Fisher 2-4 Maidstone United - We believe we can have a good run in this, says Jack Parkinson

FISHER  2-4  MAIDSTONE UNITED
The FA Youth Cup First Qualifying Round
Monday 17^th September 2012
Stephen McCartney reports from Champion Hill Stadium

MAIDSTONE UNITED manager Jack Parkinson was full of praise for first team striker Kaiyne Woolery after his impressive performance helped the Stones book their place in the final qualifying round of The FA Youth Cup.




The Stones humiliated Redhill 13-0 in the Preliminary Round at The Gallagher Stadium, while Fisher produced a giant-killing to knock out Conference Premier side Ebbsfleet United, winning 7-6 after 120 minutes of football at Stonebridge Road.

But Maidstone United booked a home tie against either VCD Athletic or Folkestone Invicta (who meet on Thursday night) thanks to their 4-2 win away to Fisher at Champion Hill Stadium.

Kent League club Fisher took the lead on the half-an-hour mark when left-winger Malik Ovani converted the first of his two expertly taken penalties after Maidstone United defender Taylor McDonagh gave away both following a foul and a handball.

The match was refereed by Michael Brown, 44, who played for Bromley under manager George Wakeling during the 1990’s, under his more well-known name of Micky Brown.

Maidstone United equalised in the 40^th minute through striker Sam Norton’s finish, before substitute Ross Bassan came off the bench at the break to give the Stones the lead within five minutes of the second half.

Woolery extended the visitors’ lead with a clinical finish in the 53^rd minute, before Fisher pulled a goal back inside injury time through Ovani’s thumping penalty, but Woolery punished poor defending to send Maidstone United through.

Parkinson, 23, who left Welling United to play for Conference Premier newcomers Woking in the summer, was pleased with the win.

“The boy’s done really good tonight,” he said.  “The boys looked a little bit jaded in the last 20 minutes but we’ve done a lot of football, the boys have been doing a lot of Academy stuff but it was pleasing overall.

“They had a spell probably in the last twenty minutes of the second half where they got on top a little bit but we were 3-1 up.

“We dominated for a good 75% of the game.  We need to learn to kill games off a little bit really. A few of the boys looked a little bit leggy but on the other hand where they’re young they have to take the sting out of a game and just slow things down a little bit.”

Fisher manager, Grant Mason, admitted Maidstone United ruined his 44^th birthday by knocking his pacy side out of competition.

He said: “Pretty gutted really, but I think we were forced into pressing forward and going three at the back and going for it at 3-1.  We got back to 3-2 and then the sucker punch really.  We played the wrong ball and they exposed it and we’re 4-2 and that’s it. Game over!

“I think it was good. I’d like to deal with the mistakes that cost the first two goals, which I think we’re preventable.  They’re a good team and they capitalised on it.”

Fisher created the game’s first chance inside the opening six minutes when right-back Tommy Smith played the ball over the top of the Maidstone defence for right-winger Fred Obasa to use his pace but his fierce right-footed drive was blocked by Jamie Kelly, the keeper sticking out his left arm to make the save, but Obasa lost composure and blasted the rebound over the crossbar.

Mason knew his orange-booted winger had to take that early chance.

He said: “We missed a glaring opportunity to go in front. Fred is a great kid but he needs a little bit more composure.  He’s a little rough around the edges.  I don’t think there’s any kid faster than him. I know he’s good running onto them and putting defenders under pressure but that little bit of composure which will hopefully come in a bit of time.”

Maidstone United midfielder James Goode’s right-footed drive from 22-yards deflected wide of the far post before Fisher left-back Joshua Witter powered his header wide after Ovani whipped in a corner towards the far post with his left-foot from the right wing.

Norton teed up a chance for Dan Parkinson, a sixteen-year-old who plays for Cray Wanderers’ first team, but the midfielder’s low right-footed drive was comfortably saved by Fisher keeper Billy Hensman, who has first team experience in the Kent League.

Maidstone United’s best chance, however, came in the 21^st minute when left-back Daniel Johnson whipped in an excellent cross towards the far post and Martin Remess (a Latvian under 16 international) cut the ball back to Dan Parkinson, whose right-footed drive from 25-yards stung Hensman’s fingers, the keeper diving high to his left to claw the ball behind for a corner.

Fisher won themselves their first penalty when Kieron Campbell’s mazy 30-yard run saw him beat four sky blue shirted defenders before he was brought down by McDonagh.

