There was disappointment for Maidstone United as they were defeated in their first fixture at the Gallagher Stadium in the 2024 / 2025 season. The Stones had got themselves level with a goal from substitute Reece Greenidge only for Truro City to get a controversial winner with the ball only just crossing the line late on, with the referee, Morgan Conn, awarding the goal after consultation with the assistant referee.
The Stones appeared to struggle to get going at times in the first half. Apart from a half volley from Arj Kransinqi which hit the top of the stand behind the Town End inside the first minute, Maidstone didn’t threaten again until six minutes before the break.
Truro did hit their stride though and with just five minutes gone, Tyler Harvey, who scored his 100th goal for City last week against Dorking, hit a pot shot at Alexis Andre Jr which the Maidstone keeper gathered at the second attempt.
Will Dean was pulling the strings for the visitors in midfield and when he arrowed another good delivery into the box, it seemed certain that Harvey would score. Somehow Andre Jr got across in time to make an excellent save.
Truro had been pushing Maidstone back and it was no surprise when they took the lead on 20 minutes. A decent free-kick into the box from Dean was headed on and Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain nodded the ball in from close range.
Dean then had a shot well blocked by Sam Smith before the Stones started to look more threatening. Sam Corne slid an enticing ball into Aaron Blair who carried it forward before firing over.
Then with 36 minutes gone, Dean should have doubled Truro’s lead. Maidstone’s defence couldn’t stop Harvey from putting the ball across the box and the arriving Dean couldn’t direct his effort on target.
Shortly after this, another lovely ball from Corne put Ben Brookes in down the left. He pulled the ball back into the middle where it came to Blair who seemed certain to score but his effort was blocked. The rebound fell to Riley Court only for Lavercombe to make another fine save before the visitors scrambled the ball clear.
With the game in first half stoppage time, Truro went close again. Seidou Sanogo drifted across the face of the area before his rising drive just cleared the bar.
George Elokobi made two early substitutions in the second half with Shaq Coulthirst replacing Arj Krasniqi and Bruno Andrade coming on for Matt Bentley. Initially, much didn’t change in the game, and Johnson-Fisher put the ball over the bar before George Fowler’s free header from a Brookes’ corner went wide.
As the game moved towards its later stages, the Stones started to create more. A ball across the box from Benton came to Brookes who saw his effort clear the bar.
Then on 77 minutes, Maidstone kept possession well. The move eventually ended when Brookes put the ball into Blair whose shot on the turn didn’t miss by much.
There was a blow for the Stones not long after this when Fowler had to leave the field with a head injury. Reece Greenidge replaced Fowler and from a Brookes corner, he saw a header cleared off the line. However, from another Brookes corner, moments later, on 85 minutes, Greenidge scored with his thigh to bring Maidstone level.
However, with 89 minutes played, Truro grabbed the winner . A free-kick into the box got a touch from Harvey before it came off Greenidge. There was a scramble close to the line and Andre Jr desperately tried to keep it out but after consultation with the linesman, the referee, Morgan Conn, awarded the goal.
With seven minutes of stoppage time played, Andre Jr made a double save to deny Harvey. There was still time for substitute Bruno Andrade to go close when his effort was cleared off the line and with ten minutes of stoppage time, a free-kick from Andrade missed by inches as the Stones were defeated.
Maidstone United: Reece Greenidge 85
Truro City: Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain 20, Tyler Harvey 89
Maidstone United 1. Alexis Andre Jr, 2. Temi Eweka, 5.George Fowler (Reiss Greenidge 83), 20. Sam Smith, 17. Riley Court (19. Pierre Fonkeu 77), 8. Sam Corne, 12. Arj Kransinqi (10. Shaq Coulthirst 58), 3. Ben Brookes, 14. Jon Benton, 16. Matt Bentley (15. Bruno Andrade 64), 9. Aaron Blair. Sub not used: 13. Lenny Holden.
Truro City: 1.Dan Lavercombe, 12. Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, 5. Tom Harrison, 6. Sam Sanders, 20. Ryan Law, 2. Tylor Love-Holmes (3. Connor Riley-Lowe 90), 4. Seidou Sanogo, 8. Will Dean, 7. Yassine En-Neyah, 9. Tyler Harvey, 11. Dominic Johnson-Fisher (19. Jaze Kabia 77). Subs not used: 13. Morgan Jones, 17. Tavonga Kuleya, 10. William Palfrey.
