Maidstone United started their season dropping two points to newly promoted Maidenhead after a disappointing first half but dominant second half.
If truth be told, they wasted chances and suffered a sucker punch two minutes from the end and it could have been worse and Jay Saunders said there were plenty of positives and looks forward to Tuesday’s derby against Ebbsfleet United.
The game was only two minutes old when a Maidenhead corner to the back post found Sean Marks but unfortunately for him the ball went under his foot & he could only tap it forward but Maidstone cleared.
In the 7th minute Joe Pigott’s free kick curled over the bar. In the 14th minute Maidstone thought they had taken the lead when Pigott laid the ball into the path of Harley Willard & from 25 yards he saw his shot cannon off the cross bar, in the next minute Maidenhead had their first chance when a ball into the six yard area saw Marks stretching saw his shot go wide.
Four minutes later Harold Odametey on a counter attack saw his shot saved by Lee Worgan, a minute later Harry Pritchard running forward saw his shot from 20 yards hit the side netting. The last chance of the half came in the 29th minute & Maidstone should have taken the lead when Joe Anderson put Willard through & his low cross to the near post was met by Delano Sam-Yorke who from 6 yards slid in & saw his shot go wide of the post with Carl Pentney nowhere.
The second half was only five minutes old when Maidstone got their first goal of the seas & what a goal. Pigott was fouled 25 yards out just off centre & he picked himself up & curled the ball into the top left hand corner.
The game suddenly came to life with both teams upping the pace but Maidstone were the likely winners as Maidenhead were only likely to score via a set play.
In the 58th minute Odametey on the right passed into the path of James Comley but from 20 yards he shot wide. Five minutes later Pritchard saw his free kick from 25 yards go straight through the wall but straight into Worgan’s midriff.
Maidstone came back in the next minute when a Willard free kick to the back post found Pigott & his header came back of the bar & cleared. Six minutes later it nearly became two in a comical way when a long ball forward saw Pentney come out to claim it but Remy Clerima had other ideas & his clearance from Pentney’s hands went for a corner.
Three minutes later Dave Tarpey who had been quiet all match saw his free kick from 25 yards go over the bar. In the 76th minute Maidstone should have wrapped up all three points when Pigott running into the area on the right passed into the path of substitute Tom Wraight but from 8 yards & the goal ready to bulge his effort went 2 foot wide they would go on & regret it.
A minute later a free kick into the Maidenhead area was half cleared to Stuart Lewis who from 25 yards saw his shot deflected for a corner. Time was running out for Maidenhead but with two minutes to go a corner to the near post was headed in by Substitute Sam Barrett, suddenly the crowd went quiet.
In the 90th minute Comley tried his luck from 45 yards seeing Worgan off his line but Worgan got back & tipped it over the bar. In the last minute of added on time Barrett on the left crossed to the back post forcing Worgan to tip onto the bar & then it was cleared for a corner.
The final whistle went & there were groans around the ground but what the Maidstone fans have to remember is this time last year they were the promoted side & they drew with York City.
MAIDSTONE UNITED :
- WORGAN 2. J.HARE (DEBUT) 3. A.FINNEY(DEBUT) 4. R.PRESTEDGE 8. S.LEWIS 9. D.SAM-YORKE 10. J.PAXMAN (84) 13. J.ANDERSON (DEBUT) 16. S.NAN TWUMASI 17. H.WILLARD (DEBUT, 74) 32. PIGOTT
SUBS USED: 11. T.WRAIGHT (74) 21. H.PHIPPS (84)
SUBS NOT USED: 5. A.WYNTER 14. J.REASON 23. J.RICHARDS
BOOKINGS: 8.S.LEWIS (72)
MAIDENHEAD UNITED :
- PENTNEY 2. R.CLERIMA 4. H.ODAMETEY 5. A.MASSEY 6. D.INMAN (67) 7. D.TARPEY 8. J.COMLEY 9. S.MARKS 14. H.PRITCHARD (79) 19. R.UPWARD 20. M.KILMAN
SUBS USED: 17. A.CLIFTON (67) 11. S.BARRETT (79) 24. J.GOODMAN
SUBS NOT USED: 25. C.SMITH 26. J.MULLEY
BOOKINGS: 5. A.MASSEY (64)
REFEREE: Mr S.PURKISS
ASSISTANTS: Mr G.VICCARS & Mr D.SOTIMRIN
4TH OFFICIAL Mr T BISHOP
ATTENDANCE: 2,298