Maidstone started their National League South campaign with ten of the starting eleven making their debuts but this did not stop them losing to promoted Weymouth.

The result in the end was probably right as Weymouth were the better side for 60 minutes although Maidstone will say that once they took the lead they should have wrapped up the Victory but once Weymouth equalised there was only one winner.

The game started with Weymouth on the front foot and in the 4^th minute Jordan Ngalo on the edge of the area saw his curling shot go over the bar, fifteen minutes later Abdulai Baggie on the right wing got to the by-line & his low cross was fizzed in forcing Jake Cole to palm away.

Maidstone had their first chance in the 27^th minute when a corner on the left taken by Sam Corne was headed over the bar from 10 yards by Nana Kyei.

In the 34^th minute Weymouth could & maybe should have taken the lead when Baggie beat Luke Pennell & went into the area and then passed into the path of Ben Thomson but from 8 yards he shot over the bar then a minute later Thomson on the left wing cut inside & his low cross evaded everyone including Brett Williams on the far post.

In the 36^th minute Justin Amaluzor received the ball on the left wing & he cut in & his shot was pushed away by Callum Ward. On half time Maidstone nearly took an undeserved lead when Pennell’s cross to the back post found Gavin Hoyte but from 6 yards out he headed wide. In the minute added on Thomson saw his shot from 25 yards out pushed away for a corner by Cole.

The second half saw Maidstone come out more sharper than the first & it was they who looked the more likely to score and win, Weymouth meanwhile seemed to run out of steam.

In the 52^nd minute a corner by Corne found Ryan Johnson on the far post but his header went over but two minutes later they took the lead, Jonny Edwards muscled his way past two defenders & from the by-line his cross evaded everyone but Amaluzor retrieved it & went into the area & his shot from 15 yards hit the back of the net, the crowd noise went up a few decibels.

In the 67^th minute Iffy Allen bursting through into the area saw his shot saved by Ward. At this time Maidstone were in control but in the 74^th minute Thomson with his back to the goal turned George Elokobi & then from 18 yards shot home, it’s amazing what a goal does, suddenly Weymouth found an extra yard of pace & dominated the rest of the game.

In the 83^rd minute the ball was in the Maidstone area bouncing around when first Thomson tried his luck but the shot was blocked & came to Yemi Odubade & his snapshot was cleared of the line.

In the 89^th minute Thomson running forward into the area & his shot was pushed around the post by Cole and from the resulting corner Thomson 6 yards out headed in to give Weymouth the victory. The final whistle went & Maidstone has got a few days to pick themselves up before they face Welling.

 

MAIDSTONE UNITED:

1. COLE   2. G.HOYTE    3. L.PENNELL    4. S.CORNE    5. G.ELOKOBI    6. R.JOHNSON  7. N.KYEI
2. S.KHAN (80)  9. J.EDWARDS (84)   10. I.ALLEN (90)  11. J.AMALUZOR

SUBS USED: 12. N.CHESMAIN (80)  14. I.AKANBI (84)   15. I.OLUADE (90)

SUBS NOT USED:  16. C.LEWINGTON  17. L.KNIGHT

BOOKINGS:  10. I.ALLEN (45+1)

WEYMOUTH

13.  C.WARD         17. C.BROOKS (68)  5.S.ZUBAR  6. C.BUCKLEY  3. O.HARFIELD  8. J.McCARTHY
14. A.ROBINSON   7. J.NGOLO (80)  18. B.WILLIAMS (64)  11. A.BAGGIE  9. B.THOMSON

SUBS USED:  14. Y.ODUBADE (64)  12. C.MURRAY (68)  4. J.WAKEFIELD (80)

SUBS NOT USED:  1. M.CHILDS  20. J.ROSE

BOOKINGS: 17. C.BROOKS (66)

REFEREE: Mr L.BRENNAN

ASSISTANTS:  Mr S.SMITH & Mr M.FLETCHER

ATTENDANCE: 2,015