The new season started with Maidstone again at home and again they could only muster a draw, this was an entertaining game for the neutral with both sides going for it especially in the searing heat.
Hartlepool came down to Maidstone buoyed by a new regime in charge & for a long time they could concentrate on the field of play & in the first half they had the lion’s share of the possession, in the 4th minute Jake Cassidy was put through by Niko Muir & from an acute angle 6 yards out forced Lee Worgan to save & concede a corner.
Seven minutes later Cassidy found himself in a similar position but on the other side but Worgan saved his shot.
Maidstone finally had their first half chance in the 14th minute when Michael Phillips put Jamar Loza into the area & his shot was blocked by Carl Magney for a corner.
Two minutes later Cassidy chased down Alex Finney’s clearance & went into the area but saw his shot saved by Worgan, it seemed at the time that it was the Cassidy & Worgan show. A minute later Loza found himself in the area & his shot was saved by Scott Loach.
In the 31st minute Magney on the edge of the area chipped into the area for Mark Kitching but his header from 8 yards went wide. Two minutes later Liam Noble from the left crossed to the far post for Ryan Donaldson whose volley from 6 yards forced Worgan to push around the post for a corner.
In the 40th minute Maidstone against the run of play, when a corner to the back post saw Muir’s leg up high against Ollie Muldoon & although it seemed harsh a penalty was given, up stepped Blair Turgott who shot into the bottom right hand corner.
The lead only lasted two minutes as Hartlepool attacked wide on the left with Luke James who went into the area & then passed to Noble 15 yards out who passed it into the bottom right hand corner giving Worgan no chance, this was only what they deserved.
In the last minute of the half Turgott into the area & crossed for Phillips who rose & headed just over the bar. The half time whistle went & both managers’ team talks would have changed after the last five minutes of the half.
The second half became an open game, weather that was the tactics or the heat but what it did was it became a game where either side could have won.
In the 51st minute a James flick forward fell into the path of Muir whose first time shot from 20 yards whistled past the post. Four minutes later Turgott on the edge of the area saw his goal bound shot deflected for a corner by Pools skipper Andrew Davies & from the resulting corner to the near post Joe Quigley header was headed of the line by Cassidy.
Two minutes later it was Hartlepool’s turn as Peter Kioso’s shot from 25 yards was deflected for a corner by Stuart Lewis. In the 79th minute Maidstone had two chances to take the lead again when firstly Jack Paxman on the left saw his curling effort from 20 yards force Loach to push away but it came to Seth Nana Twumasi & he went into the area & from 10 yards saw his shot punched away by Loach.
Maidstone were finishing the stronger but just could not get the winner but overall a draw seemed to be the right result.
MAIDSTONE UNITED:
- WORGAN 3. G.McLENNAN 5. W. De HAVILLAND 6. A.FINNEY 8. S.LEWIS 9. J.QUIGLEY (69) 11. B.TURGOTT 14. J.LOZA 16. S.NANA TWUMASI 21. O.MULDOON (90+3) 22. M.PHILLIPS (62)
SUBS USED: 10. J.PAXMAN (62) 15. S.MULLINGS ( 69) 4. J.WYNTER (93)
SUBS NOT USED: 2. M.EFETE 23. J.RICHARDS
BOOKED: 9. J.QUIGLEY (63)
HARTLEPOOL UNITED:
- LOACH 2. P.KIOSO 3. M.KITCHING 5. C.MAGNEY 6. L.NOBLE 7. R.DONALDSON P.J.CASSIDY 10. N.MUIR (69) 15. A.DAVIES 16. N.FEATHERSTONE (88) 33. L.JAMES (80)
SUBS USED: 11. J.HAWKES 31. M.DINANGA 24. C.NEWTON
SUBS NOT USED: 14. M.WOODS 17. M.ANDERSON
BOOKED: 9.J.CASSIDY (24)
REFEREE: ALAN DALE
ASSISTANTS: ABIGAIL MARROITT & JON BLOCK
4TH OFFICIAL: SCOTT RUDD
ATTENDANCE: 2599