The evening started with Maidstone giving Lincoln a guard of honour and as it turned out they denied Lincoln the three points which would have given them 100 points.

Lincoln changed their side from Saturday but still showed why they are champions, but a resolute display by Maidstone got them another point against a top three club with Tranmere to come Saturday.

Lee Worgan was a busy goalie & showed why he is so important to Maidstone, in the 2^nd minute a cross into the area was flicked goalwards by Jack Muldoon but Worgan was alert & saved it.

Lincoln were dominating possession & in the 8^th minute Muldoon picked up a loose ball & his shot from 20 yards flew over the bar, another chance came in the 11^th minute when Josh Ginnelly went into the area & laid the ball into the path of Alan Power but from 8 yards under pressure he shot wide.

In the 14^th minute Maidstone had their first half chance when Joe Pigott disposessed Ricardo Calder & the ball fell at Alex Flisher’s feet but his shot was blocked & went for a corner.

A minute later & Worgan came to Maidstone’s rescue when Adam Marriott found himself 8 yards out on his own but his shot was saved by Worgan’s legs.

Two minutes later Muldoon fed Marriott whose first time shot grazed the post. Maidstone had weathered the storm & was getting into the game as in the 29^th minute Flisher 18 yards out saw his shot pushed around the post by Ross Etheridge for a corner & from the corner to the back post Flisher retrieved it & crossed to the back post where Kevin Lokko 6 yards headed straight at Etheridge.

In the 38^th minute another glorious chance was wasted for Lincoln when Muldoon went into the area & back heeled back to Ginnelly but from 6 yards he shot over the bar a minute later Stuart Lewis latched onto a loose ball & tried his luck from 25 yards but it went just past the post.

Half time arrived & both managers would have been pleased as Danny Cowley the Lincoln manager would want more of the same just a bit more clinical whilst Jay Saunders would want a little bit more but keep their concentration levels.

The second half started with Lincoln on the attack & in the 51^st minute a corner to the back post saw Sean Raggett head back across the six yard box for Muldoon to head against the cross bar.

In the 62^nd minute Worgan again saved Maidstone when he saved a shot from 18 yards. Two minutes later a loose ball was picked up by Muldoon who went into the area but Worgan came out & blocked his shot.

In the very next minute Pigott was put through & his shot was blocked. Maidstone were getting into the game in this half & in the 77^th minute a Yemi Odubade cross to the back post found Bobby-Joe Taylor but his header went wide of the post.

In the first minute off added on time a free kick into the area came to Muldoon who’s first time shot hit the post & came back to Worgan & then in the fifth minute off added on time Jack Richards cross into the area saw shots from Pigott & Flisher blocked.

The final whistle went & a great resolute performance from the Stones who now know what it takes to go forward & finish in the top ten for next year.

 

MAIDSTONE:

1. WORGAN 3. T.MILLS  5. K.LOKKO  8. S.LEWIS (67)  11. A.FLISHER  14. R.PRESTEDGE  21. H.PHIPPS (60) 22. S.NANA-TWUMASI 23. Y.ODUBADE (81)  24. M.OKUONGHAE  32. J.PIGOTT

SUBS USED: 16. B-J TAYLOR (60) 10. J.PAXMAN (67)  18. J.RICHARDS (81)

SUBS NOT USED:  4. J.COYLE  15. A.ACHEAMPONG

BOOKINGS:  18. J.RICHARDS (87)

 

LINCOLN CITY:

39. R.ETHERIDGE 6. C.HOWE 7. J.MULDOON  8. A.POWER  10 A.MARRIOTT (78)  11. T.HAWKRIDGE  12. S.LONG 25. S.RAGGETT 34. B.KNOTT 36. J.GINNELLY (88)  37. R.CALDER

SUBS USED:  4. E.WHITEHOUSE (78)  16. A.SIMMONS (88)

SUBS NOT USED:  2. B.WOOD  27. J.McCOMBE  30. A.WOODYARD

BOOKINGS:  NONE

 

REFEREE:  Mr C.HATZIDAKIS

ASSISTANTS:  Mr C.WALCHESTER & Mr A. WILLIAMS

4^TH OFFICIAL: Mr C.FARRELL

ATTENDANCE: 3014 (598 from Lincoln )