An early goal from Temi Eweka gave the Stones their second win at home in a row. Despite just scoring one goal, it was a comfortable afternoon for Maidstone United and their margin of victory might have been much greater.
The Stones started strongly and were the better side for much of the first half. With just five minutes gone, a fine corner from Ben Brookes was met by Eweka who guided his header into the right side of the net.
Maidstone had thought they had doubled their lead two minutes later. A long throw from Brookes wasn’t cleared by Hornchurch and Aaron Blair’s shot on the floor was blocked before Jon Benton fired in but the goal was ruled out for offside.
It wasn’t until nearly 20 minutes had gone that the visitors started to get more confident but Maidstone were still creating. Benton and Blair combined with Benton having the final shot which deflected just wide.
A neat move then saw Benton slip the ball into Blair. Blair sent the ball across the six yard box but no one could get on the end of it. Then another corner from Brookes was met by Eweka who this time had run towards the near post and his effort went just wide of the left post.
It wasn’t until the 40th minute that Hornchurch went close. Substitute Darren McQueen, who had replaced the injured Scott Kashket early on, moved into a central position just outside the box and Alexis Andre Jr had to push McQueen’s rising shot over as it threatened to creep in under the bar.
With the game in first half stoppage time, a lovely ball over the top from Charlie Seaman picked out Antony Papadopoulos. Papadopoulos was under pressure and elected for an early drive which went just wide of the left post.
The Stones kept up the tempo straight after the break. Benton put Seaman into a good position with a lovely pass and then the ball came out to Sam Corne whose whipped delivery was headed wide by Blair. Moments later, Papadopoulos raced down the left and got to the byline but he was unable to pull the ball back to Blair it fizzed across the six yard box.
With 51 minutes gone, Brookes put a deep cross to the back post. It was met by Greenidge and his header didn’t miss by much.
For the Urchins, Liam Nash tried to get in behind Eweka. Nash managed to get a shot on target but it was comfortably stopped by Alexis Andre Jr.
Not long after this, a Brookes long throw was headed down by Greenidge and Eweka’s shot from close range was well blocked by Mason Terry in the Hornchurch goal. And Maidstone soon threatened again. Seaman did well to make room for a drive which took a deflection off Tom Wraight and went behind for a corner.
The Stones then had a good chance to double their lead. Seaman found the arriving Papadopoulos who put his effort straight at Terry.
Substitute Harry Lodovica did well to win the ball inside the Hornchurch area and put the ball on a plate for Blair. Hornchurch were alive to the danger though and Terry made the block.
Maidstone United: Temi Eweka 5
Hornchurch: –
Maidstone United:1. Alexis Andre Jr, 2. Temi Eweka, 4. Reiss Greenidge, 5. George Fowler, 11. Charlie Seaman, 8. Sam Corne, 14. Tayt Trusty, 6. Antony Papadopoulos (15. Harry Lodovica 80), 3. Ben Brookes, 17. Jon Benton (19. Pierre Fonkeu 80), 9. Aaron Blair. Subs not used: 13. Lenny Holden, 10. Shaq Coulthirst, Bivesh Gurung
Hornchurch: 1. Mason Terry, 3. Giles Phillips, 5. Harry Gibbs, 6. Ryan Scott, 7. George Saunders (15.Adam Yusuff 76), 14. Scott Kashket (12. Darren McQueen 15), 16. Emmanuel Harvest, 19. Bailey Clemence (17. Ollie Muldoo 62), 8. Tom Wraight, 9. Femi Akinwande, 10. Liam Nash. Subs not used: 2. Nathan Bertram-Cooper, 4. Charlee Adams.
