Maidstone United suffered another defeat which doesn’t bode well for Saturday’s big game in the FA Cup against Oldham Athletic.

Confidence is low not only with the players, but the supporters, as tonight was their lowest League attendance this season.

Both sides took a while to get used to the wind & rain as it swirled around the ground, then in the 12^th minute Talisman Blair Turgott saw his low cross fizzed across the 6 yard box evade everyone, Eastleigh had their first half chance arrive in the 26^th minute when Danny Hollands found himself 16 yards out but blazed his shot over the bar.

In the 33^rd minute Dan Wishart who had signed on loan in the afternoon on the left wing cut inside & his shot seemed to take a deflection past the post but a goal kick was given.

In the 38^th Turgott had to leave the pitch with what looked like a knee injury so Maidstone were really up against it. Time was running out for both sides & then the killer blow came in the 3^rd minute of added on time, a Mark Yeates corner was passed to Cavaghn Miley on the edge of the area & his first time shot was diverted into the net by Joe Jones for his first for the club.

Half time arrived straight after Maidstone kicked off & both Managers half time team talk would have changed after that goal.

The second half saw Eastleigh come out & enjoy the lion’s share of possession, in the 50^th minute Oscar Gobern burst into the area & from 8 yards out Grant Smith smothered his shot to concede a corner.

Eleven minutes later a Yeates corner into the 6 yard box was headed into the net by Paul McCallum. In the 67^th minute in a rare attack Jake Cassidy got free on the left wing & his low cross hit Elliott Romain & went into the mid drift of Ross Flitney.

In the 85^th minute Eastleigh extended their lead when Yeates free kick from the right to the back post saw McCallum head in his second of the game.

Maidstone’s players looked shell shocked as well as the fans but in the 89^th minute they got a consolation goal when Michael Phillips three yards headed in.

 

MAIDSTONE UNITED:

1. G.SMITH 5. W.DE HAVILLAND 6. A.FINNEY   8. J.POWELL    9. E.ROMAIN  11. B.TURGOTT (42)  16. D.WISHART (DEBUT ) 17. O.DUROJAIYE ( 63) 20. S.WALTON 22. M.PHILLIPS  24. J.CASSIDY

SUBS USED:  18. S,SHIELDS ( DEBUT, 42 )  28. A.TAJBAKHSH (63)

SUBS NOT USED: 3. G.McLENNON   12. J.STRIZOVIC    25. R.SWAINE

BOOKINGS:  NONE

 

EASTLEIGH:

13. R.FLITNEY 2. J.HARE (87)  4. O.GOBERN   9. P.McCALLUM (90+1)  10. M.YEATES (87)  14. A.BOYCE  15. A.WYNTER  17. C.MILEY 18. B.WILLIAMSON    19. D.HOLLANDS   22. J.JONES

SUBS USED: 12. C.BAUGHAN  16. O.DENNETT   8. J.CONSTABLE (90+1)

SUBS NOT USED: 11. C.ZEBROSKI   21. T.BEARWISH

BOOKINGS:  15. A.WYNTER (82)

 

REFEREE: Mr S.ALLISON

ASSISTANTS: Mr G.JERDEN & Mr K.SEAR

4^TH OFFICIAL: Mr N.WEST

ATTENDANCE: 1570 (38 EASTLEIGH)