The Stones rounded off a successful pre-season campaign in the best possible way with a clean sheet and a comfortable win over Whitehawk.
The visitors had the first chance of the afternoon. Manny Mensah passed to Chris Whelpdale who whipped an inviting cross to the back post which was headed just wide by Enoch Mowonge.
A very long clearance from Zaki Oualah in the Hawks goal set Mowonge away down the right. He won a corner and then crossed for Charlie Walker whose header went just over the bar.
But as the half went once, Maidstone started to take control. On 21 minutes, Jordan Higgs did well to make an interception in midfield and he played the ball out to Charlie Seaman. Seaman’s cross was decent and the stretching Aaron Blair put the chance wide.
A low ball into the box by Ben Brookes found Matt Bentley and his effort went into the side netting and then on 27 minutes, the Stones took the lead. Some fine play from Seaman saw him put a deep cross to the back post where Brookes headed the ball into the ground and into the net.
The visitors soon went close to an equaliser. Former Maidstone player Greg Luer lashed the ball goalwards and he was denied by a superb flying block by Temi Eweka close to the line. The ball rebounded to Luer whose second shot was on target and this time, Andre Jr made a good save.
Aaron Blair saw a shot strike the inside of the left post before pinging back into Oualah’s arms but Maidstone did score again on 43 minutes. Brookes’ delivery to the back post reached Shaq Coulthirst who side footed the ball in.
The second half was just three minutes old when silky skills from Blair saw him make space for a low ball which Matt Bentley flicked across goal. Arriving to meet it was Coulthirst who scored his second of the game.
Apart from a header from Reece Greenidge which Oualah just managed to keep out as he gathered it, there was little to note until the 82nd minute. Substitute Imran Kayani got in down the right and his shot deflected wide.
Late on, Oualah appeared to foul Matt Bentley inside the area before conceding a free-kick for a challenge on substitute Riley Court. Seaman’s effort deflected inches wide and from the subsequent corner, George Fowler’s header was held by Oualah.
Maidstone United: Ben Brookes 27, Shaq Coulhirst 43, 48
Whitehawk: –
Maidstone United starting 11: 1. Alexis Andre Jr (12. Lenny Holden 74), 2. Temi Eweka, 3. Ben Brookes, 4. Reiss Greenidge (20. Sam Smith 83), 5.George Fowler, 7. Jordan Higgs, 8. Arj Kransinqi, 9. Aaron Blair (19. Pierre Fonkeu 83), 11. Charlie Seaman, 10. Shaq Coulthirst (17. Riley Court 71), 16. Matt Bentley. Subs not used:6. Tyler Jackson-Hunt, 13. Trialist A, 14. AJ Clark, 15. Liam Parle, 18. Bivesh Gurung.
Whitehawk: 1. Zaki Oualah, 2. Charlie Lambert, 3. Harry Hoath, 4. Andrew Briggs, 5. George Milner, 6. Harry Shooman, 7. Chris Whelpdale, 8. Manny Mensah, 9. Greg Luer, 10. Charlie Walker, 11. Enoch Mowonge.
Subs: 12. Jerry O’Sullivan, 14. Billie Clark, 15. Sam Bull, 16. Imran Kayani, 17. Charlie Connell, 18. Tom Dickson, 12. Moe Shubbar, 17. Regan Clarke-Salter.
