Maidstone United 2-0 Waltham Abbey - Relegation would be a disaster, insists Nott

Tuesday 13th April 2010

MAIDSTONE UNITED 2-0 WALTHAM ABBEY
Ryman Premier League
Tuesday 13th April 2010
Stephen McCartney reports from Homelands Stadium

TEN-MAN Maidstone United ended their miserable run of ten games without a win with a morale boosting bottom-of-the-table win over Waltham Abbey.

First-half strikes from James Peacock and the impressive Antonio Gonnella ensured the Stones leapfrogged over Bognor Regis Town and Margate into 19th place to lift the weight of the shoulders of manager Peter Nott and his side.

Nott praised his battling players, reduced to ten-men after left-back Jermaine Darlington was shown a red-card in the 51st minute, after eagle-eyed officials spotted an alleged punch on Ricci Crace, who was booked for the part he played in the tussle.

“First half was a very good performance,” Nott told www.kentishfootball.co.uk as he emerged from the home dressing room with a big smile on his face.

“We played some good football, got ourselves two ahead and then the second half, with the sending off, you’ve just got to dig-in and again the effort was there.

“As you know, I’ve questioned the boys a couple of times, but in the last couple of games the commitment’s been superb. I can’t ask for more than that!”

The Stones got themselves off to a flying start, taking the lead after just 178 seconds on the clock to settle any nerves that they might have had.

Gonnella swung in a corner from the left flank with his right-foot and Waltham Abbey failed to clear the ball and the ball fell nicely for Peacock to rifle the ball high into the roof of the net with his right-foot from inside the penalty area.

Nott, was naturally delighted by the start.

“There’s been too many games where we’ve been on the back foot chasing games before,” he said.

“We said to them before the game it would be great to get off to a good start and put the pressure on them.

“Waltham Abbey have not had a great journey. We knew they had a couple of travelling problems with players coming late.

“We said let’s get straight at them. That was a dram start. He’s taken it so well. Two yards higher than it would’ve been in Maidstone, I think, the ball! It was a great finish and I’m really pleased with him. He had a good game.”

Gonnella was lively throughout this crucial must-win game and his right-footed snap shot brought a low save out of visiting goalkeeper Harry Ricketts after defender Danny Woolf hit a ball high into the sky following Nathan Paul’s ball into the box.

Maidstone United goalkeeper Andy Walker was only tested once during the first half, the former Billericay Town keeper made a low save to deny striker Joe Eubel scoring on the turn.

Ricketts was then forced into making another low save when Adrian Stone released Danny Hockton charging down the right and the striker got all of his weight behind a drilled cross-come-shot, which deflected off James Elmes but his goalkeeper ensured the ball didn’t find the bottom far corner.

Maidstone United comfortably doubled their lead in the 31st minute when Stone floated in a cross into the penalty area and Gonnella’s header looped over Ricketts outstretched fingers and dropped in underneath the crossbar.

The lively Gonnella tried his luck on another three occasions; but he couldn’t add to his and the Stones tally.

Waltham Abbey changed formation to 4-3-3 at the interval, bringing on a couple of substitutions as they attempted to climb off the foot of the Ryman Premier League table.

And after being found by Adam Parker’s swept diagonal pass, Marc Sontag’s angled drive was expertly turned around his near post by Walker.

But Maidstone United were soon reduced to ten-man and this made them even more determined to get their survival bid back on track.

“I didn’t see it at all, it was right in the opposite corner,” said Nott on the incident that saw Darlington red-carded.

“I’ve asked Jermaine what’s happened and he said the fella (Crace) has thrown two elbows back at him in his ribs right in front of the linesman (Mr Jackson) and he’s retaliated and punched out at him - but very low.

“He’s not even raised his hands but the fella’s thrown two elbows back at him in from the of lino and the ref’s seen the one that his thrown back. It’s a bit of handbags. They either both go or none of them go.
I would have thought a yellow card either way would have probably done the trick.”

An amber and black wall then defended resiliently, and when it was breached, Walker was on hand to make two more excellent saves.

Parker smashed a free-kick towards goal from just outside the D in the 59th minute and Walker made an excellent diving block, to ensure that the ball looped off him and over his crossbar.

The keeper then dived to his right to prevent Sontag hooking a half-volley into the Stones net following Parker’s 73rd minute cross.

This was a night for brave hearts and commitment and Nott was full of praise for Gonnella.

“That’s the best game that he’s played for us, he was out of this world,” praised Nott.

“They ended up putting a player on him to man-mark him and he just kept taking players on and even in the second half he was running the game on by just going into the corners and dribbling.

“His superb. We need that from him every week!”

Maidstone United now prepare for their WIN OR BUST last week of the season.

Ashford Town (Middlesex) are the side immediately above them in the table and they arrive at Homelands on Saturday on a run of seven straight defeats.

The Stones then travel to 16th placed Hendon on Monday; before welcoming second-from-bottom side Bognor Regis Town next Thursday, before ending their campaign away to Kingstonian, who are fighting to keep hold of second place.

“I’ve been saying all the way along, one win, I’m sure will trigger another,” said Nott.

“It’s a physiological boost picking up three points tonight. It was a big, confidence, morale boost for us and it puts Ashford Town (Middlesex) right down in the mix even further.”

But playing four games in seven days will be tough going, especially when it comes to trying to stay in the division.

Relegation is NOT an option within the Maidstone United camp.

Nott said: “I’ve seen on the forum people saying relegation would be a disaster. It would be a disaster for me and a disaster for those boys!

“Every single one of us wants to be involved in the Ryman Premier.

“I’ve said all the way along the quality (that we have at the club) we shouldn’t be in this position and the commitment that they’ve shown in the last couple of games should get us through but we’re not counting our chickens. We’ve got three points and we need to build on that from now.”

Maidstone United: Andy Walker, Nathan Paul, Jermaine Darlington, Tom Parkinson, James Peacock, Roland Edge, Mark Corneille, Ant Bodle (Errison Awhan 58), Adrian Stone, Danny Hockton (Ashley Ulph 53), Antonio Gonnella.
Subs: Lyndon Rowland, Craig Stone, Richard Knell.

Goals: James Peacock 3, Antonio Gonnella 31

Booked: James Peacock 78

Waltham Abbey: Harry Ricketts, Jordan Bostock (Lee White 61), George Chanda, Danny Woolf, Andy Keepence, Adam Parker, Marc Sontag, James Elmes (Robert Kasanga 46), Billy Holland, Joe Eubel (Xaniel Doku 46), Ricci Crace.
Sub:Matt Allen.

Booked: Jordan Bostock 36, Danny Woolf 39, Ricci Grace 51, Billy Holland 68, Adam Parker 86

Attendance: 159
Referee: Mr Paul Kelly (Walderslade)
Assistants: Mr Ian Fissenden (Gillingham) & Mr Ollie Jackson (Gillingham)