Maidstone United 1-1 Hythe Town - Maybe this can kick-start our season, says Scott Porter

MAIDSTONE UNITED 1-1 HYTHE TOWN
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 9^th October 2012
Paul Parkinson reports from James Whatman Way

HONOURS were even in this Kent derby as Brendon Cass capitalised on his one chance to level for Hythe Town after Paul Booth’s fourteenth-goal of the season had given Maidstone Untied a half-time lead.



In a true game of two halves, Maidstone dominated the opening period and deservedly took a lead into the break through Booth’s clinical spot-kick, after former Maidstone full-back Nick Reeves was somewhat harshly adjudged to have handled.

Although Hythe played some delightful passing football, they we unable to deliver a telling ball into the home area, and it took a Maidstone mistake for Cass to do what he has done for so many Kent clubs, and take advantage of his only chance of the game.

Hythe Town manager Scott Porter, although sent from the bench by referee Mr Nick Dunn during the first half, was the happier of the two managers, and said: “We came here to get a point, but I expected us to go on and win the game after we got the equaliser. I thought we bossed the game second half, and Maidstone haven’t really had chances all game, so credit to our lads.

“It’s tough to come here, but we got the ball down and played. They played pretty direct, so if you can stop the two lads up front, you’ve got half a chance. We didn’t do that first half, we didn’t win the second balls, but second half I don’t think they had a shot on target. We could have won it at the end, and that is what we are all about.””

Porter was forthright with his views about the officials, saying: “I think anyone watching the game could see what went on. I’m not going to speak out of turn, but my point of view is that the three officials were not strong enough. There were a lot of decisions that didn’t go our way; Nick (Reeves) has got a mark under his arm on the penalty, and I think the occasion got to them.”

For Jay Saunders though, it was a disappointing return to league action, and the new stadium, after seven consecutive road trips, and five Cup games. But he praised the efforts of Hythe, saying, “I don’t think we played all that well tonight apart from a 20-25 minute spell at the end of the first half where we got to grips with the game and we scored the penalty. But for me, we never really got going.

“Full credit to Hythe, they work hard, play a good tempo, but we never got hold of the ball and I thought we were a bit sloppy.””

Maidstone flew out of the blocks at the start of the game, with Booth playing in Alex Flisher inside the first 20 seconds, but the winger couldn’t make a clean connection with his effort from the edge of the box, and the ball looped harmlessly through to Dean Ruddy in the Hythe goal.

On nine minutes, Booth drew a save from Ruddy, having been played in by an exquisite ball from Ian Draycott and powering into the area. From the resulting corner, Shaun Welford saw a glancing header fly wide.

Although Maidstone were creating the better chances, Hythe continued trying to stroke the ball around, but it took a moment of opportunism from centre back Craig Cloke to worry Charlie Mitten in the home net.

Hythe were awarded a free kick just inside their own half, and Cloke tried an audacious attempt that Mitten gathered under his own bar having had to back-pedal quickly.

Immediately, Ruddy dropped a Flisher corner onto the back of Tim Olorunda, before Welford fired a shot at Hythe’s American keeper from another corner.

Cass had a half-chance deflected into Mitten’s grasp by Tom Mills five minutes before the break, but within 60 seconds Maidstone were ahead.

Mitten’s clearance was flicked on by Welford, and as Booth drove into the Hythe area, he tried to flick the ball back over Reeves’ head, and to a loud chorus of appeals from behind the goal, a penalty was awarded. Booth fired high into the top right corner beyond Ruddy’s despairing dive.

Following an untidy challenge by Flisher on Reeves, Hythe boss Porter was ordered from the bench, and when asked specifically about his dismissal, he explained, “I don’t think what I said was out of turn, given what goes on with referee’s all-round the country. The referee has to take into account the emotions in the game, it’s a big game for us, a local derby, and we are all going to get involved, so maybe an older ref may have handled it differently.””

After the break, Hythe broke quickly into the Maidstone area, as Nick Barnes fed Dave Cook, but the Hythe skipper could only lift the ball into Mitten’s hand’s with the keeper well off his line.

Taser Hassan had a volley blocked by Ryan Cooper, as he swivelled to meet Jake Hobbs’ cross, and then Hobbs drew a good save from Mitten, firing a free kick from the right angle of the box into the base of the left hand post.

On the hour, Maidstone had what looked to be a second penalty, as Welford appeared to be chopped down from behind as Ruddy tried to dive through the Stones’ forward. But Mr Dunn wave away the appeals, much to the annoyance of Saunders, who defended his striker, saying, “Shaun’s an honest lad and he’s said straight away that it was a penalty. But I don’t see how the ref can see the handball for the first from his angle, then he’s got a great angle on that one and doesn’t give it!

