Maidstone finally got back to winning ways but Billericay frustrated them and the crowd and& it was only when the Stones took the lead that the crowd came to life.

The first half saw few chances as Maidstone seemed nervous whilst Billericay belied their mid table position by out passing Maidstone but in the last third of the pitch they let themselves down.

The first chance came in the 14^th minute when Frannie Collin 20 yards out received the ball & sent his shot goal wards but Joe Wright parried it away.

Five minutes later a Collin corner to the back post saw Steve Watt rise & his header was saved by Wright. A minute later Billericay had their first chance when Glenn Poole 25 yards out saw his shot go past the post.

In the space of two minutes Maidstone could have score firstly in the 27^th minute Lee Worgan’s long clearance found Jay May who chested it down into the path of James Rogers but his shot from 20 yards went wide, then a free kick to the back post saw May retrieve it go the by-line before crossing low causing a bit of confusion before being cleared.

In the 30^th minute Collin 30 yards out saw his shot go over the bar. The last real chance of the half came in the 35^th minute when Ricky Sappleton’s free kick from 25 yards sailed over the bar.

The half time whistle went & the crowd were a little bemused as Maidstone looked nervy & seemed a little disjointed.

The second half started with Maidstone on the attack & in the 49^th minute a Collin corner into the mix saw Shane Huke’s header go past the post, then in the 56th minute Maidstone got that all important goal & relief was felt all around the ground as well as the players & management, Jack Parkinson won a tackle on halfway & slid the ball forward for Billy Bricknell who flicked it on for Collin who went into the area & shot past Wright.

The atmosphere around the ground had been lifted & the crowd could be heard. It could have been two six minutes later when Bricknell was put through but Wright rushed out & saved his shot.

The defining moment of the game came in the 66^th minute when Jack Edwards in the Maidstone area saw his shot deflect goal wards & looping into the net until Worgan acrobatically tipped it over the bar.

Another half chance came in the 68^th when Tom Mills ran from halfway beating three defenders & going into the area before shooting but again Wright saved.

The game was finally settled in the 85^th minute Maidstone got their second when George Porter & Bodkin combined leaving Bodkin free 12 yards out & he jinked one was & then toe poked his shot into the empty net.

Then in the 4^th minute of added on time the third goal came when Collin on the right floated the ball to the back post for May who headed past Wright.

 

MAIDSTONE UNITED:

1. WORGAN 2. C.STONE  3. T.MILLS  4. S.WATT  5. S.HUKE  6. J.ROGERS(71)  7. B.BRICKNELL (83)  8. J.PARKINSON 9. J.MAY  10. F.COLLIN  11. G.PORTER (86)

SUBS USED:  14. A.BROWN (71)  15. M.BODKIN (83)  16. B.GREENHALGH (86)

SUBS NOT USED:  12. J.COYLE  21. W.GODMON

BOOKED:  8. J.PARKINSON (33)

 

BILLERICAY TOWN:

1. WRIGHT 2. O.WILLIAMS  3. T.NESBIT  4. J.EDWARDS  5. R.HALLE  6. S.SHEEHAN  7. H.BAKER (72)  8. G.POOLE 9. R.SAPPELTON 10. L.NASH (57)  11. C.DUNNE (72)

SUBS USED: 15. A.OBAFEMI (57)  14. R.LIBURD (72)  17. J.EKIM (72)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. C.MAHLER  16. R.MELAUGH

BOOKED: 5. R.HALLE (41)

 

REFEREE:  Mr M.FOLEY

ASSISTANTS:  Mr J.PANONI & Mr M.STEVENS

ATTENDANCE: 2,035