The Stones have extended their unbeaten streak in the league to ten games following a throughly gutsy performance against a strong Eastbourne Borough side at The Gallagher Stadium.
With the disappointment of Saturday’s away fixture at Salisbury being called off late by the officials, the players will have felt refreshed and were looking to make a big statement to the rest of the National League South as the Stones continue their push up the table.
It couldn’t have started any better. With eight minutes on the clock, Bivesh Gurung intercepted Brayden Johnson 25 yards from goal before firing a superb drive into the top right hand corner to score his first goal since that memorable winner against Barrow in the FA Cup Second Round last season.
Slowly, Eastbourne settled into the game and were close to getting back on the level terms just past the quarter of an hour mark when a cross field ball towards the edge of the box found George Alexander who chested it down nicely but scuffed his effort. Despite this, it still required an important touch off Alexis Andre Jr’s right boot to preserve the lead.
As the half progressed, George Elokobi’s side were putting some nice build up play together but without any real magic in that final third. Greg Cundle looked to change this when he raced down the left hand side before looking for that bottom right hand corner with keeper Joseph Wright at full stretch but was just inches wide. Aaron Blair soon followed when he cut inside his man before looking to bend one towards the top corner but was deflected over the bar by defender Pierce Bird.
Kai Willard-Innocent was having plenty of joy down the Eastbourne left first half and not long before half-time, put a dangerous looking low cross towards the 6-yard box but Temi Eweka reacted quickest as he just about managed to slice his clearance over the bar.
The Sussex based side were proving dangerous from set pieces and eight minutes into the second half, they got their reward when the Stones failed to deal with a free kick in and around the box. A couple of headers inside the box then led to the lurking Alexander who nipped in at the back post to nod past Andre Jr and get the Sports back on terms.
It took the lads a good fifteen minutes to really stamp their authority on the game again and their got their rewards when good build up play down the left between Cundle and Matt Bentley allowed Antony Papadopoulos to take a take a touch from a central position and bend a beautiful effort into the top right hand corner to put the Stones back in front.
Elokobi introduced Sol Wanjau-Smith just before the hour mark, who was making his first appearance since his loan move from Bath City and immediately looked to cause problems for the Eastbourne back line. He managed to escape his man and run towards goal before looking to go for glory with an effort from 25 yards out but was comfortably gathered by Wright.
George Fowler looked to get in the attacking act as well shortly after when he nipped in, inside the box before cutting it back for Aaron Blair whose low shot was parried by Wright before having the rebound cleared to safety.
Substitute Riley Court was keen to settle the game in the closing stages as he took charge of a loose ball inside the box but dragged the shot just wide of the left hand post.
With time running out for Eastbourne, they looked to commit more forward and former Stone, Alfie Pavey nearly came back to haunt his old club when he attempted a effort from 30 yards out which was awkward for Andre Jr but the Stones keeper managed to push it away from the danger area.
However, it was Blair that would have the final word as he took advantage of a poor control from Wright on the edge of the 18-yard box before taking his time and calmly passing into an open goal to ensure the Stones took all three points.
Maidstone United: Bivesh Gurung 8’, Antony Papadopoulos 69’, Aaron Blair 90+4’
Eastbourne Borough: George Alexander 53’
Maidstone United: 1. Alexis Andre Jr, 2. Temi Eweka, 3. Ben Brookes, 5. George Fowler, 8. Sam Corne (C), 9. Aaron Blair, 11. Charlie Seaman, 12. Greg Cundle (17. Riley Court 81 mins), 16. Matt Bentley (4. Reiss Greenidge 70 mins), 18. Bivesh Gurung (15. Sol Wanjau-Smith 59 mins), 20. Antony Papadopoulos. Subs not used: 10. Shaq Coulthirst, 13. Lenny Holden.
Eastbourne Borough: 1. Joseph Wright, 4. Brad Barry (C), 9. George Alexander, 14. David Sesay (7. Siya Ligendza 87 mins), 15. Oliver Kensdale, 17. Jayden Davis (19. Alfie Pavey 74 mins), 24. Dominic Odusanya, 25. Brayden Johnson (20. Yahaya Bamba 46 mins), 27. Courtney Clarke (6. Moussa Diarra 90+3 mins), 28. Kai Willard-Innocent, 33. Pierce Bird. Subs not used: 5. Dan Quick.
