Maidstone United were celebrating the opening of their new stand but Sutton United were party poopers.

The new stand must have bought the Maidstone public out as tonight was their biggest attendance of the season so far, but they did not have much to cheer about in the first half.

The second half was more even as both sides went for it.

The game was only two minutes old when a long throw into the Maidstone area was half cleared to Roarie Deacon but from 15 yards his shot went wide, then a minute later Deacon on the run down the right wing saw his shot from 20 yards hit the crossbar.

Sutton were now enjoying plenty of possession & in the 9^th minute Adam Coombes in on goal saw his shot parried away by Lee Worgan & cleared.

In the 16^th minute Kevin Amankwaah on the left cut inside & tried his luck from 20 yards but Worgan saved easily.

Maidstone’s lack of action for 17 days seemed to be showing as Sutton controlled the game. The rest of the half saw Sutton with the lion’s share of possession but without causing many concerns for the Maidstone defence.

Half time arrived & Jay Saunders would have plenty to say to get his team on the front foot while Paul Doswell would want the same again.

The second half saw Maidstone come out with more vigour but it was Sutton who had the first chance when in the 49^th minute a ball crossed from the left to the back post found Deacon who controlled it & saw his goal bound shot deflected for a corner by Kevin Lokko.

Two minutes later Kieron Cadogan was put through by a 40 yard pass from Jamie Collins & his low cross to the near post was flicked in by Coombes.

The ground went quiet & then in the 62^nd minute Jamar Loza crossed the ball into the area & it fell to Joe Pigott whose shot from 6 yards was saved at the near post by Will Puddy.

Maidstone equalised in the 68^th minute when Loza was fouled in the area, up stepped Loza with a stuttering run up & then shot into the bottom left hand corner.

In the very next minute Coombes in the Maidstone area saw his shot hit the cross bar. Two minutes later Loza on the left beat the defender on the left wing & ran forward before his pacey low cross into the area just avoided Pigott running in, the very next minute Pigott had a glorious chance for Maidstone to take the lead but from 10 yards his shot was parried away by Puddy.

The very next minute Sutton nearly scored when a cross from the right saw Coombes on the back post head just wide.

The last chance of the game came in the 82^nd minute when Stuart Lewis 20 yards out saw his deflect over the keeper but it hit the crossbar.

The referee indicated five minutes which saw Maidstone have a right go to grab the three points but it came to nothing & in the end had to do with a point so the evening started with celebration of the new stand & ended with a point which at one point did not look like happening.

 

MAIDSTONE UNITED:

1. WORGAN 3. T.MILLS  4. J.COYLE  5. K.LOKKO  8. S.LEWIS  9. G.OAKLEY (59)  10. J.PAXMAN (83) 14. R.PRESTEDGE 22. S.NANA-TWUMASI 25. J.LOZA  32. J.PIGOTT

SUBS USED:  11. A.FLISHER  23. Y.ODUBADE

SUBS NOT USED: 16. BJ TAYLOR  20. J.McCARTHY  24. M.OKUONGHAE

BOOKINGS:  14. R.PRESTEDGE (90+3)

 

SUTTON UNITED:

26. W.PUDDY 2. K.AMANKWAAH 4.D.BECKWITH  6. J.COLLINS  8. B.GOMIS (83)  15. C.EASTMOND  16. N.BAILEY 21. R.DEACON (63) 27. S.DOWNER (60) 30. A.COOMBES  31. K.CADOGAN

SUBS USED: 17. D.SPENCE (60)  24. M.BIAMOU (63)  18. J.JEBB (87)

SUBS NOT USED: 3. B.JEFFORD  14. C.DUNDAS

BOOKINGS: 27. S.DOWNER (27)  4. D.BECKWITH (54)

 

REFEREE: Mr R.WHITTON

ASSISTANTS: Mr W.CARTMEL & Mr D. SKIPPER

4^TH OFFICIAL: Mr S.FINNIGAN

 

Attendance: 2,929