Maidstone dropped another two points in their battle with Margate to win the league. Tonbridge again became the party poopers as they avoided defeat for the second time against their illustrious opponents.

This Mid Kent derby was the third time these teams have met this season with Tonbridge avoiding defeat in all three games, the game started with Tonbridge having the first real chance of the game in the 6^th minute when Tom Parkinson 20 yards out saw his shot deflect away for a corner then two minutes later Frannie Collin slipped Alex Akrofi into the area but his scuffed cross shot was save easily by Tom Hadler.

The game then went quiet as both teams seemed nervous as they both gave the ball away then in the 29^th minute Dee Okojie on the left turned inside & let fly forcing Lee Worgan to touch the shot onto the bar & out for a corner.

In the very next minute Matt Bodkin on the right passed to Collin in the area & from 15 yards saw his shot go agonisingly wide of the post.

In the 39^th minute a James Rogers free kick into the area found Jack Parkinson who under pressure controlled it & laid it back for Steve Watt who’s shot from 12 yards was deflected for a corner.

In the 44^th minute Aaron Simpson on the right crossed into the area which was half cleared to Sonny Miles 20 yards out & his shot was palmed away by Hadler for a corner & from the resulting corner Watt saw his diving header go wide.

In the very next minute Ben Greenhalgh saw his shot turned around the post by Hadler although the referee gave a goal kick & then a minute into added on time Maidstone got the goal they wanted when Bodkin on the left got free & his low cross into the six yard area was half cleared by Lee Carey but straight to Greenhalgh 6 yards out & he controlled it & then smashed it home.

The second half took some time to get going but in the 57^th minute Collin was put through on the right side of the area & his shot from ten yards was palmed away by Hadler but only to Greenhalgh & his shot was blocked.

In the 65th minute in a rare Tonbridge attack Okojie 25 yards out tried his luck but it went wide. Maidstone were now in charge & in the space of 7 minutes had opportunities to wrap the game up.

The first chance came in the 72^nd minute when Collin’s diagonal free kick found Greenhalgh on the left & went past the defender before letting fly but Hadler pushed it away, then 4 minutes later Collin released Bodkin on the overlap & his low cross evaded everyone except Carey who conceded the corner & from the corner Watt saw his header cleared of the line by Jack Parter & two minutes later Akrofi retrieved the ball & ran into the area beating two defenders & then from a yard out his flicked shot went past the far post would Maidstone rue these chances.

Then in the 82^nd minute Watt fouled Joe Taylor 40 yards out & Carey’s free kick into the area was flicked on by Taylor & Miles under pressure smacked the ball past a bewildered Lee Worgan & into the net.

Maidstone tried their best for a winner but they had run out of ideas & Tonbridge collected another point in their fight against getting sucked into a relegation dogfight.

 

MAIDSTONE:

1. WORGAN 2. A.SIMPSON  3. T.MILLS  4. S.WATT    5. S.MILES  6. J.ROGERS (87)  7. M.BODKIN  8. J.PARKINSON 9. A.AKROFI 10. F.COLLIN   11. B.GREENHALGH

SUBS USED:  15. A.BROWN (87)

SUBS NOT USED:   12. J.COYLE  14. C.PIPER  16. P.STARKEY   21. W.GODMAN

BOOKINGS:  6. J.ROGERS (66)  5. S.MILES (70)   4. S.WATT (81)

 

TONBRIDGE:

1. HADLER 2. J.FOLKES   3.  J.PARTER   4. L.CAREY  5. N.CAMPBELL   6. L.BALL  7.  J.TAYLOR  8.T.PARKINSON (58) 9. R.GREENIDGE (73) 10. T.WHITNELL (86)  11. D. OKOJIE

SUBS USED: 17. C.SLOCOMBE (58)  14. F.TAVARES (73)  15: G.QUINTYNE (86)

SUBS NOT USED:  16. K.MERSON

BOOKINGS:  3 .J.PARTER (84)  14. F.TAVARES (90+3)

 

REFEREE: Mr A.AJIBOLA

ASSISTANTS:  Mr S.PERRY & Mr J.DOWN

ATTENDANCE: 2,226