A Happy New Year for Maidstone United

Maidstone United 2-1 Sittingbourne                                                            Tuesday 1^st January 2013

Attendance: 2,291
Referee: Mr P. Kelly.

Maidstone United kick-off the New Year with a comfortable 2-1 win over and with that go back to the top of the Ryman League South.

Ian Draycott opened the scoring after 10 minutes after Shaun Welford did well to salvage a low cross along the six yard line where the oncoming Draycott couldn’t miss and slotted home to set the home side on their way.

Draycott grabbed the second after Sittingbourne were caught light at the back. Shaun Welford flicked onto Gillingham loanee Alex Brown who whipped in an inch perfect cross to find the number 10 at the back post.

Sittingbourne were being out played all over the park and were not able to string five passes together without a Maidstone player breathing down their necks to get the ball back.

But with all of Maidstone’s dominance they were unable to add to their lead before the break although a couple of shots from the impressive Alex Brown, playing out of position on the right wing, forced some great saves from Adam Molloy. The closest to a third came from Shaun Welford who saw the ‘keeper of his line and attempted a lofted shot only to see it crash against the top of the crossbar.

Maidstone started the second half as they did the first by keeping the ball in the away sides half and forcing Sittingbourne into mistakes and four minutes into the half Alex Brown almost provided a goal to saver after hitting a sweet left foot shot 20 yards out only for Adam Molloy to prevent him once more.

It wasn’t until the 56^th minute that Sittingbourne really tested the Maidstone defence, and should have scored with it. Joe Taylor found the ball at his feet eight yards out and, although he beat the keeper, Gavin Greenfield was back on the line to make an incredible clearance to keep his sides two goal deficit.

Sittingbourne were finally looking dangerous and could have made Maidstone to pay for not building on their two goals scored in the first half. A low cross into the box by Tom Loynes fooled Maidstone’s back-line and suddenly three attackers were free in the box but Tommy Osborne managed to rush back to make sure he got there ahead of a Sittingbourne player.

As the game petered out it was proving to be a frustrating day for Alex Brown as he just couldn’t get on the score-sheet. Just before the 90 minute mark he weaved in and out of several Sittingbourne defenders like they weren’t there, looked to have done it all, but a determined Adam Molley did not want to concede against the Gillingham loanee.

Sittingbourne did manage to get a consolation goal with the last kick of the game after the ball pin-balled around Maidstone United’s box it fell to the feet of Nick Treadwell six yards out and made no mistake of the finish.

Speaking after the game Maidstone manager Jay Saunders was keen to single out Alex Brown’s performance. “I thought he was superb today,” he said, “I asked him to play a little out of position and he deserved a goal today.”

Alex Brown’s loan from Gillingham is soon at an end but Jay Saunders added some positive news for Maidstone fans, “I’d like to [lengthen his loan],” he said, “Browny’s keen to extend it so it’s just a case of speaking with Gillingham

With the win today and results elsewhere going their way Maidstone returned to the top of the table and with an attendance over 2,000 the home crowd will be happy with their sides start to 2013.

Teams:
Maidstone United: Ibrahim, Osborne, Mills, Greenfield, Andrews, T.Olorunda, Brown, Phillips, Welford (A. Olorunda 83), Draycott (King 88), Whitely (Woolery 79)
Subs not used: Booth, Lye

Sittingbourne: Molley, Cooper, Ulph (John 62), Davis, Gray, Girt, Taylor, Bedford (Pettit 80), Coyne (Gonnella 60), Treadwell, Loynes
Subs not used: Hogg, Winnett