Maidstone United are still on the road to Wembley but with a below par performance which could be down to the game next week against Stevenage.

The first half performance was probably the worst this season & the second half was a little bit better but in the overall picture they are through & no injuries picked up.

Walton took the lead in the 12^th minute when Gareth Chendilk was on the left wing & his low cross saw Jamie Coyle divert it into the net beating Lee Worgan.

Three minutes later Maidstone equalised when a long throw into the area from Alex Flisher was flicked on by Jay May to Frannie Collin who was half tackled & the ball came to Matt Bodkin whose shot was saved by Gary Ross but came out to May who from 6 yards slotted in.

Maidstone were now pressing & in the 18^th minute a Walton breakaway saw Andrew Mensah on halfway go forward & pass out to Dylan Cascoe on the edge of the area & as he jinked inside his shot was easily save by Worgan.

In the 27^th minute a Collin free kick went just past the post & in the 33^rd minute Walton regained the lead when a long diagonal ball forward saw Worgan rush off his line & Cascoe went for it & just beat Worgan to it & he then made sure it went into the net.

In the first minute of added on time Maidstone nearly equalised when another long throw from Flisher into the area found May who chested it & then his overhead kick went just over the bar.

Half time arrived & Jay Saunders had to give a great talk to galvanise the team which looked a shadow of the team that played last week.

Maidstone came out & seemed up for it with their body language as the second half began & in the 47^th minute Maidstone had equalised when some nice play on halfway between Jack Parkinson & Collin saw the ball played forward for Flisher who challenged Harry Mills for it & the ball went forward into the area where Flisher latched on to it & fired home from 15 yards.

Ten minutes later they could have taken the lead when Collin released Tom Mills on the overlap & his cross into the penalty area saw May out jump the defence but headed wide.

In the 67^th minute Collin on halfway passed out wide for Ben Greenhalgh who ran on into the area but blazed his shot over the bar & from the goal kick taken by Ross Maidstone took the lead, his kick went straight to Parkinson on the right 30 yards out & his delightful chip into the area saw Flisher out jump everyone & his bullet header hit the back of the net.

Jay Saunders was a relieved man & was able to take Flisher & Bodkin off to rest them for next week. In the 78^th minute Greenhalgh received the ball on the right cut inside & his shot was saved & the last chance of the game came when Worgan’s free kick into the area found Collin who brought it down leaving the defenders behind but his shot from ten yards was saved by Ross.

The final whistle went & it was a sigh of relief for the Maidstone supporters as well as Jay & Nicky Southall & now they can concentrate on Stevenage next Sunday.

 

MAIDSTONE UNITED:

1. WORGAN 2. P.STARKEY  3. T.MILLS  4. J.COYLE  5. S.MILES  6. B.JOHNSON  7. M.BODKIN (71)
2. J.PARKINSON 9. J.MAY (64)  10. F.COLLIN   11. FLISHER (74)

SUBS USED:  16. B.GREENHALGH (64)  12. J.ROGERS (71)  14. A.BROWN (74)

UNUSED SUBS: 15. A.SIMPSON  21. W.GODMAN

BOOKINGS: 11. A.FLISER (37)  10 .J.MAY (41)  5. S.MILES (59)  12. J.ROGERS (83)

 

WALTON & HERSHAM:

1. ROSS 2. N.DALEY  3. D.OGUN  4. A.SCARLETT  5. J.KING  6. H.MILLS  7. T.HEMMINGS (83)
2. A.OAKS (70) 9. G.CHENDILK (76) 10. A.MENSAH  1. D.CASCOE

SUBS USED:  17. V.FRANCIS (70)  16. A.DALHOUSE (76)  14. K.AJEON (83)

SUBS NOT USED:  12. J.BARTOS  15.  K.OSEI

BOOKINGS:  3. D.OGUN (19)  2. N.DALY (45)

 

REFEREE: Mr G.MASKELL

ASSISTANTS: Mr O.FYFE & Mr S. IDRIS

ATTENDANCE: 1,226