The Stones continued from where they left off on Tuesday as they comfortably saw off a struggling Dartford side with two lovely goals to take the Derby spoils and move back in the National League South play-off places.
George Elokobi made two changes from Tuesday with Harry Kyprianou coming back into the side for the suspended George Fowler who begins a three game ban and Paul Appiah starting with Raphe Brown out injured.
In was a tense affair but the Darts looked to seize their opportunity in the opening 5 minutes when Brandon Barzey crossed from the right hand side towards Jordan Greenidge but his header sailed over Lucas Covolan’s bar. The Stones looked to get into their stride not long after as Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong was played in down the left by Jephte Tanga but the angle was against him as he could only chip into the side netting. It resulted in an injury for Jacob as he was forced off with a hamstring problem leaving Matt Bentley to come on and show what he’s about.
In a half of very few chances, it was Jordan Greenidge that nearly nipped in with a crucial opener but his low header was brilliantly saved at point blank range from Covolan. Muhammadu Faal was looking to get back to goal scoring ways as Bivesh Gurung lifted a lovely ball over the top but keeper Billy Terrell came racing out and denied Faal with his face to keep it goalless.
With seconds left in the first half, Liam Sole took the game into his own hands as he cut inside of his man in the Dartford box before unleashing a fierce drive with his left foot into the roof of the net to send the travelling support into pure delight.
The second half started as very much an even contest but 10 minutes in, the game swung on his head. Faal was played through with a ball over the top and looked destined to make it 2-0 but for Terrell who took him out on the edge of the box which resulted in the Darts keeper receiving his marching orders.
Matt Rush who was constant pain for the Darts very nearly got a well deserved goal as Matt Bentley played him in but for a really good recovery tackle from Tom Clifford to keep it at 1-0.
It was tensing up a bit towards the latter stages and it certainly needed a second goal to kill things off which Jephte Tanga kindly stepped up to the mark to provide this. It was a well worked move where Bentley played it into Rush from the edge of the 6 yard box. He could have gone for goal himself but unselfishly chipped the ball to the back post where Tanga was lurking. Tanga volleyed into the ground which was enough to take the ball past substitute keeper Tom Wray and ensure the points were heading back to the county town.
Dartford:
Maidstone United: Liam Sole 45+3’, Jephte Tanga 80’
Dartford: 22. Billy Terrell, 2. Jordan Wynter, 4. Tommy Block (12. Maxwell Statham 74 mins), 7. Luke Coulson, 10. Paul Rooney, 17. Brandon Barzey (9. Alex Wall 76 mins), 18. Fumnaya Shomotun (13. Tom Wray 54 mins), 21. Taylor Maloney, 23. Jordan Greenidge, 27. Tom Clifford, 28. Ronnie Nelson. Subs not used: 8. Luke Allen, 24. Olly Box.
Maidstone United: 1. Lucas Covolan, 4. Reiss Greenidge, 7. Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong (9. Matt Bentley 11 mins), 8. Sam Corne (C), 11. Muhammadu Faal, 14. Harry Kyprianou, 15. Paul Appiah, 16. Liam Sole, 17. Jephte Tanga, 18. Bivesh Gurung, 20. Matt Rush. Subs not used: 3. Chi Ezennolim, 10. Riley Court, 12. Harley Earle, 19. Sam Smith.
