A hat-trick from Aaron Blair propelled Maidstone United to a comfortable victory away at Enfield Town, after a decent performance from the Stones helped to erase the memory of Tuesday night’s defeat against Chelmsford City.
George Elokobi made three changes to the Maidstone starting line up from the Chelmsford game. Sam Smith, Matt Bentley and Shaq Coulthirst all returned to the side with Jon Benton, Bruno Andrade and Pierre Fonkeu dropping to the bench.
The Stones looked sharper from the outset of this match. On two minutes, Coulthirst ambitiously went for goal 40 yards out. Rhys Forster was paying attention and he comfortably gathered the ball.
Not long after this, a corner from Ben Brookes caused Enfield’s defence problems. There was a scramble in the box and Bentley might got the final touch as the ball went wide.
For Enfield, the ball was headed into the path of Lennon Peake. Peake made room for a curling effort which didn’t miss by much.
Brookes then found Bentley who unleashed a drive from 30 yards which thumped just wide. But 60 seconds later, with 21 minutes gone, Maidstone took the lead. Aaron Blair did well on the edge of the area before playing in Bentley. Forster made the save but Enfield couldn’t clear their lines and when Brookes put a cross in towards the near post, Bentley slid in to score.
Not long before the interval, Hisham Kasimu pulled the ball back to Peake but George Fowler was quickly across to make an important interception.
Early on in the second half, Blair got into a good position inside the box. He unselfishly picked out Bentley who shot straight at Forster.
However, on 52 minutes, a well timed run from Blair put him in on goal. He kept his cool and calmly placed the ball past Forster.
Enfield soon made things less comfortable for the Stones. A decent delivery from Hisham Kasimu who was out on the left gave Peake the simple task of side footing the ball into the net.
But it wasn’t long before the Stones restored their two goal advantage. With 75 minutes gone, Arj Kransinqi slipped a neat ball down the line. Brookes kept it in and found substitute Jon Benton who moved the ball into the path of Blair who smashed in his second goal of the afternoon.
Benton battled hard to try and win the ball inside the six yard box and the Stones were awarded an indirect free-kick after Forster attempted to handle a back pass. Kransinqi blasted the ball but he was denied by a good block from Joash Nembhard.
With three minutes remaining, Blair cut out a poor attempted back pass. He raced towards goal and although Forster got a touch, he couldn’t stop Blair from completing his hat-trick.
Enfield’s miserable afternoon was complete when they were reduced to ten men late on. Harley Mills had already been booked when he clattered into Bivesh Gurung and he was sent off.
Enfield Town: Lennon Peake 65
Maidstone United: Matt Bentley 21, Aaron Blair 52, 75,
Enfield Town: 1. Rhys Forster, 20. Mickey Parcell, 5. Joash Nembhard, 14. Carl Mensah, 11. Harley Mills 16. Lennon Peake, 4. Scott Thomas (9. Harry Ottaway 55), 6. Khanya Leshebela, 12. Billy Leonard, 7. Ollie Knight (3. Joe Payne 70), 18. Hisham Kasimu. Subs not used:, 15. Reece Beckles-Richards, 17. Dylan Adjei-Hersey, 19. Alex Solomon.
Maidstone United:1. Alexis Andre Jr, 2. Temi Eweka, 3. Ben Brookes (6. Raphe Brown 90), 20. Sam Smith, 5.George Fowler, 11. Charlie Seaman, 16. Matt Bentley (19. Pierre Fonkeu 90), 12. Arj Kransinqi, 18. Bivesh Gurung, 10. Shaq Coulthirst, (7. Jon Benton 68), 9. Aaron Blair (15. Bruno Andrade 90). Subs not used: 13. Lenny Holden.
