Maidstone United carried on where they left off last season with another trophy as beat the Robert Dyas Cup Winners Hendon quite comprehensively.

The game started quickly for Maidstone as they took the lead in the 2^nd minute,  Matt Bodkin running across the 18 yard area passed out to Callum Driver who controlled it & saw his shot fly into the back of the net beating Joe Wright from 25 yards.

Ten minutes later it was two when the ball in the Hendon penalty area found Bodkin’s on the right side 15 yards out & his mis hit shot went across the goal only for Sam Flegg to scuff his clearance as it went straight to Jay May who shot home from 6 yards.

The game was a bit strange as both sides were playing some good football but Maidstone had made the most of their chances.

In the 28^th minute Hendon nearly got a goal back when Andre da Costa saw his free kick from 25 yards pushed around the post by Lee Worgan & from the resulting corner Flegg at the back post headed over the bar.

The half time whistle went & Jay Saunders would have been really happy at the score line but maybe would like to see a bit more.

The second half started with Maidstone on the charge as in the 48^th minute Mitchell Pinnock ‘s free kick to the back post found Driver but he could not keep his header down as it flew over the bar & in the very next minute Maidstone thought they had increased their lead when Pinnock on the left saw his dinky cross into the area get deflected & May jumped with Wright & Flegg & headed into the empty net from 2 yards but the referee Mr Kaye blew up for a foul.

In the 52^nd minute Alex Brown found himself on his own & from 25 yards saw his curling effort go just wide.

Seven minutes later Steve Watt went down with what seemed like a calf injury & was substituted, this could mean a few weeks out which would not be good news for Maidstone.

In the 64^th minute Hendon had their first real half chance when Adam Wallace raced onto a long ball beating the offside trap & he raced into the area & from an acute angle saw his cross beating Worgan but coming back of the far post & rebounding into the hands of a relieved Worgan.

A further seven minutes on a free kick into the Maidstone area by Sam Murphy found Scott Shulton whose flicked header went just past the post.

In the 76^th minute Hendon were down to ten men when Russell Sulaiman went off injured & they had used all their subs. In the 79^th minute it was three as a counter attack saw Jack Paxman running from his own half tip the ball past the defender on halfway & passed out wide to Alex Akrofi who went into the area & blasted his shot past a startled Wright.

In the 84^th minute it became four as Akrofi ran into the area & was adjudged to have been fouled &  a penalty was given but to most observers this looked a little harsh but Akrofi picked himself up & shot into the bottom left hand corner.

The final whistle went & for the 826 fans who turned up the team’s performance makes them confident that there team will do ok in the Conference South.

 

MAIDSTONE UNITED:

1. WORGAN 2. C.DRIVER ( DEBUT )  3. T.MILLS  4. S.WATT (59)  5. M.PARRY ( DEBUT )  6. J.ROGERS  7. M.BODKIN (65) 8. A.BROWN 9. J.MAY (72)   10 . J.PAXMAN    11. B. JOE TAYLOR

SUBS USED:  12. J.COYLE (59)  15. M.PINNOCK ( 65, DEBUT ) 16. A.AKROFI (72)

SUBS NOT USED: 14. S.JOHNSON   21. B CARD

 

HENDON:

1. WRIGHT 2. R.SULAIMAN  3. O.SPRAGUE  4. S.FLEGG  5. E. BRAITHWAITE  6. R.SHORT (72)  7. A.Da COSTA (63) 8. L.O’LEARY 9. A.MORGAN  10. S. SHULTON  11. M.BETTACHE (63)

SUBS USED:  14. S.MURPHY (63)  15. A.WALLACE (63)  12. D.DIEDHIOU (72)

SUBS NOT USED:  13. J.CASS  16. M.MINTER

BOOKINGS: E.BRAITHWAITE (66)

 

REFEREE: Mr E.KAYE

ASSISTANTS: Mr T.BISHOP  &  Mr R.WHITTAKER

4^TH OFFICIAL: Mr I.GELOV

ATTENDANCE: 826