Maidstone United missed the opportunity to keep up the pressure for a high placed finish for the play-offs as they were held to a draw by Welling United. This was a game of two halves, with the home side left to rue the fact that they couldn’t take the chances that they created in the first 45 minutes. The result does mean that Maidstone are unbeaten in five games though.
The Stones were by far the stronger of the two sides in the first half and Welling had the excellent Reice Charles-Cook to thank for the fact that they were only one goal down at the break. With just a minute played, Matt Rush put a low ball into Lamar Reynolds who seemed surprised and he dragged his effort well wide.
Matt Bentley then flicked the ball on and it appeared to come off a Wings player as it dropped nicely to Matt Rush. Rush beat the on-rushing Charles-Cook but the ball cannoned off the inside of the right post. The ball went behind for a corner and from this, Sam Corne exchanged passes with Chi Ezennolim before whipping the ball into George Fowler who headed the ball down and into the net.
Not long after this, Lamar Reynolds got into space down the right. He picked out Bentley who went for a difficult first time finish and the ball went across the face of goal.
Reynolds was involved again on 16 minutes. He only had Charles-Cook to beat but the Welling keeper made a decent stop and from the rebound, Sam Corne’s low shot was deflected just wide.
Having been under pressure, Welling made a tactical change on 25 minutes which resulted in them getting more possession. David Amoo replaced former Maidstone player Joe Ellul and seven minutes, the Wings had their first attempt on goal as Anthony Papadopoulos drove wide from distance.
Bentley once again turned provider as this time he found Rush. Rush went for the near post only for Charles-Cook to do well and push the ball wide.
Bentley and Rush combined again on 35 minutes. They played a one-two leaving Bentley with much to do as Charles-Cook closed the gap and a combination of Charles-Cook and Chiori Johnson took the ball onto the post.
Fowler then clipped a delightful ball into the channel for Jephte Tanga. Tanga put the ball into Bentley and yet again, Charles-Cook made another important stop, this time with his legs.
It wasn’t until the 39th minute, that Lucas Covolan was finally called into action. Reece Grant got free inside the box and his effort on the turn was comfortably saved by Covolan.
Welling improved notably after the break. On 52 minutes, Cameron Green ran down the left and the ball came to Papadopoulos whose shot was blocked for a corner. The Wings then bought on Jack Munns for Anthony Grant. Within a minute, Munns was threatening to get into the box but Fowler got a cross and made an important block. However, Munns was to make an impact on 72 minutes. The ball came to him just outside the box and he drilled a low finish into the left side of the net.
It wasn’t until the game ticked over into the 90th minute that Maidstone threatened in the second half. Substitute Michael Adu-Poku was pulled back as he tried to burst clear down the left and Corne quickly took the free-kick to substitute Mo Faal who put the ball wide of the post. Then moments later, the ball came to Tanga who laid it into the path of the arriving Sam Bone and he failed to hit the target.
Maidstone United: George Fowler 4
Welling United: Jack Munns 72
Maidstone United: 1. Lucas Covolan,5. George Fowler, 4. Reece Greenidge,3. Chi Ezennolim (6. Raphe Brown 85), 8. Sam Corne ,18. Bivesh Gurung, 10. Lamar Reynolds (11. Mo Faal 71), 15. Sam Bone, 17. Jephte Tanga, 9. Matt Bentley (7. Michael Adu-Poku 74), 20. Matt Rush. Subs not used: 12. Harley Earle, 19. Paul Appiah
Welling United: 13. Reice Charles-Cook, 12. Chiori Johnson, 3. Cameron Green, 19. Riccardo Di Trolio, 4. Joe Ellul (11. David Amoo 25), 24. Lachlan Byrd, 10. Anthony Grant (22. Jack Munns 63), 23. Gene Kennedy, 14. Anthony Papadopoulos, 20. Jason Adigan, 8. Reece Grant (9. Adam Roscrow 70). Subs not used: 2. Crossley Lema, 18. Jack Burchell.
