An excellent 4-0 win for Maidstone United put them in pole position for securing the final play-off spot as Weston-Super-Mare were beaten by Chippenham Town. The result also means that Welling United have been relegated from the National League South.
George Elokobi made three changes to the starting line up from the Weymouth game. Ruben Shakpoke, Jordan Higgs and Harry Kyprianou came into the side and this was Kyprianou’s first start since the play-off match at Worthing at the end of last season.
With just five minutes gone, Jez Davies turned on the edge of the area and hit a lovely shot which was heading for the back of the net. However, Alexis Andre Jr flung himself to his left and made a superb save, diverting the ball onto the angle of the post and cross bar.
Maidstone started to find their rhythm and they went close when Charlie Seaman’s fierce effort was well blocked by Jack Burchell. Shortly after this, Ben Brookes scuffed a delivery from a corner, which came into the box. It hit a patch of sand as Ruben Shakpoke went to shoot and he placed it well despite this only for Rhys Lovett to get down smartly and make a decent save.
On 17 minutes, there was another scramble in the box and George Fowler’s effort flew up in the air. Temi Eweka got to the ball but he was unable to put it on target.
Sixty seconds later, the Stones took the lead with a fine goal. Aaron Blair worked hard to win the ball deep in the Welling half. He found Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong who lifted the ball back into the box for Blair who fired in a fine finish.
Not long after this, Davies clipped the bar again with another effort from distance before Welling were forced into a substitution after Deon Moore went down with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. He was replaced by Josh Redfearn.
With 37 minutes gone, Maidstone doubled their lead. Brookes’ corner from the left was met by Eweka and his emphatic header flew into the net.
The second half was just six minutes old when the ball went back towards Lovett. Lovett swung his leg at it and missed, leaving Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong with the simple task of knocking the ball into an empty net.
Andre Jr then made another fantastic save. This time he denied Scott Kashket from point blank range.
Lovett’s miserable afternoon soon got even worse. The Welling keeper clattered into substitute Shaq Coulthirst and Brookes stroked the resultant penalty into the left side of the net.
With two minutes remaining, substitute Pharrell Willis played the ball forward to Coulthirst. Coulthirst’s shot went well wide though.
The final opportunity of the afternoon fell to the Stones. Substitute Sam Corne passed to Charlie Seaman. Seaman drifted into a good position but then fired the ball over the bar and onto Park View Road.
Welling United: –
Maidstone United: Aaron Blair 18, Temi Eweka 37, Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong 51, Ben Brookes 58 (pen)
Welling United: 1. Rhys Lovett, 3. Jez Davies (14. Finn Ballard-McBride 73), 6. Jack Burchell, 8. Gene Kennedy, 9. Scott Kashket (11. Martell Taylor-Crossdale 73), 12. Sam Cornish, 15. Deon Moore (23. Josh Redfearn 30), 20. TJ Bramble, 21. Dan Martin, 22. Riccardo Di Trolio, 24. Sahid Kamara. Subs not used: 18. Tyrese Briscoe.
Maidstone United: 1. Alexis Andre Jr, 11. Charlie Seaman, 5. George Fowler, 2. Temi Eweka, 3. Ben Brookes, 7. Jordan Higgs (8. Sam Corne 73), 16. Tayt Trusty, 14. Harry Kyprianou, 20. Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong (17. Riley Court 63), 9. Aaron Blair (12. Pharrell Willis 82), 18. Ruben Shakpoke (10. Shaq Coulthirst 55). Subs not used: 13. Lenny Holden.
