The Stones continued their fine form as a powerful header from Raphe Brown saw us take all 3 points against a Farnborough side that came into the game having won their last 7 league matches.
This was a very good performance from George Elokobi’s side who limited the home side to very few chances and proving they can be a real force in the play-offs. The gaffer made a couple of chances with George Fowler missing out through illness and Sam Bone being rested. Reiss Greenidge and Matt Bentley came into the starting XI.
In a fairly even start to the game, it was the Stones that created the better opportunities with Sam Corne crossing deep towards Muhammadu Faal but he saw his effort blocked by keeper Jack Turner. Shortly after, Corne was involved again as his out-swinging corner found the leaping Raphe Brown but his header was brilliantly saved by Turner low to his left.
Matt Bentley whose certainly been finding his feet in the last few weeks, chipped the ball towards the lurking Matt Rush who took a lovely touch but saw his close range effort blocked by Turner to keep it goalless.
The home side did manage to settle down and controlled possession for the next 15 minutes but without really hurting the Stones defence. Reiss Greenidge in particular was in fine form controlling play from the back. Taylor Clark managed to drive his way into the box and looked for Lucas Covolan’s near post but could only fire into the side-netting.
The second half proved to be a different story as it was cagey with both sides not looking to make any kind of mistake. Corne in the early stages was able to get the ball into some good areas but the final ball across the box just wasn’t quite there. It was the sort of the game where one moment of quality was going to win it and luckily for the Stones, it came from a set piece.
Corne delivered another out-swinging corner from the right and on cue was Brown again. On this occasion, he was able to power his header past Turner who was left rooted to the spot to get his first goal of the season and one he throughly deserved for the shift he put in all afternoon.
With Farnborough pushing for the equaliser, they were always likely to get hit on the counter attack. Bivesh Gurung deep into injury time almost sealed the points in style as the ball was squared to him inside the box but didn’t put his laces through it as the shot was held onto low by Turner.
The final whistle went to a sense of job well done from Elokobi’s side who have guaranteed that our season will continue past the 20th April of what’s already been a memorable season for the whole football club.
Farnborough:
Maidstone United: Raphe Brown 77’
Farnborough: 1. Jack Turner, 3. Jordan Norville-Williams, CJ Fearn (C), 6. Guy Hollis, 8. Edon Pruti, 10. Joe Haigh, 11. Reggie Young (24. Selim Saied 83 mins), 15. Olly Pendlebury, 18. Taylor Clark (5. Ollie Robinson 60 mins), 26. Ricky Holmes (17. Hisham Kasimu 76 mins), 28. Millar Matthews-Lewis. Subs not used: 16. Maxwell Mullins.
Maidstone United: 1. Lucas Covolan, 3. Chi Ezennolim, 4. Reiss Greenidge, 6. Raphe Brown, 8. Sam Corne (C), 10. Jephte Tanga, 11. Muhammadu Faal (9. Sol Wanjau-Smith 71 mins), 16. Matt Bentley (14. Michael Adu-Poku 75 mins), 18. Bivesh Gurung, 19. Paul Appiah, 20. Matt Rush (15. Sam Bone 85 mins). Subs not used: 7. Michael Klass, 12. Harley Earle.
