffer made a couple of changes from Saturday’s home defeat to St Albans City with both Liam Sole and Raphe Brown coming in, in place of Chi Ezennolim and Paul Appiah respectively.
It was the Stones that nearly got off to the perfect start when Jephte Tanga played a nice low ball towards Muhammadu Faal by the 6 yard box but directed his first time effort wide. However, just seconds afterwards, the Clarets nearly took the lead themselves when Jermaine Francis crossed towards the back post which wasn’t dealt with at the first attempt and it allowed Ody Alfa to send it goal wards but was eventually hooked clear by the defence.
This gave the side currently sitting 2nd in the division real confidence as they started to move the ball around more with purpose. Ben Brookes had a free kick on the edge of the box to the right which was comfortably held by Lucas Covolan whilst just a few minutes later, Finlay Barbrook was found completely unmarked from a corner but got his header all wrong.
The first half really was end to end as Tanga who was a constant threat for Jazzi Barnum-Bobb cut inside of the Chelmsford skipper before having his curled effort clawed away by keeper Henry Gray.
Raphe Brown thought he had given the Stones the lead on the half hour mark after heading in from a deep cross from Liam Sole but was alleged to have hand-balled it on it’s way in. It nearly proved to be a real game changing moment as the Clarets went straight up the other end with Josh Castiglione who from close range save his low shot denied by Covolan.
George Alexander was the next one to test Covolan from a free kick 25 yards out. His powerful drive looked destined for the top right hand corner but brought out a wonder save from the Stones number one. Henry Gray then followed up with an important save of his own with half time looming when he tipped over Bivesh Gurung’s first time effort after being laid off a pass by Sole.
The second half started well with Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong taking aim from 20 yards out with Gray at full stretch but was just inches wide of the left hand post.
However, following this, the game finally settled down with neither team really being able to create many clear cut opportunities. That was until the closing stages of the game.
With just over 10 minutes left to play, the ball was crossed to the back post which was just about kept in by a Maidstone head. The header adjudged to have hit a Chelmsford defender’s hand which resulted in a spot kick being awarded. Sam Corne confidently stepped up to send Gray the wrong way and place the ball into the bottom left hand corner to give the Stones a crucial lead.
It was a goal that knocked the stuffing out of the Essex side and it got even worse for them just a few minutes later when Barbrook clipped the heal of Matt Rush who was put through on goal and was given his marching orders by referee Olly Mackey.
The points were then sealed with all but the last kick of the game when the ball fell to Rush on the edge of the box before powering a low effort into the bottom left hand corner to ensure that the 3 points were secured which keeps the Stones very much in the play-off picture.
Maidstone United: Sam Corne (pen) 80’, Matt Rush 90+6’
Chelmsford City:
Maidstone United: 1. Lucas Covolan, 4. Reiss Greenidge, 5. George Fowler, 6. Raphe Brown (15. Paul Appiah 45 mins), 7. Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong, 8. Sam Corne (C), 11. Muhammadu Faal (9. Matt Bentley 72 mins), 16. Liam Sole (10. Lamar Reynolds 67 mins), 17. Jephte Tanga, 18. Bivesh Gurung, 20. Matt Rush. Subs not used: 3. Chi Ezennolim, 12. Harley Earle.
Chelmsford City: 13. Henry Gray, 2. Cameron James, 3. Ben Brookes, 4. Anthony Wordsworth (10. Samir Carruthers 85 mins), 7. Jermaine Francis, 9. George Alexander (19. Freddie Hockey 75 mins), 11. Finlay Barbrook, 17. Jazzi Barnum-Bobb (C), 18. Ody Alfa (16. Charlie Ruff 75 mins), 24. Josh Castiglione, 26. Henry Ochieng. Subs not used: 1. Jacob Marsden, 23. Callum Watts.
