Maidstone United progressed into the quarter finals of the Kent Senior Cup with what would be perceived as a weakened team but most people would understand that as Thursday is the big game.

The first half started slowly but chances did come & in the 8^th minute Nicky Southall nearly scored when his free kick from 25 yards out curled around the wall but Danny Eason got to it & pushed it over the bar.

Eight minutes later a corner by Southall to the back post saw Phil Starkey rise & his header looped just wide of the post. Another chance came in the 20^th minute when Stefan Kempton received the ball from Starkey & from the edge of the area saw his shot go over the bar.

The game went quiet for 15 minutes & then Hythe had their first real chance when a cross into the area saw Craig Thompson’s flicked header saved easily by Will Godman.

Southall had another free kick effort in the 37^th minute but this time it was an easy save for Eason & then in the 42^nd minute Maidstone nearly opened the scoring when first Alex Akrofi latched onto a loose ball in the area & his shot was deflected away for a corner & from the resulting corner Starkey on the far post 2 yards out saw his header cleared for another corner.

The second half was only two minutes old when Hythe took the lead when a long ball forward caught the Stones defence out & Thompson ran on into the area & lifted the ball over the advancing Godmon, it nearly was two five minutes later when a Phil Stevenson free kick was saved by Godman but he spilled it enabling Dave Pilcher to get to it & his low cross was eventually cleared.

In the 57^th minute Maidstone equalised when James Sutherland on the right crossed into the area where Akrofi was & he controlled & turned then shot home from 10 yards.

A minute later Akrofi was put through & his shot from 15 yards was deflected for a corner & in the very next minute Stones were in front as the corner came into the area Starkey on the far post saw his header saved by Eason but came out to Kempton 12 yards out & his shot was superbly saved by Eason but came out to Richard Davies who shot home from 8 yards.

Hythe were rocked by this & could have easily have folded but credit to them they battled on & in the 64^th minute should have equalised when Stevenson on his own in the area headed wide of the goal.

In the 74^th minute Charlie Robertson was put clear & he got to the by-line & passed back to Akrofi whose shot from 15 yards was deflected for a corner.

Maidstone had one last scare when in the 90^th minute Ryan Phillpott found himself on his own 20 yards out & he raced into the area & from 12 yards his shot was superbly pushed away by Godmon.

The final whistle went & Maidstone’s players celebrated a well deserved victory & now the first team can do battle with Stevenage on Thursday.

 

MAIDSTONE UNITED:

1. W.GODMON 2. P.STARKEY 3. M.ROSE  4. R.DAVIES  5. A.KITT  6. S.KEMPTON (83)  7. N.SOUTHALL  8. C.ROBERTSON
2. A.AKROFI 10. J.JEFFREY (76) 11. J.SUTHERLAND (58)

SUBS USED: 14. R.BASSAN (58)  15. S.WINCH (76)  12. A.HAYES (83)

SUBS NOT USED: 16. T.MACKELDEN  1. T.McCARTHY

BOOKINGS: 21. W.GODMON (78)

 

HYTHE TOWN:

1. D.EASON 2. J.SULLIVAN  3. J.BIRCHILL  4. J.COLLADO  5. J.WALKER  6. P.STEVENSON  7. D.COOK (89)
2. J.MORRISH 9. C.THOMPSON  10. J.WELLS (85)  11. D.PILCHER (73)

SUBS USED:  15. R.PHILLPOTT (73)  12. S.NYARUNA (85)  14. H.CARR (89)

SUBS NOT USED: 13. R.HAYWOOD  16. L.SPROSEN

 

REFEREE: Mr. C.MYATT

ASSISTANTS: Mr J.STOKES  &  Mr E. HOLLOBONE

ATTENDANCE: 249