Maidstone United 2-0 Tonbridge Angels // Vanarama National League South // Monday 1 January 2024// Attendance: 3,021 (491 Tonbridge Angels fans) // Match Report by Ruth Pettifer
Maidstone United got 2024 off to a good start with a two nil victory over Tonbridge Angels. This was the Stones’ first victory since December 5 when they beat Truro City.
Maidstone made one change from Boxing day with Gavin Hoyte replacing Raphe Brown in the starting line up. Meanwhile, Tonbridge brought in Paris Lock and Ansu Janneh in place of Scott Wagstaff and Sean Shields.
With 13 minutes gone, a clumsy challenge from Timmy Abraham close to the box gave the Angels a free-kick. Lewis Gard took responsibility for the free-kick and he curled it wide of the far post.
Not long after this, Lock drove the ball goalwards. It looked to be going inside the left post until Lucas Covolan intervened with a decent save.
A long kick from Covolan was played on by Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong. It came to Matt Rush who elected for an early shot and his attempt from an angle went across goal and wide.
The deadlock was broken with 34 minutes played. Berkeley-Agyepong sent Harry Kyprianou on his way with a nice simple pass and Kyprianou delivered a dangerous cross which was turned into his own net by the unfortunate Kodi Lyons-Foster.
The Stones were on top by this point and they came close to scoring again. Abraham did well down the right to turn into space inside the box. He picked out Berkeley-Agyepong who placed his shot and Jonathan Henly did well to make the save with his leg.
But Maidstone were to get a second on 39 minutes. Sol Wanju-Smith went down inside the area as he went for the ball with Tariq Hinds and Sam Corne fired an unstoppable penalty past Henly.
In the early stages of the second half, Maidstone showed their attacking intent. The closest they came was when Abraham lashed the ball into the side netting.
As time moved on, Tonbridge began to come back into the game. With 69 minutes played, Jernade Meade slipped a good ball in for Lock to chase but with Kyprianou in close attendance, he didn’t have much time and his effort went straight at Covolan.
Tonbridge had just bought on. Obed Yeboah for Paris Lock when substitute Lamar Reynolds found himself with only Henly to beat. Reynolds’ attempted lob was comfortably batted away by Henly though.
Maidstone United: Kodi Lyons-Foster (O.G.) 34, Sam Corne 39
Tonbridge Angels: –
Tonbridge Angels: 1. Jonny Henly, 12. Tariq Hinds, 3. Kodi Lyons-Foster, 17. Ethan Sutcliffe, 19. Jernade Meade, 8. Jordan Higgs (7. Francis Mampolo 71), , 22. Scott Wagstaff, 5. Lewis Gard, 14. Mo Dabre, 18. Jordan Greenidge, 11. Paris Lock (9. Obed Yeboah 79). Subs not used: 13. Nat Gibb, 16. Billy French, 27. Ansu Janneh
Maidstone United: 1. Lucas Covolan, 2. Gavin Hoyte, 4. Reece Greenidge, 5. George Fowler, 2. Gavin Hoyte, 14. Harry Kyprianou, 17. Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong (6. Raphe Brown 86), 8. Sam Corne, 9. Sol Wanju-Smith (10. Lamar Reynolds 69), 19. Timmy Abraham (16. Liam Sole 74), 20. Matt Rush. Subs not used: 12. Harley Earle, 3.Chi Ezennolim.
