Maidstone United 1-1 Ebbsfleet United - I always look to do better than last season,says Liam Daish

MAIDSTONE UNITED 1-1 EBBSFLEET UNITED
Pre-Season Friendly
Tuesday 31^st July 2012
Paul Parkinson reports from The Gallagher Stadium

HONOURS were even at The Gallagher Stadium, but Maidstone United were very close to stealing victory in stoppage time as Baff Addae’s dinked shot squeezed agonisingly wide.

However, a cracking strike from former Welling United and Inter Milan midfielder Ben Greenhalgh opened the scoring for Ebbsfleet, but their tormentor over a number of seasons, Paul Booth, who played for the club in their Gravesend & Northfleet days, slid in to convert the equaliser.

For Fleet boss, Liam Daish, it was a chance to look at some fringe players and triallists, and he admitted, “I rested a few lads tonight and was able to give some others more game time. People like Adam Williams and Lanre Azeez needed time and tonight served its purpose. Now that we are getting so close to the kick off (of the Blue Square Bet Premier), no disrespect to the pitch here, but I didn’t want to take any risks.””

But he was impressed with the new stadium, adding, “It’s more like a 4G pitch out there, there’s a bit of give in it and it’s proper state-of-the-art. I think the lads enjoyed playing on it, but whether you’d want to play on it week-in, week-out, I don’t know. But I wish Maidstone all the best, and I can’t see many games being cancelled.””

Stones boss, Jay Saunders, said he was grateful to Ebbsfleet for agreeing to the friendly and believed the 1,136 crowd had been entertained.

He said:  “It was a good game. I think it was good to watch, plenty of chances. I thought first half, we started a bit slowly and there was a few things I wasn’t happy with.

“Second half we put that right and personally I thought we were the better team. Once we got the first 20 out of the way, I thought we put on a good performance.”

“I said to the lads before the game that it was getting to a point where we wanted the squad to settle down, work with a smaller squad, and the players are starting to stake a claim for the shirt. I’ve said all the starting positions are up for grabs and they should go out and prove what they can do.””

Visitors Ebbsfleet were quicker out of the blocks with Nicky Humphrey sliding in decisively to deny Williams an early opportunity.

But they took the lead on 7 minutes as Greenhalgh lashed home an angled 20-yard drive after Williams had outjumped Tommy Osborne to put the winger clear.

Alex Flisher stung the palms of Fleet keeper Tom McNeil before Humphrey was denied an equaliser by Mr Bakalarz’s whistle, for a foul on former Maidstone man Craig Stone, in the act of heading home from a Flisher corner.

Booth saw an effort curl over, but Fleet were quicker on the counter attack as Williams played in Tom Phipp through the inside-right channel, but his shot was dragged across goal.

The returning Liam Enver-Marum, back from a trial over the summer at League One Stevenage, saw a full-blooded drive parried away by Deren Ibrahim, before the Stones found their way back into the game.

Humphrey flicked on Sam Bewick’s left wing corner at the near post, and Booth slid the ball home from inside the 6-yard box on 29 minutes to level matters.

Booth and strike partner, Shaun Welford, both had chances to put the Stones ahead before Enver-Marum had two good opportunities in the last five minutes of the half.

First, he fired a 30-yard effort into the terrace behind the goal, then was denied at close range by Ibrahim, who gathered the ball at the second attempt.

Daish was delighted to have the 13-goal striker back in the fold, saying, “I’m delighted to have Liam back with us. He’s looking sharp and probably should have had three goals tonight. But that’s all part of pre-season and hopefully he’ll finish them off in the real games.”

Chances in the second half were fewer, but both Greenhalgh and Williams will feel they could have tested the Maidstone defence more, before Ben Davisson’s shot was well held by replacement keeper Lucas Menz, who spent last season with Vancouver Whitecaps.

Tom Phipp was twice denied by Scott Chalmer-Stevens; the second occasion with a flying full-length save to his right before Addae’s late chance.

Good hold-up play from Welford saw Addae, at a full sprint, slipped into the area and, as the keeper came out, Addae lifted the ball over him, but just past the right hand post.

Daish was happy with the night’s workout, but is looking forward now, and said: “We need competition in all areas, particularly defence, so I may look to bring someone in, someone different, but we’ll start the season and if I need to change things, I’ll change them. I’ll probably start the season with 18, hopefully a decent 18, but I need to make sure we get the job done.”

“We’ve got to remember now that we’re into our last friendly (against Dover Athletic at Stonebridge Road), and then we’re into the hustle and bustle of Conference football, so we’ll probably look to play a really strong side on Saturday.”

“I always look to do better than last season, and hopefully that’s going to happen. I don’t want to just get by, I want to push on, progress, so I’m looking to do better than last year.”

Maidstone United:  Deren Ibrahim (Scott Chalmer-Stevens 66), Tommy Osborne, Tom Mills, Nicky Humphrey (Lewis Mingle 56), Tim Olorunda, Michael Phillips (Ade Olorunda 70), Ben Davisson, Sam Bewick, Shaun Welford, Paul Booth (Baff Addae 62), Alex Flisher (Kaiyne Woolery 76).
Sub: Steve Ward.

Goal: Paul Booth 29

Ebbsfleet United:  Tom McNeil (Lucas Menz 46), Jay Folkes, Ryan Blake, Ben Greenhalgh (Ramande 83), Phil Walsh, Craig Stone, Lanre Azeez (Joe Howe 66), Leon Wilson (Liam Bellamy 76), Adam Williams (Okano 66), Liam Enver-Marum (Sam Akinde 56), Tom Phipp.

Goal: Ben Greenhalgh 7

Attendance: 1,136
Referee: Mr Adam Bakalarz (Bromley)
Assistants: Mr Paul Beadle (Sevenoaks) and Mr Jamie McLeod (Welling)
Fourth Official: Mr J Proctor