Maidstone 1
(Alabi 87′)
United 0
A late goal saw United leave Kent without reward, as Maidstone snatched the points at the Gallagher Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
After dominating possession and chances for much of the first half, it was Maidstone who ran out 1-0 winners at the Gallagher Stadium, as James Alabi’s late strike saw the home side keep the points in Kent.
United Manager named two changes in the starting eleven that slipped to a narrow defeat against Boreham Wood just one week earlier, with Shaun Donnellan and Tom Lapslie being named on the bench, as Ross Marshall returned from his one game suspension, and Kieron Evans being named in the starting XI.
There were two chances early on for United, as in the opening minute Will Goodwin was played through into the right edge of the Maidstone box, with ‘keeper Yusuf Mersin forced to be alert, and just able to block Goodwin’s low-driven effort. One minute later, Corie Andrews picked up the ball and drove into the opposition box, before his drilled effort forced Mersin into another save.
United’s strike-force went close again minutes later, when Goodwin drove into the left edge of the box, before his squared-ball looked to be playing Andrews through on goal, was just gathered by Mersin who was under pressure from an advancing Andrews.
On 28 minutes, it looked as if Andrews was going to open the scoring. After being introduced to play moments earlier – Rhys Lovett rolled the ball out from the back for Marshall, who progressed into the Maidstone half, before his long ball forward into the box was chased down by Andrews, who beat his marker to take one touch, before dragging his low-driven effort agonisingly wide of the left-hand post.
Five minutes later, Gary Johnson’s men pressed again. A long throw by Dean Moxey was headed down by a cluster of players just outside the six-yard box and fell for Andrews on the edge of the penalty area, before the United forward took one touch and drove his right-footed effort just wide once more.
In the 35th minute it was battling play by Ben Wyatt down the left flank, who managed to keep hold of the ball under pressure from George Fowler, and passed to Evans just outside the left edge of the box, whose cross found a rising Hanson in the box, but the header was just over.
After continuing to enjoy much of the possession inside the closing stages of the first half, in injury time United went went close to breaking the deadlock again. A Brett McGavin corner found Marshall beyond the far-post, with his header falling to Moxey, whose volley that looked goal-ward was blocked.
After remaining on the ascendency throughout the first half, with a number of chances, Johnson’s men were unable to capitalise, and forced to enter the interval goalless.
After enjoying most of the possession and chances throughout the first 45 minutes, it was the home side who began well after half time, with the United defence being tested by the home attack.
Four minutes after the restart, Lovett had to be alert at the near-post as a shot from Roarie Deacon at the right angle from the left was blocked out for a corner. United were forced to mother the goal from the resulting corner, as the home side enjoyed a number of chances, ending with a goal-line clearance for The Gulls.
There were chances for both sides in the 65th minute. Down the home end Andrews stood strong and managed to get a shot away, however after a number of deflections by the Maidstone defence, the attack was cleared. Moments later down the other end down the left flank, a shot from Deacon just outside the left edge of the box was curling towards the top left corner, was well saved by Lovett. From the resulting corner, Lovett had to be alert to tip another threatening header over the bar.
In the 72nd minute it was the hosts who went close to breaking the deadlock, as a low-driven effort from Christie Pattisson was blocked by Marshall on the goal-line who just managed to get a foot to the shot.
With ten minutes left on the clock, Lovett was forced into action once more, this time to make an excellent save, stretching to his left to deny Deacon.
The hosts were able to break the deadlock in the 87th minute, when a ball from the Maidstone half was chased down by Deacon who cut into the box before playing the ball to his left for an advancing Alabi who fired into the roof of the net to put Maidstone ahead.
United were unable to fashion an equaliser in the time that remained, leaving all attention now to turn to Bank Holiday Monday, and the visit of old rivals Woking.
Maidstone: 30. Yusuf Mersin, 2. Gavin Hoyte (c), 4. Joe Ellul, 5. George Fowler, 10. Jack Barham, 14. Dominic Odusanya, 15. Regan Booty, 17. Christie Pattisson (7. James Alabi 83′), 21. Roarie Deacon, 24. Kodi Lyons-Foster (34. Jack Cawley 62′), 29. Bivesh Gurung.
SUBS NOT USED: 1. Tom Hadler, 16. Josh Fawole, 23. Henry Woods.
Yellow Cards: Alabi 90+6′
United: 1. Mark Halstead (22. Rhys Lovett 26′), 2. Dylan Crowe, 5. Ali Omar, 6. Ross Marshall, 7. Ryan Hanson, 10. Corie Andrews, 11. Kieron Evans (4. Tom Lapslie 62′, 16. Shaun Donnellan 74′), 14. Brett McGavin, 15. Ben Wyatt, 19. Will Goodwin, 21. Dean Moxey (c).
SUBS NOT USED: 26. Nelson Iseguan, 28. Tommy Hughes.
Yellow Cards: Hanson 84′, Goodwin 90+1′, Marshall 90+2′
Attendance: 2,216.