Jay Saunders finally got a positive result albeit a draw with the first game of the season after defeats in the two previous years of him being manager of Maidstone.

The game started slowly with the first half chance coming in the 5^th minute when Alex Flisher’s long throw into the area was half cleared to Tom Mills who from 30 yards saw his shot go sailing over the bar.

Wealdstone replied five minutes later with their first half chance when Elliott Godfrey picked the ball up 35 yards out & his shot from 25 yards went over the bar, the game went quiet for 12 minutes with both sides giving the ball away then in the 23^rd minute Tom Pett on the left saw his low cross to the backpost just evade Chris Moore as Tom Mills challenging for it & the ball ended up in Lee Worgan’s hands.

Another chance came in the 26^th minute when again Pett 25 yards out saw his shot blocked by Jerome Sobers & it came out for Godfrey but he was challenged by Greame Andrews & ball went out for a goal kick.

Wealdstone were now showing their pedigree as a top Ryman Premier side & in the 30^th minute Pett chasing the ball down in the area as Sobers dallied on the ball & Wes Parker got to the by-line only for Worgan to come rushing out & block his shot for a corner & from the resulting corner to the backpost was half cleared only for it to be crossed again to the backpost just beyond Stefan Bailey.

Two minutes later Pett again causing problems went into the area where his shot was saved by Worgan’s legs & came back to Pett who again crossed into the area for Peter Dean whose header goal bound was saved by Worgan.

In the 37^th minute Pett on the left danced his way forward & from just inside the ‘D’ his shot was saved by Worgan.

Wealdstone were now on top but in the last five minutes Maidstone came to life & the 42^nd minute a Frannie Collin free kick curled into the backpost saw Sobers outmuscled by two defenders & his effort went just wide of the post.

Then one minute into injury time Maidstone took the lead when Rory Hill received the ball on the right & went at the full back into the area before unleashing a shot from 10 yards past a startled Jonathon North.

The second half started with Maidstone in charge & in the 49^th minute Flisher, Collin & Brown combined leaving Brown on his own in the are but his shot was saved by North, a minute later the ball into the area saw Flisher react the quickest & his snap shop was saved by North.

Then three minutes later another chance came Maidstone’s way when Flisher on the left saw his cross half cleared to Faboi Saraiva & his shot from 25 yards went just over the bar.

Wealdstone got back into the game when they took a quick free kick which caught Maidstone out Godfrey on the left saw his low cross find Moore who from 2 yards sidefooted in.

Five minutes later & James Hammond ‘s crossfield pass into the path of Moore who went into the area & from an acute angle saw his shot saved by Worgan.

Maidstone came back with a chance of their own a minute later when Brown in his own half released Collin who went into the area before shooting but it went high & wide.

Wealdstone had a scare in the 66^th minute when another Flisher long throw caused confusion & Parker saw his header go just past the post. In the 73^rd minute Moore found himself in space in the area but his shot again was saved by Worgan & two minutes later Jay Siva on the right crossed forcing Worgan to punch clear but only to Bailey who from 8 yards blazed his shot over the bar.

Maidstone thought they had the winner with four minutes left when another Flisher long throw saw North punch clear under pressure & it came to Paul Booth but his header went straight at North.

In the 91^st minute Reece Grant got to the by-line out muscling Andrews & his pass went to Jack Hutchinson who from 8 yards blazed his shot well over the bar & in the very next minute Hutchinson on the right weaved his into the area avoiding the defenders & then from 7 yards his weak shot beat Worgan but not the post.

The final whistle went & both teams can be pleased with a point as in parts of the game both teams controlled the game but Wealdstone could feel that they had the better chances & deserved better but that’s football.

 

Maidstone

1. Lee Worgan
2. Richard Davies
3. Tom Mills
4. Jerome Sobers
5. Graeme Andrews    ( Booked )
6. Danny Lye ( Booked )
7. Rory Hill (76)
8. Alex Brown (79)
9. Fabio Saraiva (68)
10. Frannie Collin
11. Alex Flisher

Subs:

12. Tommy Osbourne

14. Ian Draycott
15. Paul Booth (79)
16.  Michael Phillips (68)
17. Orlando Smith (76)

 

 

Wealdstone

 

1. Jonathan North
2. James Hammond
3. Jay Siva
4. Wes Parker ( Booked )
5. Jerome Okimo
6. Stefan Bailey    (83)
7. Peter Dean(78)
8. Adam Martin
9. Chris Moore ( Booked )
10. Elliott Godfrey
11. Tom Pett ( Booked )

Subs:

12. Jack Hutchinson (83)

13  Aldi Haxhia

14. Curtney Brooks

15. Reece Grant (78)

16. Nathan Webb

 

Referee: Mr Sam Purkiss

Assistantr Referees : Mr Darren Eaton   Mr Tim Hill