History repeated itself between these two Kent clubs as last season Margate won at home 1-0 whilst Maidstone won at home 2-1, the same scores this season.

As a derby it was very timid and although Maidstone got the better of the game it wasn’t blood and thunder with only one booking in the game.

The game started with Margate starting the better and in the 3^rd minute a free kick taken by Chris Lewington was flicked on by Freddie Ladapo for Luke Moore to run onto and once he got it under control he let fly forcing Lee Worgan to tip away for a corner.

Another chance came Margate’s way in the 18^th minute when Danny Green moving forward tried his luck from 25 yards out again Worgan tipped it away for a corner.

Maidstone had their first effort on goal and it was a goal when Vas Karagiannis saw his free kick cleared but only to Charles Banya whose slide rule pass found Joe Healy in the area on the right side and he shot past Lewington.

How a goal changes a game as Maidstone started to take control and a minute later Karagiannis on the right got to the by-line and his low cross to the near post was met by Healy whose goal bound effort was pushed away for a corner by Lewington.

At this stage of the game Margate would now have to come out of their shell and attack but this would lead to Maidstone counter attacks.

Tragedy struck for Maidstone as Margate equalised when a ball into the area was half cleared but to Matt Johnson who tried his luck from 30 yards out and it seemed to be going wide when Jake Goodman 6 yards out flicked it past Worgan.

The half time whistle went & both managers would have mixed feelings about what had happened.

The second half was only 4 minutes old when Maidstone should or at least hit the target when Akrofi out muscled Goodman and went into the area but his shot across Lewington went past the far post.

In the 58^th minute Maidstone regained their lead when Karagiannis was fouled by Brett Johnson 25 yards out and Karagiannis stepped up ad curled it into the top right corner.

Margate now had to get back in the game and in the 70^th minute Lewis Taylor went down the left wing and his cross fell to Ladapo but his volleyed shot went wide.

Nine minutes later they thought they had equalised when Jamie Taylor on the left saw his cross into the area met by Ladapo but his flying header was superbly tipped away by Worgan for a corner.

In the last minute of added on time Karagiannis on the left beat the defender and let fly from 18 yards but Lewington pushed it around the post.

The final whistle went and Nikki Bull’s unbeaten record had come to an end but what a Christmas and New Year for Maidstone as they picked up 6 points in their quest for promotion.

 

MAIDSTONE UNITED:

1. WORGAN 2. C.DRIVER  3. T.MILLS  4. J.COYLE  5. C.DAVIES ( DEBUT )  6. J.ROGERS  7. C.BANYA (85)  8. J.HEALY 9. A.AKROFI (81) 10. J.PAXMAN (82)  11. V.KARAGIANNIS

SUBS USED:  14. J.MAY (81)  17. D.SWEENEY (82)  15. M.BODKIN (85)

SUBS NOT USED:  12. M.PARRY   16. B-J TAYLOR

BOOKINGS: NO

 

MARGATE:

1. LEWINGTON 2. G.WILSON  3. N.GREEN  4.  D.HUNT (68)  5. J.GOODMAN  6. B.JOHNSON  7. D.GREEN  8. M.JOHNSON 9. F.LADAPO 10. L.MOORE (68)  11. S.SHIELDS (77)

SUBS USED:  12. L.TAYLOR (68)  14. J.TAYLOR (68)  16. K.WILLS (77)

SUBS NOT USED:  15. C.JOLLEY  17. J.STUART

BOOKINGS:  3. N.GREEN (29)

 

REFEREE: Mr A. DA COSTA

ASSISTANTS: Mr J.FEW & Mr C.FRANCIS

ATTENDANCE: 2609