As a spectacle, this game will not live long in the memory.  However, at a time of the season when points mean more than performances for both teams – Maidstone chasing the Ryman League title; Leatherhead trying to make a late burst towards the playoffs – this point could well be a valuable point earned.

Vas Karagiannis capitalised on a rare mistake by James Rogers to coolly fire Leatherhead into a 31st minute lead; a lead that lasted until first half stoppage time, when Steve Watt’s thunderous header gave Louis Wells no time to react.  But in a frantic match, with two resolute defences, neither side looked like creating the clear opportunity that would have sealed the three points.

Maidstone’s manager, Jay Saunders, admitted “it was a good point, but I am disappointed in the way we’ve given the goal away.  I thought that they’ve been playing well recently.  They congest the midfield and get the ball forward quickly to their front three, and they’ve got a lot of pace up there.  I thought we dealt with it well for most of the game, but Rogo (Jim Rogers) gets a bad touch and their lad is in for the goal. Maybe we lacked a bit of quality today.”

“Our plan was to get the ball wide, and Bodders (Matt Bodkin) got in twice, but when we did get into the final third, we didn’t really have the quality to pick someone out.  We didn’t play that well today, but we still created three or four really good chances; we just couldn’t take them.  Our one bit of quality lead to the goal and that’s something we’ve worked on.  They had their chances as well, but I thought our final ball was poor.  They deserved something out of the game, and it would have been harsh if we’d taken all three.”

“When you get games like this, it’s always important to get a clean sheet.  We’ve taken a freekick quick and Rogo had to get it clear, but he’s tried to take a touch and they score.  You think to yourself ‘if’; if you set the freekick up right, if you clear the ball forward, then you’ve got a chance to nick a one-nil win.  But we’ve played two of the current form sides (Billericay and Leatherhead) and come away with four points, and that’s not a bad return.”

Bouyed by successive wins, Maidstone started the game positively, with Matt Bodkin exploiting space down the right side of midfield.  In the seventh minute, Bodkin swept past Adam Green to the edge of the area, where he pulled the ball back for James Rogers, whose shot was at a comfortable height for Louis Wells to catch.

Then, six minutes later, Jay May blocked a Paul Semakula clearance, with the ball falling in behind the Leatherhead defence.  Bodkin was quicker to react than Joe Bruce, dancing past the Tanners’ defender, and laid a cross into the path of May, but his shot was scooped over the bar.

At the other end, Lee Worgan was concerned enough to scramble across his goal following the path of a flighted cross by Vas Karagiannis.  Then on 20, former Stones’ winger, Kiernan Hughes-Mason was allowed space to pick out a ball into the path of Karagiannis, whose left foot shot was sent high over the bar.

Just past the half-hour, Maidstone failed to deliver a quality ball into the Leatherhead area, and the clearance fell to new signing Phil Page inside the centre circle.  His ball forward seemed to be dropping perfectly for James Rogers, but Karagiannis forced an error from the reliable midfielder and was able to run in one-on-one on Worgan; calmly sliding the ball past the keeper’s right hand to give Leatherhead the lead.

It took Maidstone until the 42nd minute before they found a clear path to Wells’ goal.  May, who had a physical battle with Joe Bruce and Jerry Nnamani all day, did well to control a Frannie Collin freekick.  But with the ball stuck under his feet, May’s stabbed shot rebounded off the back of Wells, allowing Leatherhead to clear for a throw.  From this, Jack Parkinson’s flick fell perfectly to May at the back post, where the ex-Dartford keeper, Wells, superbly saved his diving header at the foot of the post.

From their next chance, another George Porter throw, Maidstone drew level.  The throw was aimed into the near post area, this time allowing Steve Watt to escape from his marker, and power an unstoppable header past Wells from 8 yards.

Each side had a chance from a freekick in the first 15 minutes of the second half.  For Maidstone, Collin’s effort was held by Wells then, with Maidstone failing to clear a Leatherhead kick, Karagiannis stung the palms of Lee Worgan, but the keeper was able to regather the ball with Page closing in.

Hughes-Mason thought he’d restored Leatherhead’s advantage, running onto a Page flick, but the assistant’s flag denied his controlled finish.

The last clear chance of the game fell to Maidstone on 71, once again following good work by Bodkin.  The winger retrieved an overhit cross on the right wing, and his early cross was controlled by Collin into the path of Parkinson, whose low shot was well held to his left by Wells.

Despite both benches making changes, neither side had the composure to carve out an opening, and the game petered out to its conclusion.

LEATHERHEAD: Louis Wells, Becka-Kah Dembele, Adam Green, Matt Smart, Joe Bruce, Jerry Nnamani, Richard Avery, Paul Semakula, Phil Page (Mark Nwokeji 66), Kiernan Hughes-Mason (Stacy Long 85), Vas Karagiannis (Josh Gallagher 87).

Subs not used: Carl Rook, Ryan Mahal.

Goal: Vas Karagiannis 31

Bookings: Becka-Kah Dembele 21, Phil Page 65, Vas Karagiannis 75

MAIDSTONE UNITED: Lee Worgan, Craig Stone, Tom Mills, Steve Watt (Jamie Coyle 77), Shane Huke, James Rogers, Matt Bodkin, Jack Parkinson, Jay May, Frannie Collin, George Porter (Ben Greenhalgh 70).

Subs not used: Alex Brown, Billy Bricknell, Will Godmon.

Goal: Steve Watt 45

Bookings: Jay May 43, Tom Mills 60

Attendance: 643
Referee: Mr Aji Ajibola
Assistants: Mr Amadou Jallow and Mr Christopher North