There was heartbreak for Maidstone United in the play-offs as Worthing’s prolific Ollie Pearce grabbed the winner three minutes from time. Just a minute before this, Matt Rush had hit the bar for the Stones, who had been the stronger of the two sides in the second half.
This has been a fantastic season for the Stones. As well as making the play-off semi-finals, they have won the Kent Senior Cup. And memorably, they became the lowest ranked side in the football pyramid since 1978 to reach the last 16 of the FA Cup, by pulling off one of the biggest ever FA Cup shocks of all time as they beat Championship side Ipswich Town.
It took just two minutes for Worthing to show their attacking prowess. Ollie Pearce got in behind the Stones’ defence only for Lucas Covolan to make a decent save and push the ball over the bar.
Maidstone had their first opportunity five minutes later. A short corner from Sam Corne was played to Jephte Tanga and his cross came to Matt Bentley who volleyed straight at Oliver Wright.
Worthing then took a free-kick quickly. Joseph Felix put a low ball into Danny Cashman and with George Fowler in attendance, Cashman’s effort went just wide.
Wills then put Pearce in on goal as the Rebels beat the offside trap once more. Covolan was off his line quickly and did well to divert Pearce’s shot wide.
On 23 minutes, Bradley Donoghan went down inside the box with George Fowler in attendance. Pearce stepped up to take the resultant free-kick and he riffled it past Covolan.
Maidstone tried to respond quickly. Matt Bentley found Rush who shot at the near post and Oliver Wright made a good save to push the ball behind.
Five minutes before the break, the Stones did equalise. The ball was pinging around in the Worthing box and Wright appeared to make a double save to deny Sam Corne before Bentley popped up to head the ball into the net.
Moments later, Mo Faal made good progress down the left. He put an enticing low ball into the box and the stretching Corne pushed the ball agonisingly wide of the right post.
Not long after the break, Corne put a deep free-kick into the box. Reece Greenidge was reaching to get on the end of it and his header went high and wide. Then with an hour played, another good cross from Corne came to Rush this time and his header just missed the target.
There were appeals for handball from the Stones on 70 minutes. Rush had drilled his shot into a Worthing defender and it did appear to strike an arm but no penalty was forthcoming.
Then four minutes from time, came the start of a passage of play where the fine margins of football were evident. Corne put substitute Lamar Reynolds away down the right and he attempted to pick out Rush who might have been fouled as he tried to get into the area. The ball came to substitute Sol Wanju-Smith and he shot straight at Wright. Moments later, Bentley got in on goal and Wright could only parry the ball into the path of Rush whose shot cannoned off the bar.
Worthing soon broke forward and the unfortunate Raphe Brown lost possession in midfield. Pearce got in and only had Covolan to beat which he did with aplomb by firing it into the right side of the net.
Maidstone pushed hard for an equaliser after this. Harry Kyprianou crossed for Rush who saw his header drop just wide. Then deep in stoppage time, Wright had to claw a corner from Corne away from the line. Corne’s second corner was headed on by Covolan and it came to Kyprianou whose header went behind for a goal-kick and with that, the Stones’ magnificent season, was brought to a close.
Worthing: Ollie Pearce 24 (pen), 89
Maidstone United: Matt Bentley 40
Worthing: 1. Oliver Wright, 2. Joel Colbran, 4. Kane Wills, 10. Ollie Pearce, 16. Jack Spong, 20. Jack Wadham, 21. Kodi Lyons-Foster, 23. Joseph Felix, 26. Bradley Donoghan (11. Nicky Wheeler 72), 27. Alfie Young, 28. Danny Cashman (19. Finlay Chadwick 90). Subs not used: 13. Rocco Rees, 6. Joseph Rye, 7. Greg Luer.
Maidstone United: 1. Lucas Covolan, 4. Reece Greenidge, 5. George Fowler, 6. Raphe Brown, 17. Jephte Tanga (10. Lamar Reynolds 79), 8. Sam Corne, 19. Michael Klass (15. Sam Bone 75), 14. Harry Kyprianou, 16. Matt Bentley, 20. Matt Rush, 11. Mo Faal (9. Sol Wanjau-Smith 75). Subs not used: 12. Harley Earle, 7. Michael Adu-Poku.
