After a valuable three points against Farnborough on Saturday, Maidstone faced the challenge of Eastbourne Borough heading to The Gallagher Stadium as they look to follow up on an impressive win on Saturday in Maidenhead.

With the heavy rain subsiding before kick off and both teams looking sharp during the warm up it was the home side who started the game and quickly found out that the Eastbourne midfield were up for the early challenge.

The Sports number 22 Harvey Lintott looking sharp from the off.
Maidstone won a corner after a quick break in the seventh minute after a low ball from Moore was blocked by the keeper but the set piece was fired over by Corne.

A few minutes later though the majority of the 1748 crowd erupted as Jephte Tanga smashed home from 8 yards after a Papadopoulos cross was touched on by John Gilbert to open the scoring. 

This seemed to spark the visitors into life as straight from the restart Lintott fired the ball across the home teams area only to see his team mates miss the chance and watch the ball be hammered clear, allowing Maidstone to launch a counter enabling George Fowler to float a cross only to see the visitors clear to just outside the box. The follow up shot comfortably claimed by Sandford in the visitors goal.

As the clock ticked into the 18th minute it was Papadopoulos again who whipped in a cross. Sandford could only palm it into the path of Deon Moore who headed in from 6 yards to double the home side’s lead.

Eastbourne had a great chance to pull a goal back in the 21st minute after some good play when Aderoju played a through ball to Anifowose whose low shot was saved by Harness.

A few minutes later Pitblado found Uchegbulam who’s shot was dragged just wide as the Sports continued to apply pressure to find a way back into the game.

A major talking point of the first half occurred in the 36th minute when visiting forward Aderoju was hauled down in the penalty box by Foran who also fell to the floor when appearing to be the last man, but instead of a penalty to the visitors a free kick was awarded to the home side in from of a very vocal section of home support.

A spell of pressure from the home side culminated in another cross from Papadopoulos who’s invited ball was poked wide by Moore just before the referees whistle brought the half to a close.

The second half kicking off with the visitors showing some good work in midfield as they continued to look for a way back into the game but had to until the hour mark for another real chance when Aderoju poked the ball past Harness only to lose his footing allowing Fowler to clear to safety. 

On 71 minutes the Stones defence was opened up on the left when a through ball found Uchegbulam but the onrushing keeper saved well with his chest. 

The game management strategy of Elokobi was working as the home side soaked up the visitors pressure and in the 85th minute substitute Dajon Golding outmatched the defender before finding time to calmly slot past Sandford for Maidstone’s third and ending any real chance of Eastbourne staging a late comeback.

Papadopoulos fired wide just after before being substituted for Nwabueze as the hosts closed out the game to head into the final play off spot ahead of a trip to Slough Town at the weekend.

Eastbourne find themselves in 23rd ahead of Saturdays home game against Chesham United.

Teams 

Maidstone – Harness Sesay Hamblin Fowler Bramble Tanga Corne (c) Moore Gilbert Papadopoulos Foran

Subs – Holden Beeden Golding Lucan Nwabueze Court Kurturan

Eastbourne – Sandford Pitblado Gbadebo Fairnie Sagaf (c) Anifowose Aderoju Carter Uchegbulam Lintott Trusty

Subs – Searle Quick Akinwale Eastmond Davis Grout Anokye

Scorers

Maidstone – Tanga (10) Moore (18) Golding (85)

Attendance 1748