Maidstone United extended their mini unbeaten run to three matches with a hard-fought point away at Hemel Hempstead. The game was notable for two fine goals, with the Stones taking the lead through Razzaq Coleman De-Graft only for the Tudors to equalise thanks to Joe Re.
Stones had three corners early on. From the last of these, Coleman De-Graft put a good back into the box and Levi Amantchi’s glancing header was just off target.
Hemel soon started to try and impose themselves in the game. Montel McKenzie went on a run down the right and cut inside before passing to Josh Williams whose rising shot deflected wide.
Amantchi played the ball off a defender and Sam Corne ran onto collect it. Corne picked out De-Graft who passed back to the arriving Bivesh Gurung and his low drive didn’t miss by much.
Aransibia then accidentally slipped in midfield and this allowed Joe Iaciofano to go on a surging run. Iaciofano went for goal and his effort took a deflection as it went wide. Then a corner from Arj Kransinqi was met by Kyle Ajayi and it looked certain that his header was going in but Lucas Covolan intervened with an excellent save to push the ball behind.
With 42 minutes played, Maidstone took the lead with a fine goal. Aransibia lifted a delightful ball into the box and it dropped perfectly to Coleman De-Graft who swept in his first goal for Maidstone.
Twelve minutes after the break, the Stones were unfortunate not to go further in front. Sam Corne’s corner was headed back across by Gurung and it was met by Sam Bone who saw his header thump against the bar.
This seemed to galvanise Hemel and within five minutes they had equalised. Re gained possession about 25 yards out and he sent a fabulous finish flying past Lucas Covolan.
Maidstone were soon reduced to ten men. Gurung saw red for an off the ball incident with Alfie Matthews. But despite this, it was the Stones who finished the game looking the more likely of the two sides to grab a winner. The closest they came was when substitute Liam Sole slipped the ball to George Fowler and his ball into the middle was met by Levi Amantchi who saw his header cleared off the line.
Then deep in stoppage time, Hemel had a chance. Kransinq put the ball into Iaciofano who had Fowler in attendance and Fowler did enough to ensure Iaciofano shot from close range went wide.
Hemel Hempstead: Joe Re 62
Maidstone United: Razzaq Coleman De-Graft 42
Hemel Hempstead : 1. Craig King, 2. Montel McKenzie, 3. Josh Williams, 4. Kyle Ajayi, 8. Alfie Matthews (19. Kevin Gonzalez 84), 9. Joe Iaciofano, 14. Joe Re, 16. Chris Smith, 20. Daniel Powell (18. Reece Grant 47), 22. Myles Judd (5. Josh Hill 90), 23. Arj Kransinqi. Subs not used: 11. Bilal Sayoud, 15. Finlay Corrigan.
Maidstone United: 1. Lucas Covolan, 2. Gavin Hoyte, 15. Sam Bone, 5. George Fowler, 3. Chi Ezennolim, 8. Sam Corne, 18. Bivesh Gurung, 7. Razzaq Coleman De-Graft (20. Conor Kelly 71), 11. Devonte Aransibia (16. Liam Sole 71), 17. Levi Amantchi, 10. Lamar Reynolds. Subs not used: 6. Raphe Brown, 12. Harley Earle, 14. Ogo Obi.
