Maidstone United got over their cup disappointment when they scored in 20 seconds to record the fastest goal scored at the Gallagher Stadium.

Leatherhead kicked off & lost possession & a long ball forward found Alex Flisher who headed down into the path of Jay May & from 20 yards he shot past a startled Louis Wells.

In the 2^nd minute it could have been better when Frannie Collin chasing a ball forward was in the area where he back heeled it to Matt Bodkin & from 8 yards he blasted his shot over the bar.

Four minutes later Jack Parkinson on the edge of the area saw his shot go just past the post. Leatherhead were just trying to keep in the game after this fast start by Maidstone.

In the 13^th minute Leatherhead could & maybe should have equalised when a Stacy Long free kick from 25 yards out was beaten out by Lee Worgan but straight to Vas Karagiannis but he couldn’t react fast enough & his shot went wide of the post.

The game went quiet for ten minutes as both sides tried to get their breaths back & then in the 26^th minute Sonny Miles cross field pass to Flisher who beat the defender & his cross shot went agonisingly wide of the far post.

Another half chance came to Flisher in the 33^rd minute when Collin put in on goal but again his shot went across the goal, in the very next minute Collin saw his 30 yard free kick pushed around the post by Wells.

Half time arrived & as far as Maidstone were concerned so far so good but would the excerpts of last Saturday get to them & let Leatherhead back into the game.

The second half started like the first with Maidstone in control & in the 51^st minute a Bodkin corner to the far post saw Jamie Coyle 5 yards out head home.

For some silly reason this seemed to galvanise Leatherhead as in the 55^th minute Skipper Richard Avery 20 yards out saw his shot go just past the post but in the 60^th minute they got a goal back when Karagiannis on the right received the ball & ran at Tom Mills before cutting inside & from 20 yards saw his curling shot hit the net.

Maidstone were now getting nervous & in the 66^th minute they should have increased their lead when Aaron Simpson on the right crossed into the area where Flisher 8 yards out saw his header unopposed go past the post.

Four minutes later Wells kept Leatherhead in the game when Flisher retrieving a cross crossed himself to the back post for May & his header from 5 yards out was superbly saved by Wells.

In the 88^th minute Flisher passed forward for Alex Akrofi who on the edge of the area passed to Alex Brown & his shot was superbly pushed away for a corner by Wells.

The board went up & four minutes were left to play & the crowd & the players were getting nervous as Leatherhead tried their best to spoil the party but eventually the referee blew for full time & relief went round the stadium & this win pushes them closer to Margate.

 

MAIDSTONE UNITED;

1. WORGAN 2. A.SIMPSON  3. T.MILLS  4. J.COYLE  5. S.MILES  6. J.ROGERS  7. M.BODKIN (66)  8. J.PARKINSON 9. J.MAY (87) 10. F.COLLIN (76)  11. A.FLISHER

SUBS USED: 16. B.GREENHALGH (66)  14. A.BROWN (76)  15. A.AKROFI (87)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. P.STARKEY  21. W.GODMON

BOOKINGS:  8.J.PARKINSON (56)  2.A.SIMPSON (61)  11.A.FLISHER (87)

 

LEATHERHEAD:

1. WELLS 2. R.MAHAL  3. R.DOLBY (72)   4. M.SMART  5. R.COOPER (88)  6. J.NNAMANI  7. K.HUGHES MASON 8. R.AVERY 9. C.ROOK  10. S.LONG  11. V.KARAGIANNIS

SUBS USED;  16. N.GARRETT (72)   12. K.TERRY (88)

SUBS NOT USED:  14. P.SEMAKULA  15. M.NWOKEJI  17. G.WHITELOCK

BOOKINGS: 11. KARAGIANNIS (27)  16. N.GARRETT (78)  10. S.LONG (90+2)  8. R.AVERY (90+3)

 

REFEREE: Mr. L.CROWHURST

ASSISTANTS: Mr M.MEETEN  & Mr J.WELLS

ATTENDANCE: 1,094