Ovani stepped up and steered his left-footed penalty past the diving Kelly, who dived to his right but the penalty was just too good to be stopped.

Mason said: “He’s very clinical!  First one was low and hard and the second one he’s put it into the top of the net.”

Speaking about McDonagh’s challenge, Parkinson added: “It’s just because he’s a young lad. He’s got bundles of pace Taylor but he’s just a little bit too keen. He made a really good tackle just before and the lad (Campbell) got quick feet so that’s what you’ve got to learn as a centre half.  You’ve just got to move your feet a little bit quicker around the box.”

But Fisher’s lead lasted only ten minutes as Maidstone United equalised.

Woolery was freed down the right and he reached the by-line before he cut the ball back to Norton, who slammed a low right-footed drive inside Hensman’s near post from eight-yards.

Mason added: “My left-back there Joshua (Witter) let him in and they put it away well and that was the difference.  They got their chances and they did take them whereas if we had taken a couple of chances we had first half it might have been a bit different.”

Parkinson added: “Good work from Kaiyne.  It was a good finish from Sam. It’s another goal for him, although a little bit disappointed that he could’ve had another one or two in the first half.

“To draw back level just before half-time was nice. We’ve had a goal disallowed for offside (Martin Remess).  We were fairly pleased at half-time.  We just knew we had to up the tempo at half-time because the game was surprisingly flat.”

Maidstone United should have been leading when they went into the interval after Dan Parkinson whipped in a cross and Norton laid the ball off to Remess, who skied a right-footed shot as Hensman rushed off his line.

Bassan’s introduction made an instant impact on the game as Maidstone United turned the game in their favour within the opening five minutes.

Right-back Ashley Long hurled a throw into the box and Woolery flicked the ball on at the near post and Bassan rifled his first-time shot into the roof of the net through a crowd of players from six-yards.

Parkinson said: “We know Ross is a good lad.  Ross has done nothing wrong not to start. He started in the last round but Martin has done really well for us and Ross is struggling a little bit with his calf.  It was good that he came on and made an instant impact.” 

Mason couldn’t hide his disappointment with the manner of Maidstone’s goal.

“To concede a goal from a long throw and let it bounce and one touch it’s in the back of the net is shocking but I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen again anyway!”

The game appeared to be out of Fisher’s reach in the 53^rd minute when the diminutive Remess laid the ball into Woolery’s path and the striker drilled a low right-fotoed shot across Hensman to nestle into the bottom far corner from 12-yards.

Parkinson said: The pleasing thing with Kaiyne he’s with the first team but he’s a really, really nice lad, very, very level-headed, doesn’t get carried away and you saw tonight his work-rate was outstanding. It was a great finish from Kaiyne.”

Parkinson also praised the creater, by saying, “He’s an under 16 international in Latvia and he’s only been over here just over a year and he’s joined the Academy and he’s got great feet.”

Mason admitted his plans to change things just went out of the window at that point.

He said: “It just makes it hard work because I knew what I wanted to do subs’ wise and then all of a sudden when you get that you think you can’t afford to do that.” 

Hensman kept Fisher in the game when he blocked Bassan’s right-footed shot with his legs after Woolery played the ball in behind the heart of the Fisher backward line.

Fisher boss Mason rued their best chance of the second half, which simply had to be taken if they were to produce a fight-back.

Murray used his pace and trickery to make a penetrating run to reach the right by-line and he cut a rolling ball back across the face of the penalty area and Julius Roy Macauley snatched at his first time right-footed shot from 22-yards, which saw the ball reach orbit high into the night sky.

Mason quipped: “I’ll send him off now to look for that ball!  Other week’s he’d just side-foot that into the goal with no problem!”

Fisher went closer after Campbell clipped a free-kick into the box and the ball was knocked down but substitute Bryan Zepo nodded agonisingly wide of the near post from close range.

Hensman made a fine save to turn Woolery’s left-footed curler around his far post as the game entered the final minutes and the Fisher keeper caught Luke Hennessey’s looping shot after the substitute met Bassan’s resulting corner from the right.

Fisher missed another decent chance when Zepo’s pass put substitute Ivan Santa Creu through on goal but he dragged his left-footed shot across goal and wide of the far post.

Referee Brown pointed to the spot for a second time after McDonagh used his left hand to block Zepo’s goal-bound shot and Ovani rifled his right-footed penalty into the top left-hand corner, which no keeper in the world would have saved.

