Maidstone United 1-3 Kingstonian - I'm not going to crucify Turner, says Hume

Saturday 07th November 2009

MAIDSTONE UNITED 1-3 KINGSTONIAN
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 7th November 2009
Stephen McCartney reports from Homelands Stadium

MAIDSTONE UNITED joint-manager Lloyd Hume refused to point the finger of blame solely at his goalkeeper Jamie Turner, as his two howlers cost his side a point against Kingstonian.

The Stones started the game the brighter of the two sides but fell by the wayside, as Kingstonian broke the deadlock with their first shot on target in the 51st minute, through Bobby Traynor’s penalty.

But James Pinnock levelled for the Kent side just nine minutes later, with a twice taken spot-kick, but two howlers from Turner gifted goals for Dean Lodge and Christian Jolley at a chilly Homelands.

The Stones faithful in what was a poor crowd of only 300 for their first home league game since 22nd September, went home disappointed, as was Hume, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“Jamie’s at blame for two of the goals but he’d be the first to admit they’re absolute howlers, but the reality is I’m not going to crucify Jamie.

“But for the first part of our season that we’ve just come through he’s probably been our best player. He’s saved us on numerous occasions.

“The only thing I’m pleased about is he’s dropped two howlers in the same game.

“I’ve just said to the players in the dressing room, he’s come in and apologised. It’s not just about Jamie, our second half performance was nothing like our first half performance as a side and that’s not good enough.”

The Stones were the better of the two sides during a hard-fought first half, which saw the home side created the only two shots on target.

A run from James Pinnock saw the striker play a ball out to right-sided midfielder Keelan Mooney and his cross was punched away by Luke Garrard but the ball fell nicely for left-sided midfielder Shannon O’Donovan, whose left-footed angled drive brought a smart low save from the diving Kingstonian keeper.

Jermaine Darlington (Maidstone’s left-back) and K’s striker, Carl Wilson-Denis were both booked for dissent as both sides were frustrated on a pitch that was cutting up following yesterday’s heavy rain.

Maidstone striker Gabriel Odunaike (who has been on a recent trial with League One neighbours Gillingham) showed some good touches.

Maidstone’s second chance arrived in the 41st minute when Pinnock cut the ball back to the unmarked Nick Barnes and the experienced midfielder stung Garrard’s fingertips with a fierce 30-yard drive, which the keeper collected at the second attempt.

The Stones, who were without Peter Hawkins (suspended), James Peacock (ankle ligaments), Ashley Ulph (knee ligaments), Ant Bodle (broken nose), Dean Hernandez-Bradshaw (ankle ligaments), Roland Edge (calf) and the unfit Meshach Nugent, would have been pleased with their first half display, especially for the opening twenty minutes before the Surrey giants got back into the game, without troubling Turner.

But all their hard work was undone in the 51st minute when Kingstonian broke the stalemate with their first shot on target.

Lodge burst into the penalty area and was brought down by Maidstone skipper Jay Saunders, who showed his versatility by slotting in at the heart of defence alongside Tom Parkinson, and referee Mr Robert Smith pointed to the spot.

And with his first real contribution of the game, Traynor clinically drilled the ball into the bottom right-hand corner, to the delight of the vocal Kingstonian fans behind the goal.

But the Stones fought back and were on level terms - with a penalty of their own - on the hour mark.

Striker Odunaike, strangely wearing the number five shirt surrendered by Hawkins, was released down the left and his centre saw Pinnock burst towards goal and as Gerrard came out to smother the loose ball, K’s right-back Rob Sheridian brought down the former Margate striker.

But Pinnock was denied by a fine block from the diving Garrard from the penalty spot and the referee had already sounded by the time that Matthew Wright slammed the ball into the net.

But Mr Smith adjudged the visiting keeper to have committed an offence but the keeper did all he could to delay the retake, but Pinnock is a professional and sent the keeper the wrong way with a looping spot-kick to bring the Stones level.

Turner pulled off his best save of the game in the 65th minute when he dived full length to his left to prevent Lodge scoring with a left-footed snap shot from the angle of the penalty area.

That proved to be a sighter for the highly-rated Lodge, as his speculative low drive gave Kingstonian the lead just five minutes later.

It appeared that Matt Gray had delivered a foul throw from the left as the ball bounced into Lodge’s path, and his scuffed left-footed angled drive should have been easily collected by Turner, instead the ball squirmed underneath him and trickled over the line.

That goal killed off Maidstone United’s challenge and Des Boateng was denied by Turner before Garrard made his best save of the game in the 83rd minute when he beat out a diving header from the returning Lynden Rowland, following Keelan Mooney’s cross.

But a gift from Turner, not collecting the ball after advancing off his line to the left-back position, gifted substitute Jolley, which he accepted with glee, side footing a low shot into the near corner of an empty net.

This defeat ended the Stones four match unbeaten run, a result which sees the K’s leapfrog over them in the table, and the Kent side have now dropped down to tenth place in the table after 13 games.

“I’ve got to put that into perspective,” added Hume. “I’ve said to the players in there, over the last number of weeks that’s our first bad 45 minutes that we’ve had and that’s football and these things happen.

“But I’m very disappointed, I’m disappointed to lose a game where we should’ve gone on and won until we gave away a sloppy penalty. Until that point they’ve not even threatened once.

“Today I’m disappointed but put it into perspective. We’re doing well as a side, for 45 minutes we’re were great, didn’t get any goals. The second 45 we were poor!”

Hume was disappointed with the reaction of his players, dropping their heads following Turner’s first mistake.

“Until the second goal went in I thought there was only going to be one winner,” said Hume.

“Even by the time their second goal went in, we went three up front and I still fancied us to get back in it and perhaps even nick it.

“I was still very positive at that point but Jamie’s made another howler to go 3-1 down and you could see the players’ heads drop and I can understand that.

“But today we just weren’t at it in the second half as a side once the goal went in and that was the disappointing thing.

“The only people that can beat us today was ourselves and that proved me right!”

Hume acknowledged the fact that when Traynor gets a chance, it usual ends in a goal.

“The reality is he’s a good player Bobby and he always scores goals but today he was marshalled brilliantly until we gave the sloppy penalty away and the other goal.

“They hadn’t scored a good goal against us today, that’s the disappointing thing.”

Turner, who was comforted by veteran goalkeeper coach Alan Rogers at the final whistle, was man enough to admit his two mistakes cost his team-mates a point.

“Shocker!, What can I say?” came his reply.

Maidstone United: Jamie Turner, Nathan Paul, Jermaine Darlington, Shannon O’Donovan (Ashley Dann 75), Gabriel Odunaike, Tom Parkinon, Keelan Mooney, Jay Saunders, James Pinnock, Matthew Wright (Lynden Rowland 63), Nick Barnes.
Subs: Ant Bodle, Lloyd Hume, Adam Harris.

Goal: James Pinnock 60 (pen)

Booked: Jermaine Darlington 28

Kingstonian: Luke Garrard, Rob Sheridian, Bahiru Alimi, Max Hustwick, Francis Duku, Des Boateng, Matt Gray, Maurice Harkin, Bobby Traynor, Carl Wilson-Denis (Christian Jolley 76), Dean Lodge (Lee Hall 89).
Subs: John Fletcher, Karl Beckford, Rob Tolfrey.

Goals: Bobby Traynor 51 (pen), Dean Lodge 70 Christian Jolley 87

Booked: Carl Wilson-Denis 29

Attendance: 300
Referee: Mr Robert Smith (Croydon, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr James Garrett (Blackheath, London SE3) & Mr Lee Dyson (Gravesend)