An early goal from Jay May was the difference as Maidstone secured another three points to keep them within range of the breakaway teams in the National League South.
Coming up against a Bath side who, despite their good start to the season hadn’t won yet in September, the Stones looked to keep up their good run of form after taking seven points from an available nine in their last three matches.
Starting the day in eighth in the National League South, Jay Saunders kept his starting eleven unchanged from his team’s 2-0 midweek win in Maidenhead as the Stones looked forward to a tough match against the third placed Somerset side.
It only took six minutes before the hosts took the lead through Jay May. After Callum Driver won the ball back for his side he found Matt Bodkin who began a skilful, powerful run at the heart of Bath’s defence before cutting out onto his right foot and looping a cross towards May and, after taking the ball down on his chest, volleyed a shot out of the reach of Steve Phillips, giving Maidstone the first goal of the game.
It took another ten minutes for Bath to show off the play which has given them such a fantastic start to the season. Frankie Artus was given too much time on the left wing to deliver a cross into the Maidstone area, put it was inches too high for Ashley Kington before Andy Gallinagh’s cross from the opposite side was cleared away.
The hosts soon forced their way back into the game when Adam Birchall’s low, driven effort from the outside of the area was deflected into the side netting for a corner.
Despite controlling possession for large amounts of the first half, Maidstone were missing the defence- splitting ball, a steady, untroubled defence was able to push play forward effectively, only for the ball to not reach the attacking players through either sloppy, underpowered passing or a lack of communication.
Despite this, they remained dangerous from set pieces and this was proven when a corner was met by a free Jack Paxman who could only watch as Phillips showed off his reflexes to deny his point blank effort.
With the first half coming to an end, Bath were finally able to apply some pressure to the solid Maidstone back four; after Andy Watkins’ hopeful looping volley flew over the attacker had another opportunity, after seeing Lee Worgan off his line Watkins put another long range effort towards goal, but Worgan was able to scamper across to make an incredible acrobatic save, tipping the shot onto the post.
After Chas Hemmings put another long distance effort goalwards, which Worgan only needed to watch as it flew wide, keeping the score at 1-0 as the first half came to an end.
The visitors began the second half as the ended the first- creating plenty of chances. Seven minutes into the half Hemmings had another opportunity but his 20 yard strike was no trouble for Worgan.
Their search for an equalizer continued, and after Andy Watkins slipped past Callum Driver the away fans thought the goal would come, but Dave Pratt’s first time shot was well blocked by Manny Parry.
The brave defending from the Stones continued when a fantastic skilful move involving Watkins, Artus and Pratt finished with the latter flicking the ball across to his strike partner, only for Watkins to be fantastically denied by Lee Worgan.
The pressure continued when a long throw from the right touchline was accidently flicked on by Manny Parry, only for Dave Pratt to fire his header against the bar of the open goal.
Soon after the Romans had another chance to level the scoring, this time from a counter attack after Parry failed to clear the ball away. Andy Watkins latched onto the loose ball before bringing the ball onto his stronger right foot to hit an effort just wide at the near post.
As the game came to a close, the hosts were finally able to establish a series of good attacking moves, first Jay May headed over from a corner before a one man counter attack could only end with the fantastic run of Alex Akrofi being cut short and the substitute being made to force a weak shot at Steve Phillips.
Despite only having a one goal lead for 84 minutes, the Stones were able to hold out, forcing Bath to return home with no points. That win puts them into 6th in the table, just two points away from today’s opponents and only missing out on the playoff places on goal difference.
After a fantastic run last year, the FA Cup returns to the Gallagher Stadium next week as Maidstone will face either Leatherhead or South Park who play their replay on Wednesday night.
Maidstone United: Worgan, Driver, Mills, Coyle, Parry, Paxman (Brown (Johnson)), Bodkin, Healy, May, Birchall (Akrofi), Taylor
Subs not used: Watt, Pinnock
Bath City: Phillips, Gallinagh, Nicholson, Baldwin, Ball, Hemmings (Davies), Kington, Adelsbury (McCootie), Pratt, Watkins (Barrow), Artus
Subs not used: Coupe, Bowman
Referee: Mr E Kaye
Assistants: Mr A Pope and Mr R Bloy
Attendance: 2,098