Maidstone United kept their season and play-off hopes alive with victory at Metropolitan Police on Easter Monday with only one game remaining, needing a maximum three points to have any chance of sneaking in at the expense of one of their rivals.

In a game the visitors needed to win, The Stones made their intentions clear putting their hosts under pressure from the kick off. Elliot Cox and Alex Flisher out wide caused The Blues full-backs trouble in the opening fifteen minutes but the attentive ‘keeper Stuart Searle handled balls into the box well.

The Stones’ Zak Attwood had the first real chance of the game and to put the visitors in the lead after twenty minutes but he was unable to shrug off the attention of home defender James Aldred when bearing down on goal.

Maidstone were then given a reminder the game wouldn’t all go their own way when The Blues’ Bradley Hudson-Odoi’s snap-shot on the left edge of the penalty area fell just wide of Lee Worgan’s right hand post.

The Stones’ Stephen Butcher then tested ‘keeper Searle after a positive run into the left side of the penalty area but the hosts’ shot-stopper got down well to save the shot with his feet.

Just before the half hour mark The Blues’ Ty Smith found space around the penalty spot but his free header was straight at Worgan and soon after, despite the pressure The Stones’ had applied throughout the first half, they found themselves one nil down – Jordan Hibbert found Tom Bird on the left side of the penalty area who floated the ball across the six yard line to Charlie Collins who had the simplest of chances heading past Worgan, giving the hosts an unexpected lead.

Reeling from the goal, The Stones then failed to deal with Collins’ in-swinging corner but the onrushing Ricardo Joseph could only direct his header over the bar.

The second half began as the first with The Stones forcing the game, putting their hosts under pressure and five minutes into the second period, Charley Robertson cut inside from the left 20yds out but curled his right footed shot narrowly over the bar.

Moments later The Stones received another reminder from the hosts and had the Assistant Referee’s flag to thank. Nigel Neita’s low shot was well saved by Worgan as he pushed it onto his left hand post – But the rebound was disallowed, correctly flagged for offside. Worgan was called into action once more after a good delivery into the box by Bird but Worgan showed his athleticism to keep out Hudson-Odoi’s header.

Desperately in need of the equaliser, The Stones turned the screw, applying more pressure in and around the home side’s penalty box. Just before the hour mark Attwood could only shoot straight at ‘keeper Searle when well placed after outmuscling The Blue’s centre back pairing of Joseph and Aldred and moments later Alex Flisher had the ball in the back of the net but his close range finish was ruled out for offside.

On the hour The Stones’ were again reminded of their defensive duties when Tom Mills lost possession on the halfway line but Collins blazed his first time shot over the bar.

Flisher’s influence on the game continued to grow – His cross on the left side headed over by substitute Kiernan Hughes-Mason but within a minute The Stones finally broke their hosts resilience when Flisher was felled in the penalty box – Frannie Collin taking the penalty, sent ‘keeper Searle the wrong way scoring low into the bottom left hand corner.

Within ten minutes and with just under twenty minutes remaining The Stones’ comeback was complete and reignited their play-off hopes as they took the lead – Flisher heading home a free kick by Collin from close range in front of the jubilant away support.

With two minutes remaining The Stones continued to push and almost extended their lead, catching out their hosts on the counter attack when Hughes-Mason and fellow substitute Jack Harris linking up well but Harris’ attempted lob was charged down by ‘keeper Searle who had to come charging out the edge of his penalty area.

The Stones go into the final round of matches needing a maximum three points at home to Grays whilst their rivals face today’s opponents Metropolitan Police (AFC Hornchurch), Harrow (Lowestoft) and Dulwich Hamlet face the trickier game at home to third placed and already guaranteed a play-off spot side Kingstonian.

 

Metropolitan Police: Searle, Taylor, Bird, Salmon (Newton, 47), Joseph ©, Aldred, Collins, Smith (Pattison, 76), Hibbert, Hudson-Odoi, Neita (Pink, 63)

Subs Not Used: James, Smalley

Goal: Collins 31

Maidstone United: Worgan, Cox, Butcher, Mills, Brown, D. Parkinson (Sullivan, 90), Robertson (Hughes-Mason, 54), J. Parkinson, Attwood, Collin © (Harris, 84), Flisher

Subs Not Used: Hayes, Godmon

Goal: Collin 62 (pen); Flisher 71

Referee: Graham Kane

Assistants: Dele Sotimirin, Luis Pinto Nunes

Att; 243