Maidstone United kept their ambitions for home advantage in the play-offs on track as they stretched their unbeaten streak to eight matches thanks to two early goals from Sam Corner.
The Stones couldn’t have wished for a better start to this game. With just three minutes played, Paul Appiah delivered an excellent cross from the right and the unmarked Corne showed good technique to power a header into the left side of the net.
A deep corner from Corne was then played back across the box by Raphe Brown. It eventually came to George Fowler and his deflected effort didn’t miss by much.
For Weymouth, Leo Hamblin suddenly got into space down the left side of the box. Some might have been expecting a cross but he went for a quick shot which Lucas Covolan palmed away.
Then on 13 minutes, Covolan sent a long kick downfield. It bounced into the area where Sol Wanju-Smith was bundled to the ground by Corey Panter. Corne assumed responsibility for the resultant penalty and although Harvey Wiles-Richards went the right way, and got close, the ball still nestled in the net.
After this, the game notably calmed down and there was much less in the way of goalmouth action for the remainder of the half and in fact, the match. Jephte Tanga drilled in an inviting cross which no Maidstone player could reach and at the other end, Raphe Brown lost possession allowing Tom Bearwish to gain possession but his shot was blocked for a corner.
On 51 minutes a good spell of possession from Maidstone, in and around the Weymouth box nearly bought a third goal. Wanju-Smith stood the ball up and it eventually popped out to Tanga who drilled a low shot wide of the left post.
Chi Ezennolim was enjoying being allowed to get free down the left and he did well again down this flank on 65 minutes. Once again he put a decent cross into the middle and this time, Matt Rush couldn’t direct his header on target.
There was then little to note until the 87th minute as the game started to peter out. Sam Bone took a free-kick from about 25 yards but his effort went wide and this was to be the last time that either side threatened as Maidstone comfortably held on to keep a clean sheet.
Maidstone United: Sam Corne 3, 14 (pen)
Weymouth: –
Maidstone United: 1. Lucas Covolan, 5. George Fowler, 19. Paul Appiah, 6. Raphe Brown, 3. Chi Ezennolim, 8. Sam Corne, 7. Michael Klass (18. Bivesh Gurung 69), 15. Sam Bone, 9. Sol Wanjau-Smith (16. Matt Bentley 69), 17. Jephte Tanga, 20. Matt Rush (14. Michael Adu-Poku 78). Subs not used: 12. Harley Earle, 4. Reece Greenidge.
Weymouth: 13. Harvey Wiles-Richards, 3. Leo Hamblin, 4. Corey Panter, 6. Harry Jones, 5. Jordan Thompson, 14. Ezio Touray, 8. Tom Bearwish, 11. Joel Rollinson (10. Brandon Goodship 79), 15. Ben Winterburn (7. Keelan O’Connell 41), 12. Harry Parsons, 18. Charlie Rowan (9. Dan Roberts 70). Subs not used: 17. Anthony Cheshire, 1. Gerrard Benfield.
