Maidstone United 1-2 Dartford - Burman: We've started to believe in ourselves again

Maidstone United boss Lloyd Hume was first to admit afterwards that his side’s performance had not been good enough, whilst his opposite number Tony Burman was overjoyed to leave Bourne Park with the points.

“We’ve started to believe in ourselves again,” Burman told BBC Radio Kent afterwards.

“It was important to get the result tonight after beating Horsham at the weekend, and some of the football we played particularly in the first half was breathtaking.

“After a difficult start we really now believe in ourselves again and I must thank the fans for sticking with us.”

Indeed, from my vantage point, it seemed there were more Dartford fans in the 667 crowd then there were home fans, which must vindicate the manager’s comments.

For Hume, it was a disappointing home defeat.

“I publicly praised individuals in the past, tonight I had a go at them all,” Hume also told BBC Radio Kent.

“We’ve build this squad to compete and I never thought I’d say it but tonight we didn’t.”

The writing was on the wall for the Stones in the opening seconds as Ray Powell exchanged passes with Rob Haworth on the edge of the box after a fine run only to see his curling shot beat Andy Walker in the Maidstone goal but clipped the outside of the right post.

The Darts, playing the freer football in the swirling conditions, took the lead on seventeen minutes with a goal that left the Maidstone United defence with red-faces.

A short corner down the left was played to the edge of the 18-yard box and Steve Butterworth in acres of space was allowed the time to drill the ball into the bottom corner of Walker’s net.

One became two four minutes later with a truly wonderful goal.

Brendon Cass played in Ryan Hayes down the right with an exquisite pass, Hayes just caught the ball just before it went out of play and first time centred with his right foot for Haworth to power home the far post header.

It seemed to kick-start the home side and on the half-hour they were back in it, courtesy of an unlikely source.

Elliot Bradbrook’s right-wing corner seemed to be going nowhere as it was headed square by Ben Lewis only for his central defensive partner Ian Cox to gain control on the edge of the box, turn, and somehow drive the ball low beyond the despairing reach of Andrew Young and into the corner of the net.

The second half rarely lived up to the excitement or the pace of the opening 45 minutes and only came alive in the closing moments.

On 89 minutes Roland Edge could have salvaged a point for the Stones but his shot (following Bradbrook’s long corner) was brilliant turned aside by Young at the base of his left post.

From the following vicious in-swinging corner, the keeper again excelled, back peddling to palm the ball over.

Deep into stoppage time it was Bradbrook’s turn to be denied by the former Thurrock goalkeeper as following Ian Selley’s corner, the winger’s downward header was grabbed at the foot of the left post.

Overall the Darts deserved their victory - a victory that sets them up for the weekend’s FA Cup second qualifying round tie at home to Hampton & Richmond Borough - with manager Burman looking forward to the tie.

“It’s the FA Cup”, he said. “We’re really going to enjoy ourselves on Saturday now we have the belief - who knows what may happen.”

Meanwhile, for Hume and Maidstone United, they too face Blue Square South opposition when Fisher Athletic visit Bourne Park with the manager already promising better fare.

“We’ll have Jay Saunders back (after suspension) on Saturday,” said Hume. “We’re not a one-man team and after the last two performances we owe our fans a proper display.”

Maidstone United: Andy Walker, Nathan Paul, Roland Edge, Ben Lewis, Ian Cox, Seb Schoburgh (Keelan Mooney 77), Ian Selley, John Wilfort (Andy Martin 45), Meshach Nugent, Lloyd Blackman, Elliot Bradbrook.
Subs: James Pinnock, Lloyd Hume, Steve Northwood.

Goal: Ian Cox 28

Booked: Roland Edge 10, Ian Selley 31, Meshach Nugent 43, Ian Cox 69

Dartford: Andrew Young, Jamie Coyle, Tommy Osborne, Ray Powell, John Guest, Danny Dafter, Steve Butterworth, Ryan Hayes (Nick Barnes 83), Brendon Cass, Rob Haworth, Lee Noble.
Subs: Adam Flanagan, James White, Steve Norman, Tony Kessell.

Goals: Steve Butterworth 17, Rob Haworth 21

Booked: Ray Powell 27

Attendance: 667
Referee: Mr Lee Collins (Woking, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr Timothy Hatt (Redhill, Surrey) & Mr Daniel Robathan (Dorking, Surrey)