Maidstone United moved back above Dulwich Hamlet on goal difference to the top of the Ryman Premier League after a late Frannie Collin penalty rescued them a point against a Canvey Island side who more than deserved their point.

The Stones performance which preserved their unbeaten home record – albeit with their ninth home League draw of the season – left boss Jay Saunders bemused.

“Too many of my players were five or six today – obviously if we’re going to stay where we are we need better than that. Yes we’re unbeaten here, but its so close that if we’d had taken three or four of those nine draws and turned them into wins we’d be miles clear,” the Stones boss shrugged his shoulders, “but we haven’t and we’re not!”

And the game really followed that pattern with full credit going to the visitors for making a real game of things in trying conditions throughout. Whether you’re pro 3G or not, the icy gale force wind and the torrential rain showers would have tested the patience of anyone yet both sides were determined to play football, and it was the Stones who had the best chance as Alex Flisher flashed a centre that Zac Attwood couldn’t reach.

Stones keeper Lee Worgan was then called into action to make a smart save to deny Alex Sands low to his right after a super threaded ball from Jay Curran.

Frannie Collin then went close at the other end – denied by Canvey keeper Scott Chambers-Stevens after Elliott Cox had pulled the ball into his path, before Harrison Chatting had the half’s best chance.

A long ball forward was misjudged by Jerome Sobers and as Chatting seemingly broke clear, he just delayed long enough to allow Cox to get across from full back to make a brilliantly timed tackle just as the Canvey striker was set to shoot.

The visitors took the lead right at the start of the second half with a goal that was so simple that it asked so many questions of the Stones defence! Sheldon Sellears left wing corner was headed home by the unmarked, unchallenged Curran from six yards – and it was that simple!

As you would hope the Stones did respond well and Tom Mills fired a shot into the side netting that some of the crowd on the opposite side of the Gallagher Stadium were convinced had sneaked in at the near post as the game began to get even more stretched and if anything the pace of the game increased – as was highlighted on the hour.

Collin’s free kick was glanced narrowly over by Sobers and the from a wind assisted free kick Sands clashed with keeper Worgan and as the ball eventually fell to Chatting the play was forced wide and the chance was gone.

Moments later, Canvey nearly caught the home defence out again as Curran, Webb and Sands charged forward on a 3 on 1 break only for Webb to fire wide.

Such was the pace of the game, the pendulum swung the Stones way and Flisher again fired across the face of goal before Collin was denied by a combination of keeper Chamber-Stevens and defender Ashley Dumas, and then in the next attack the Stones top scorer raced through only to this time be denied by the keeper’s right boot.

The 81st minute then really turned the game on its’ head. Webb released Sands with a beautifully judged through ball and on the turn Sands lobbed the ball over the statuesque Worgan as the ball bounced off the left post and away to safety.

The home side then broke quickly and Alex Brown burst into the box only to be brought down giving referee Lennard no option to point to the spot. Coolly Collin stepped up and rolled home his 24th goal of the season.

The game ended on a sour note for the visitors as full back Michael Alaile received a second yellow card six minutes from time and was sent off, but try as they might, the home side couldn’t find another way through and two more home points had been dropped!

The Stones are next in action on Tuesday night when it’s top against bottom as Keith Bird brings his Cray Wanderers side to the Gallagher Stadium.

Asked if he’d change his attitude towards the game, Saunders said, “No way. We’ll treat the game the same as all the others – it’s a League where the sides at the bottom can beat the sides at the top.”

“Just look at our last game against a side from the bottom – which was also a derby – Thamesmead beat us 4-1 – and that won’t happen again!”

Incidentally the stadium announcer when announcing Tuesday’s game informed everyone that the Cray game is the Stones last scheduled home midweek fixture this season – 3G anyone???

MAIDSTONE UNITED – Lee Worgan, Elliott Cox, Tom Mills, Alex Brown, Jerome Sobers, Michael Phillips, Luke Rooney (Kaiyne Woolery 72), Jack Parkinson, Zac Attwood, Frannie Collin, Alex Flisher

Subs not used – Dan Parkinson, Jack Harris, Nathan Campbell, Will Goodman

CANVEY ISLAND – Scott Chalmers – Stevens, Michale Alaile, Ashley Dumas, Mike Jones, Rob Bartley, Nick Humphrey, Callum Webb (Rio Bryan-Edwards 86), Sheldon Sellears (Scott Kinch 90), Jay Curran, John Sands, Harrison Chatting (Matt Game 47)

Subs not used – Jason Haslett and Tom Strickland

Referee – Mr M Lennard

Assistants – Mr R Myhill and Mr J Miles