Hythe’s equaliser came with 17 minutes left, and was down to a Maidstone error. In trying to win the ball in midfield, Draycott tried to poke the ball back towards his own goal, but it hit Cass, and the forward took the ball into the box before calmly slipping his shot past Mitten as the keeper tried to close the angle.

Porter admitted that it has been tough for his striker this season, but insisted: “That’s what Cassy is all about. He’s worked his socks off up there, with Dave Cook playing off the front man, and he’ll always get a chance. He’s been working his nuts off for a long time now in the formation we’ve been playing, and if you give him a chance, you’ve seen tonight what happens.””

Neither side was able to put together any concerted pressure in the closing minutes, although Cook had a header saved comfortably by Mitten, and the points were shared.

For Hythe, the last four days could be the kick-start their season has needed, and Porter said: “Maybe this can kick-start our season. After the (5-2 home win over Tooting & Mitcham United) on Saturday, it was important that we didn’t lose tonight and now hopefully we can get another 3 points this Saturday.”

“We had to win on Saturday to get off the bottom of the table. We’ve got to build on tonight, we can’t go back and think we’ve cracked it, so we’ve got to treat Saturday’s game (at Corinthian-Casuals) exactly as we’ve treated this. Hopefully we can get three points and then we’ll be well up the table.

“Everyone is beating each other this year and if you can get a couple of results going, you can quickly climb the table. It has been a good week for us and we need to take it into Saturday.””

But for Saunders, even the first home goal in 39 days, also a Booth penalty (although seven consecutive away matches would explain the gap), was little consolation.

He said: “I feel for Draycs (Ian Draycott) as he’s done some good things tonight. He come in on the right and caused them a few problems, but unfortunately he’s not seen their lad.”

“It’s frustrating though, although we’ve not played brilliantly, I don’t think Charlie’s had any other saves to make. I thought Nick Humphrey and Tom Mills at the back were superb. Sometimes you don’t play well and get three points, and I think last year we wouldn’t have taken anything out of the game.”

“I think the pressure got to one or two of us a tonight. Obviously we’ve been playing some good stuff up to now, scoring goals, and in front of the 1400 tonight, maybe people expected us to turn up and just roll them over. But I knew it would be tough. Even though they were down the bottom, they've got games in hand like us, and they are a good side.””

Explaining the inclusion of Draycott in place of Sam Bewick, Saunders added: “Sam’s had an operation and will be away for 2-3 weeks; it’s the nose injury he got against Margate. I spoke to him today and he’s fine. We took a bit of a chance on Boothy, as he tired a bit towards the end, but he’s the type of player who is liable to pop up with a goal, and it is important that he’s fit for Saturday as well.””

Looking forward to Saturday’s home clash against Dulwich Hamlet, Saunders is looking for a return to the form that saw 26 goals scored in 8 games before the 3-0 reverse in the FA Cup against East Thurrock United last weekend.

He said: “Dulwich will be a good side. Without a doubt, going forward they cause sides problems. But we’ve got to get back to what we’ve been doing well, doing what we did when we were winning games; which is getting the ball in wide areas.”

“I thought our final ball tonight was poor. Flisher has been brilliant for us, but the full backs, and everywhere, our final ball in wasn’t there tonight and we’ve got to make sure we get that right. If we put decent balls in the box, we’ll score goals.”

Maidstone United:  Charlie Mitten, Ryan Cooper, Tommy Osborne, Nicky Humphrey, Tom Mills, Tim Olorunda, Ben Davisson, Ian Draycott (Kaiyne Woolery 87), Shaun Welford, Paul Booth (Ade Olorunda 74), Alex Flisher.
Subs: Danny Lye, Michael Phillips, Deren Ibrahim

Goal: Paul Booth 41 (pen)

Booked: Ben Davisson 44, Alex Flisher 86

Hythe Town:  Dean Ruddy, Nick Reeves, John Walker, Pat Kingwell, Craig Cloke, Ronnie Dolan, Dave Cook, Nick Barnes, Jake Hobbs (Lee Winfield 84), Brendon Cass (Craig Thompson 81), Taser Hassan.
Subs: George Savage, Ashley Porter, Tom Elliott.

Goal: Brendon Cass 73

Booked: Ronnie Dolan 51, Nick Barnes 56

Sent Off: Scott Porter (manager) 43

Attendance: 1,401
Referee: Mr Nick Dunn (Deal)
Assistants: Mr Jack Packman (Margate) and Mr Karl Sear (Southampton, Hampshire)