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A game of two halves, as football is often described by the verbally and cerebrally challenged, is as accurate a description as can be imagined when trying to describe Maidstone’s performance in tonight’s friendly with Horsham YMCA. Plenty of industry and possession in the first half was left unrewarded, as a well organised home team took the spoils after 45 minutes. The second half saw luck go the way of the Stones, with plenty of goalmouth action at both ends. Jim Ward elected to start the game with a few first team regulars on the bench, so in defence Dave Scott was given a rare start rather than Paul Foley, in midfield, promising youngster Richard Chainey started at the expense of Barry Jeffreys and Neil Davey made a welcome return with Pedro Knight unavailable due to work committments. Richard Sinden also started on the bench with Steve Marshall getting the nod. The first decent chance of the match came in the 14th minute, when Steve Butler’s floated cross was well headed by Ross Edwards. Unfortunately his effort went wide of the left hand upright. Edwards had an influential game. In the absence of Foley, he was heard frequently to be imploring his team mates to improve the quality of football being produced. He also managed to get onto the score sheet in the 2nd half to open his account for the season. Stones were caught napping after 22 minutes when Horsham, in a rare first half attack took the lead through Matt Duffield. He picked the ball up wide on the right of the visitors’ area and somehow his cross shot flew over Kevin Hudson and into the far corner of the net. Stones pushed for an equaliser. Most of the chances falling to Chainey, who again impressed with his support play. Unfortunately, tonight his finishing let him down on three or four occasions. As has been the case in all of the friendlies to date this season, Steve Butler’s work rate was impressive. He consistently held the ball up and played team mates in but with no end result. Half time saw the customary merry go round of substitutions, with Tony Reynolds, Tom Abbott, Foley and Jeffreys all coming on (in addition to Adam Hewitson who came on in the first half) in place of Hudson, Chainey, Scott, Michael Kayser and Neil Davey. Stones appeared to be more eager in the second half and initially most of the play centred on the home side’s goalmouth. Steve Marshall saw a well struck 20-yard free kick well saved on 53 minutes. However, one minute later and Maidstone were back on level terms. Paul Ribbens made progress down the right and centred the ball. Surprisingly, the ball drifted across the goal and into the far corner of the net, leaving the blameless goalkeeper absolutely stranded. Sinden then had two good opportunities to give Stones the lead, but he could not break his scoring duck for the season. Ribbens however, was the man to show the strikers how it was done. A 74th minute move featuring Marshall and Butler, ended with Ribbens driving the ball into the net from 8 yards out. The scorer was then immediately replaced by the returning Kayser. This led to some light-hearted derision from the Stones fans directed at Jim Ward, for not allowing the full-back the opportunity to secure his hat trick. Maidstone now clicked into gear and Ross Edwards scored from close range on 78 minutes, following a Barry Jeffreys corner, which had been headed down by Foley. Steve Marshall then had two chances in two minutes to increase the lead. The first a run from halfway, saw his 20-yard shot well saved. The second saw Butler’s square ball blasted high against the post from the edge of the box. Stones replaced Marshall, who had had a good game, with Dean Wallington. The visitors appeared to totally take their foot off of the gas at this point, and YMCA suddenly applied pressure. Goalscorer Duffield hit a low drive against Reynolds’ left hand post on 83 minutes. Stones reacted and Chainey’s 30 yard effort cannoned off of the frame of the goal two minutes later. To the other end and Horsham again hit the frame of the goal with the bar being struck, before finally on 88 minutes Nick Flint headed home from 10 yards to make the final score 2-3, in what was yet another very entertaining match. Stones: Hudson, Kempster, Ribbens, Coatham, Scott, Edwards, Kayser, Chainey, Davey, Butler, Marshall. Subs (all used) Reynolds, Hewitson, Foley, Sinden, Abbot, Jeffreys, Wallington.
Match Reporter: Darren Lovell
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