Maidstone United got the three points with a hard earned victory over a St Albans side that belied their league position.

The game was open but with both sides guilty of overplaying.

Maidstone came out of the blocks quickly just as Boss Jay Saunders had asked & in the 2^nd minute they nearly took the lead when a Matt Bodkin free kick into the area was flicked on by Adam Birchall for Manny Parry but he could not divert his header goal wards as it drifted wide.

The game then went quiet & it took until the 22^nd minute when St Albans had their first chance, Louie Theophanous picked up a clearance in the penalty area & passed out to Luke Allen who from 8 yards saw his shot saved by Lee Worgan’s legs for a corner.

Four minutes later Maidstone had a half chance when a long ball out wide to Alec Osborn who headed into the path of Birchall who ran across the area before shooting just over the bar.

A better chance came in the 37^th minute when Matt Bodkin on the right beat the defender got to the by-line before crossing into the area for Birchall but his header under no pressure went wide, three minutes later Callum Driver running forward cut inside & let fly forcing Joe Welch to parry it out for Jay May to follow up but he was offside so it didn’t matter what happed.

Half time arrived & both managers would have had differing opinions for their players, Jay would want his team to up the ante & get at them while the St Albans bosses would want more of the same.

The second half started very slowly with St Albans probably the better without causing any problems, the first real chance of the half came in the 59^th minute when Graeme Montgomery saw his 20 yard effort easily saved by Worgan.

The game changed when Alex Flisher entered the arena in the 71^st minute & what a cheer he got, four minutes had elapsed when Maidstone took the lead & it was that man Flisher, firstly Jack Paxman wriggled his way into the area before being disposed with the ball coming out to Flisher who from 8 yards smashed the ball into the other side of the goal, the relief & excitement around the Gallagher Stadium was immense.

As the game meandered to the end there was one more scare for Maidstone when in the 88^th minute a cross into the area was not properly cleared as Worgan tried to punch clear but only to Harry Crawford whose delicate lob came back of the cross bar & cleared.

The final whistle went & Maidstone had got the three points but if the Chippenham people were here I don’t think they will get much out of this performance.

 

MAIDSTONE UNITED:

1. WORGAN 2. C.DRIVER  3. T.MILLS  4. J.COYLE  5. M.PARRY  6. J.PAXMAN  7. M.BODKIN  8. J.HEALY 9. J.MAY 10. A.BIRCHALL (84)   11. A.OSBORN (71)

SUBS USED:  16. A.FLISHER (71)  17. J.ROGERS (84)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. S.WATT  14. A.AKROFI  15. B-J.TAYLOR

BOOKINGS: 9. J.MAY (42)  6. J.PAXMAN (79)  5. M.PARRY (86)

 

ST ALBANS CITY:

1. WELCH 2. J.KYRIACOU (82)  3. L.CHAPPELL  4. S.THOMAS  5. J.COMLEY  6. D.LOCKE  7. B.GIBSON (66) 8. G.SAW 9. L.THEOPHANOUS 10. L.ALLEN (73)  11. G.MONTGOMERY

SUBS USED: 16. K.KRANS (66)  14. H.CRAWFORD (73)  15. S.AKNIDE (82)

SUBS NOT USED:  12. D.LONGE-KING   17. K.HARTLEY

BOOKINGS:  8. G.SAW (25)

 

REFEREE: Mr C.FITCH

ASSISTANTS: Mr D.STOBBART  & Mr S.PARMENTER

ATTENDANCE: 2,103