The Stones took a big step towards securing a play-off spot with a dogged performance against a resilient Taunton Town side fighting to stay in the National League South.
George Elokobi made two changes to the side that drew with Welling United on Easter Monday, bringing in Raphe Brown and Muhammadu Faal as he looked to extend our unbeaten run to six matches.
The home side who are in desperate need of points came out of the traps faster than the Stones as they looked to force errors and their high press was certainly asking the players a lot of questions.
It took about quarter of an hour for the Stones to settle down and start to knock the ball about more. Jephte Tanga looked to make our ball possession count when he found himself weaving his way into the box before dragging his low shot just wide of the left hand post. Tanga was again involved not long after when he cut the ball back to Faal from the right hand side but his first time shot was deflected into the side netting.
With just over 10 minutes left of the first half, Matt Rush was nearly gifted the opener when a poor backwards pass was latched onto by the pacey forward but unfortunately took a heavy touch around keeper Lloyd Irish which went out for a goal kick.
Although the Stones were having the better of the chances, they still had to be on their toes at the back as a Taunton cross to the back post was met by Rabby Tagu-Minzamba but Lucas Covolan was alert to punch away his header back across goal.
The gaffer clearly thought the overall could have been better as the Stones looked to up their game in the second period. Early on, Chi Ezennolim delivered the ball from the left hand side towards Tanga whose downward header bounced into the ground and was well held by Irish.
Paul Appiah who was superb all night got on the end of a switched cross to the back post. This was met by Faal who couldn’t keep the shot down as he blazed the half volley over the bar.
The big man would redeem himself just moments later when a dangerous Stones attack fell to Bivesh Gurung who clipped the ball towards the 6 yard box and Faal was able to divert the ball home with what looked like a ‘scorpion kick’ finish to give the Stones a lead they so badly needed.
It sparked the Stones as they looked to go and take the game to Taunton. Irish would make a big save at the feet of Ezennolim as he made an important block from close range to keep the Peacocks in the contest. This was followed by Matt Bentley beating the offside trap before playing the ball across goal which Faal just couldn’t quite get on the end of.
With the board applying six added minutes, Taunton forced plenty of pressure on the Stones backline and had it not been for a couple of huge blocks, the players certainly wouldn’t have been coming back with what is a valuable 3 points. Victory at Farnborough on Saturday would see the Stones secure a guarenteed top seven finish with 3 games left to play.
Taunton Town:
Maidstone United: Muhammadu Faal 64’
Taunton Town: 21. Lloyd Irish, 2. Zac Ball (18. Marcus Day 61 mins), 5. Dan Ball, 7. Ollie Chamberlain, 8. Lloyd James (C), 11. Ben Acey, 12. Rabby Tagu-Minzamba, 13. Ross Stearn (6. Jay Murray 70 mins), 17. Cameron Evans, 19. Callum Dolman, 27. Seb Bolton (9. Nat Jarvis 83 mins). Subs not used: 31. Jayden Brown, 32. Evander Grubb.
Maidstone United: 1. Lucas Covolan, 3. Chi Ezennolim, 5. George Fowler, 6. Raphe Brown, 8. Sam Corne (C), 11. Muhammadu Faal (14. Sol Wanjau-Smith-Smith 80 mins), 15. Sam Bone (9. Matt Bentley 71 mins), 17. Jephte Tanga, 18. Bivesh Gurung, 19. Paul Appiah, 20. Matt Rush (4. Reiss Greenidge 90+4’). Subs not used: 7. Michael Adu-Poku, 12. Harley Earle.
