Maidstone got back to winning ways with a hard fought Derby win against North Kent rivals VCD Athletic which would help in their confidence for their big game next week against Wrexham.

The game started with VCD belying their League position and passing the ball around and it seemed the Maidstone were thinking about next week’s game.

In the 7^th minute a VCD free kick into the area caused confusion as the ball bounced around until it came to Karl Dent and his shot went just past the post, then two minutes later Maidstone had a glorious chance to open the scoring when Alex Akrofi on the left got to the by-line before crossing low into the path of Frannie Collin and from 8 yards his shot was saved by Nick Blue’s legs.

Another half chance came in the 16^th minute when Dent received the ball 25 yards out and his snap shot went wide but forcing Lee Worgan to scamper across his area just in case.

Six minutes later Michael Power passed to Lea Dawson 20 yards out and his shot was easily saved by Worgan. Two minutes later it was Maidstone’s turn as Matt Bodkin on the right got to the by-line and his cross to the back post was met by James Rogers head into the six yard area where Tom Mills came flying in but shot wide.

The rest of the half saw both side huff and puff without causing either defence any problems. Half time arrived and again Jay Saunders would have to give a great team talk to get his team going whilst Tony Russell would like more of the same.

The second half was more open as both teams went for it and in the 52^nd minute Bodkin running from the halfway on the left wing combined with Jay May and his shot from 15 yards was saved by Blue, in the very next minute VCD could and maybe should have scored when Power was clean through on goal and as Worgan came out he fired his shot past him but it came back of the post back to him but off balance he shot high and wide.

In the 59^th minute Maidstone made them pay for that miss when they scored, Jack Parkinson in the area saw his shot blocked and he got to it first and crossed to the far post where Akrofi and May were and they both got contact on it but Akrofi got the final touch.

Maidstone’s confidence was sky high and they continued to press for another goal but were still wary that VCD could get a goal.

In the 71^st minute Alex Flisher on the right wing passed the ball across the 18 yards area for Bodkin whose first time shot was saved by Blue.

Seven minutes later it was game over as Parkinson in his own area chipped the ball forward for Flisher to run on to and he raced into the area and shot past Blue.

Two minutes later it was nearly three when Parkinson 25 yards saw his shot pushed away by Blue which would be his last piece of action as three minutes later he was injured and substituted with Grant Basey going in goal.

Maidstone played the last 10 minutes out and were relieved to hear the final whistle with hopefully no injury worries for next week.

 

MAIDSTONE UNITED:

1. WORGAN 2. P.STARKEY  3. T.MILLS  4. J.COYLE  5. S.MILES  6. J.ROGERS (78)  7. M.BODKIN  8. J.PARKINSON
2. J.MAY 10. F.COLLIN (61) 11. A.AKROFI (67)

SUBS USED:  16. A.FLISHER (61)  14. A.BROWN (67)  15. B.JORDAN (78)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. R.DAVIES  21. W.GODMON

BOOKINGS:  6. J.ROGERS (12)   8. J.PARKINSON (20)

 

VCD ATHLETIC:

1. BLUE(83) 2. E.COX (76)  3. G.BASEY  4. N.REEVES  5. L.TOZER  6. L.DAWSON  7. D.CARPENTER  8. S.ROBERTS
2. M.POWER 10. K.DENT 11. E.GREEN (27)

SUBS USED: 15. J.DUCKWORTH (27)  17. T.McDONAGH  14. A.JEFFREY (83)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. L.PERKINS  16. A.TAJBAKHSH

 

REFEREE: Mr D.COOK

ASSISTANTS:  Mr J.OHENE  & Mr C.POTTER

ATTENDANCE: 1903