The race for promotion from the Ryman Premier League goes on after Maidstone United picked up another win on Easter Monday.

After defeat Saturday to their nearest rivals it was important to get back to winning ways and Maidstone settled their nerves quickly as in the 4^th minute they took the lead when Jay May dispossessed Sebastian Saunders 40 yards out & went forward beating two defenders easily & then from 20 yards shot past Anthony Di Bernardo.

In the very next minute May flicked on for Billy Bricknell to run on to & his shot from the edge of the area went across the goal for a goal kick.

Five minutes later a Matt Bodkin corner to the near post was half cleared but Jack Parkinson retrieved it & crossed to the back post where Steve Watt was & he headed back for his fellow central defender Shane Huke who volleyed it just past the post, in the very next minute it should have been or probably been two up when a bad back pass saw May close down Di Bernardo & his clearance went straight to Bodkin who ran into the area cut inside the defender & from 8 yards he shot wide.

Maidstone were enjoying possession & Peacehaven were hanging on & then the game went quiet. Peacehaven’s first chance came in the 24^th minute when Jack McLean on the right wing crossed to Jamie Brotherton who from 12 yards scuffed his shot over the bar.

In the 28^th minute relief went all around the ground as Maidstone doubled their lead when a free kick from Bodkin found Bricknell who from 6 yards saw his shot blocked by Di Bernardo & the ball looped up & May out jumped Di Bernardo & headed into an empty net, it could have been three in the 32^nd minute when May on the left wing put Bodkin in & he ran into the area beating a defender & then shooting from 8 yards but Di Bernardo saved it.

Half time arrived & Jay Saunders would have been pleased but knew there was still 45 minutes to go & his team would have to keep their concentration to make sure they win the game.

The second half was only a minute old when Huke’s back pass was latched onto by Tom Burton & as he raced into the area Lee Worgan came rushing out & forced him to shoot hurriedly & it went wide of the post.

That was to be a defining moment in the game as Peacehaven would have some half chances but that was all & Maidstone would have chances themselves to put to bed the game but some bad finishing & good keeping kept the score line as it was at half time.

In the 51^st minute May running forward passed to Bricknell in the area & his shot was blocked by Di Bernardo & then in the 55^th minute Bricknell again in the area turned & shot but it went wide.

In the 63^rd minute McLean’s cross to the back post found Brotherton whose shot was deflected by Craig Stone forcing Worgan to push it away for a corner.

In the 76^th minute Bricknell released Tom Mills into the area & his shot was deflected for a corner by Ash Jones.

Another chance came in the 80^th minute when a Bodkin corner to the back post saw Watt rise but his header hit the sidenetting & in the very next minute Jack Paxman on the edge of the area slipped the ball through for Frannie Collin but again Di Bernardo came out & blocked it.

In the 88^th minute McLean on the right wing beat Mills went into the area & found Brotherton whose shot was saved by Worgan.

In the second minute off added on time May nearly got his hat trick when Jack Parkinson’s free kick found Collin on the right side in the area & his quick cross found May but his shot on the run was saved again by Di Bernardo & in the very last seconds of the game Collin received the ball from Huke & from 18 yards saw Di Bernardo push it around the post.

The final whistle went & everyone was happy but that was tempered by the news that Hendon had also won.

MAIDSTONE:

1. WORGAN 2. C.STONE   3. T.MILLS   4. S.WATT   5.  S.HUKE   6.  J.ROGERS (68)   7.  M.BODKIN   8. J.PARKINSON 9. B.MAY 10. B.BRICKNELL (76)   11. G.PORTER (73)

SUBS USED:  14. A.BROWN (68)    16. J.PAXMAN (73)    15. F.COLLIN (76)

SUBS NOT USED:  12. S.MILES   21. W.GODMON

PEACEHAVEN & TELSCOMBE:

1. DI BERNADO 2. J.MARZETTI  3. D.BOLWELL  4. J.HAMMOND (55)  6. S.METCALF  7. J.McLEAN  8. L.COTTON 9. J.BROTHERTON 10. T.BURTON  11. S.SAUNDERS

SUBS USED:  14. J.STUBBINGS (55)  12. A.McLENNON (81)

SUBS NOT USED:  16. C.SHERIFF   17. J.DEACON

REFEREE: Mr P.HOWARD

ASSISTANTS: MrA.GOODWIN & Ms L.SAUNDERS

ATTENDANCE: 2,137