Parkinson said: “The second one was unfortunate.  He’s had a shot and the ball’s hit him on the hand. It is a penalty.  It’s a little bit harsh to be fair but he couldn’t really get out of the way.   I suppose his hands are up.

“Two great finishes by the way from the fella. The keeper’s gone the right way, two very good finishes.”

Maidstone United ran down the clock by the corner flags to take the sting out of any Fisher comeback but a poor clearance from Hensman, which saw the ball bounce off Brad Mason’s back, was picked up by Woolery, who accepted the gift and drove a right-footed shot underneath the keeper’s body into the middle of the open goal.

Manager Mason added: “I think it was the ball I don’t think anyone was expecting him to play.  You’re fighting the clock there so I thought the ball was going forward. I thought the other player was!  I think it hit him on the back and it rebounded and it couldn’t have fallen sweeter for their forward.    Billy made some good saves.  He had a good game as well.

“We did leave ourselves vulnerable but we managed to get back into it. We got the penalty, got it back to 3-2 and it’s just then a case of fighting the clock just to get the ball down there.  If we could’ve got the ball down there who knows?”

Reflecting on the game, the Fisher boss said: “The one thing I wanted to do was shore up our defence because in the last round we won 7-6 but to concede six goals second half needed looking at.

“I knew they were a bit potent up top and I thought first half we were dealing well with it but we got caught with two basic mistakes.

“I would’ve liked to have got at them a little bit more. I don’t think we played to our potential but I think there’s a lot more to come from the boys in all honesty.

“They’re all gutted now, but they were beaten by a better team on the night. I would say, I think football wise we more than matched them. I think we had our periods when we were on top.”

With first team manager Steve Firkins – who says “if they’re good enough, they’re old enough” in the crowd, Mason insists he has players who can progress into the first team squad.

“I’m pretty confident there’s definitely boys’ there.  I’ve watched a lot of the Kent League, first team games and other games. There’s definitely enough quality out there.”

Parkinson said: “The pleasing thing is we’ve not conceded in open play, both were from the penalty spot.

“It’s pleasing against a side that in the league won 6-0 and eight and scored seven in the last round so they’re getting goals so it’s pleasing for me that we’ve shut the door from open play, but on the other hand we knew what we can defend a little bit better.

“No disrespect to Redhill but Fisher were a good side.  I said that before. A few people were getting carried away because they saw the result and expected us to walk over teams.  It doesn’t work like that in football.

“Fisher are a good side, very, very dangerous on the break.  The three lads up top were a handful but we knew we’ve got lads lie Kaiyne and Ross, Martin and Sam, who were going to create chances and we proved that and every chance we got we punished them.”

Parkinson is looking forward to having home advantage in the next round on the 3G pitch.

“We’re looking forward to it.  We knew we could have a good run in this if possible and we still believe that.

“VCD are quite a strong side. I don’t know much about Folkestone but if we can do what we’re good at…

“If we get all our lads fit and ready the fact it’s a home tie as well we’re hoping we can attract a few people.”

Fisher: Billy Hensman, Tommy Smith, Harvey Hannifan, Richard Olarinoye, Joshua Witter, Fred Obasa (Bryan Zepo 54), Sam Murray, Kieron Campbell, Brad Mason, Malik Ovani, Julius Roy Macauley (Ivan Santa Creu 71).
Subs: Jake De Matos, Javan Scott, Jareed Gage.

Goals: Malik Ovani 30 (pen), 90 (pen)

Booked: Bryan Zepo 59
 
Maidstone United: Jamie Kelly, Ashley Long, Daniel Johnson, James Goode, Taylor McDonagh, Jack Kensington, Dan Parkinson, Charley Robertson (Luke Hennessy 60), Sam Norton (Ross Bassan 46), Kaiyne Woolery, Martin Remess (Rob Pratt 75).
Subs: Alfie Pavey, Jack Sullivan

Goals: Sam Norton 40, Ross Bassan 50, Kaiyne Woolery 53, 90

Booked: Sam Norton 16, Jack Kensington 79, Taylor McDonagh 90

Attendance: 84
Referee: Mr Michael Brown (Crystal Palace, London SE19)
Assistants: Mr Terry Connolly (Southfields, London SW19) & Mr Lucilliu Zaharia (Pinner, Middlesex)