A fine performance from the Stones, coupled with another clean sheet and two penalties from Ben Brookes saw Maidstone ease past Worthing to set up a play-off tie against Eastbourne Borough on Sunday. The Stones only conceded 38 goals during the regular season and they shut out the Rebels for long periods of this game, with Alexis Andre Jr having relatively little to do.
Maidstone started strongly. With three minutes played, Brookes went close with a shot from the edge of the area. Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong then drove into the box and from a tight angle, fired over.
On 15 minutes, Berkeley-Agyepong played a neat ball into Tom Leahy who was clattered into by Odei Sorondo just inside the box. Leahy needed a reasonable spell of treatment and Brookes sent Chris Haigh the wrong way from the resultant penalty.
The Stones were defending resolutely, restricting Worthing’s opportunities to get forward and Maidstone went close to doubling their lead on 34 minutes. Aaron Blair got in and hit an early shot which Haigh got his fingers to.
Not long after this, Worthing were awarded a free-kick. Jack Spong curled the ball into the box and George Fowler’s defensive header looped just over the bar.
Maidstone were soon on the front foot again. Blair passed to Charlie Seaman whose drive was well stopped by the feet of Haigh. Leahy reacted quickly to get to the rebound which was blocked.
Worthing improved after the break. With 51 minutes played, Spong passed to Mo Faal who moved the ball onto Nicky Wheeler. Wheeler got to the by-line and his cross to the near post was headed over by Temilolu Babalola.
As the half progressed, the Rebels started to put pressure on the Stones. Wheeler’s cross was headed over by substitute Liam Nash. And then Worthing went even closer when Wheeler’s ball in eventually came to Faal and his header dropped inches wide of the left post.
Having been under the cosh, Maidstone then nearly scored again. The ball came to Blair whose decent effort was well saved by Haigh.
The Stones closed out the remaining moments in expert fashion and they made sure of their place in Sunday’s semi final in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Substitute Bivesh Gurung cut the ball inside to substitute Riley Court who was brought down inside the box by substitute Ollie Black. Once again Brookes assumed responsibility for the penalty and he lashed a fine finish into the top right corner of the net.
Worthing: –
Maidstone United: Ben Brookes 15 (pen), 90+5 (pen)
Worthing: 1. Chris Haigh, 5. Joseph Cook, 6. Joe Partington (7. Tommy Willard 64), 21. Sam Packman (18. Ollie Black 87), 2. Joel Colbran, 26. Odei Sorondo, 8. Jack Spong (10. Danny Cashman 90), 15. Glen Rea, 11. Nicky Wheeler, 9. Mo Faal, 14. Temilolu Babalola (27.Liam Nash 61). Sub not used: 24. Bailey Smith, 22. Jack Bates, 33. Lucas Covolan.
Maidstone United:1. Alexis Andre Jr, 5. George Fowler, 4. Reiss Greenidge, 2. Temi Eweka, 11. Charlie Seaman (14. Harry Kyprianou 82), 7. Jordan Higgs (18. Bivesh Gurung 66), 16. Tayt Trusty, 3. Ben Brookes, 20. Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong (17. Riley Court 75), 9. Aaron Blair (15. Sol Wanju-Smith 90), 19. Tom Leahy (10. Shaq Coulthirst 87). Subs not used: 13. Lenny Holden, 12. Pharrell Willis.
