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Last March, on a chilly Tuesday evening, Maidstone United achieved a miraculous result for a Kent League side, when they drew 0-0 with Kent neighbours and Nationwide League Division1 stalwarts Gillingham. That result caused the league club’s manager Andy Hessenthaler to keep his side in the dressing room for 45 minutes after the game. Today’s return meeting was never likely to produce a similar result and so it proved to be. On a hard, bumpy pitch and with temperatures pushing the high 70’s, The fitness of the full time team was evident at this early stage of the season and once Guy Ipoua had opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, there was no way back for the Stones. Stones best chance of the match came on just 70 seconds when defender Ross Edwards hooked a close range shot into the hands of goalkeeper Jason Brown. The visitors woken by this early threat then proceeded to miss chance after chance as the Stones goal lead a charmed life. Ipoua, new signing Rod Wallace and Paul Shaw all saw efforts either saved by Kevin Hudson, strike the uprights or roll agonisingly wide. Ross Edwards also got back and cleared from the goal line after Ipoua had all but scored. Stones second (and last) decent effort on goal came in the 20th minute when Richard Sinden outpaced the Gills defence over 25 yards and fired a 20 yard effort narrowly wide of Brown’s left hand post. The tidal wave of blue attacks produced a goal on 23 minutes and finally a second was added on 43 when Rod Wallace scored his first goal in Gillingham colours, after good approach work from Simon Osborn. The second half was, as is the norm in pre-season friendlies, punctuated with numerous substitutions. Stones introduced several new or unfamiliar faces during the second half, including Aaron Lacey, Richard Chainey, Tony Evans and Dean Wallington. This was in addition to Dave Monteith, an experienced Southern League player, who played for the first 75 minutes in a left sided midfield role. The blue wave continued unabated in the second period and Kevin Hudson was called on to make good saves from Ipoua and Osborn. Stones held out until 71 minutes when Wallace scored a fine individual goal. Five minutes later, triallist Douglas from Luton Town, scored with a close range diving header for 4-0. Gills hit the woodwork twice more in the closing stages with Douglas having a header tipped onto the post by Tony Reynolds and Wallace having a clever lob turned onto the bar by Stones’ reserve keeper. Unfortunately, seconds after this fine save, Reynolds conceded a penalty after bringing down Wallace. Osborn converted for 5-0 from the spot and the referee then immediately blew for full time. Stones: Hudson, Kempster, Ribbens, Foley, Monteith, Edwards, Marshall, Butler, Sinden, Jeffreys, Knight. Subs (all used) Reynolds, Lacey, Evans, Scott, Chainey, Coatham, Wallington.
Match Reporter: Darren Lovell
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