Maidstone United 0-3 Histon - We didn't deserve to lose like that, says proud Hume

Indeed had the Stones had a slice more luck when in the 84th minute both Danny Hockton and then substitute Gabriel Odunaike so very near took advantage of misjudgements by Histon keeper Danny Naisitt then the game would have been so different.
 
Speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, a reflective Stones boss Lloyd Hume said after the game: “I'm really disappointed with the result whilst being really proud of my players at the same time. 

“We didn't deserve to be a goal down at halt time - we certainly didn't deserve to still be a goal down on 87 minutes when we were chasing the game. 

“That said we were leaving ourselves open by playing two, then three and finally four up front. 

“But I'd rather lose two or three nil, and that sadly is what happened in the end tonight! 

“I often say that in football you don't often get what you deserve - I know its a bit of a cliche - but tonight no way did we deserve to lose three - nil. 

“Anyone who was here and neutral would have said we were the better side controlling most of the game. 

“I think in the second half after 75 minutes they'd been in our half only two or three times. 

“But we didn't create too many chances ourselves which was disappointing, but I certainly felt that we'd get a goal, but it didn't come and we conceded two right at the death to leave the score somewhat flattering."
 
And how right the manager was - as the Stones performance almost for the full 90 minutes showed just how committed the Stones are. 

They should have been in front on 4 minutes when Lynden Rowland had a shot charged down in the box, and although Histon huffed and puffed the only real threats on Jamie Turner's goal came from a couple of Lee Smith free kicks - the first of which was blocked eventually and the second saw Michael Frew fire high into the car park!
 

Then six minutes before half time the visitors snatched the lead when Jack Werndley broke into the Maidstone box only to be felled by Jay Saunders and Wright duly sent Turner the wrong way to put Histon in front. 

It was a goal that didn't go down too well on the Maidstone bench as Hume explained.  "The only thing that I'm really disappointed about is the way we concede the first goal - it came from our free kick with a bad delivery which allowed them to break away and get a penalty from that and that's my only real disappointment of the night."
 
The second half began with Frew bringing out a fine full length save from Turner whilst the Stones attempted to get a foot hold! 

Wright was denied a second by a wonderful Turner save following a Frew run down the right - the tall striker sending a fierce header that the giant Stones stopped did brilliantly to turn aside.
 
Although they weren't really testing Naiditt in the Histon goal, the Stones were enjoying buckets load of possession whilst Histon's breaks were more direct making Turner the busier keeper. 

Smith drove the ball inches past the Maidstone right post before Tom Parkinson denied Wright with a brilliantly timed tackle!
 
Then came the Stones real chance on 84 minutes.  Hockton raced clear on a through ball only to be denied (and injured by the keeper).  The ball span away to the right wing where it was promptly delivered back into the box, where Naisitt missed his punch but put off Oduniake but as the ball dropped there was an almighty scramble and the Stones just couldn't force the ball over the line.
 
Then came the sucker punches.  On 87 minutes Frew’s driven cross was turned in at the back post by substitute Andrew Tidswell before Tidswell turned provider in stoppage time, crossing for Smith to head past a really fed up looking Turner!
 
So it’s Histon who finally head off to Salisbury whilst for the Stones its back to what matter - the Ryman Premier League.

We leave the final word to manager Hume who issued a rallying call to the Stones faithful and in particular those who has stayed at home. 

He said: "The score was a bad reflection on the game, and I'm frustrated that only 238 of our fans will have watched it as most of them will look at the club website, read this or read the report in the paper and think that we got smashed today and that certainly wasn't the case as we played well, showed a lot of desire but didn't get what we deserved!  We're at home at the weekend and we need your support!"

Maidstone United:  Jamie Turner, Nathan Paul, Jermaine Darlington (Gabriel Odunaike 72), Lynden Rowland, Tom Parkinson, Roland Edge, Dean Hernandez Bradshaw, James Pinnock, Danny Hockton, Nick Barnes.
Subs: Any Bodle, Keelan Mooney, Shannon O'Donovan, Richard Knell

Histon: Danny Naisitt, Adam Tann, Gareth Gwillem, Matthew Langston, Adam Bygrave, Michael Frew, Nathanial Knight Perceval, Lanre Oyebanjo, Danny Wright, Lee Smith, Jack Werndly.
Subs: Joe Walsh, Daniel Sparkes
 
Goals: Danny Wright (penalty) 39, Andrew Tidswell 87, Lee Smith 90
 
Attendance: 238
Referee:  Mr R Atkin
Assistants:  Mr G Connolly & Mr R Smith