Maidstone United 2-0 Walton & Hersham - We want our unbeaten run to keep going, says Jay Saunders

MAIDSTONE UNITED  2-0  WALTON & HERSHAM
Ryman League Division One South
Wednesday 14^th September 2011
Mike Green reports from Bourne Park

MAIDSTONE UNITED boss Jay Saunders was a relieved man as his side extended their winning run to five matches with a 2-0 win over Walton & Hersham.

But Saunders will first to admit that his side played a get out of jail card to secure the three points. 

Leading by Shaun Welford's ninth goal of the season going into stoppage time, former Dartford winger Phil Williams sprinted clear down the left, and his far post cross found its way through to Walton substitute Sean Bradley.  With the goal at his mercy, Bradley somehow managed to scuff his shot straight at Stones skipper Graeme Andrews, and Walton's 10 men chance of an unlikely point had gone. 

And then to add insult to injury, Alex Flisher thundered home a free kick with the last kick of the game to seal the points.
 
Saunders though was more concerned how the conditions under foot were already affecting his side. 

He said: "I don’t want to keep harking on about this pitch, but we look at a different side when we're away from home. 

“In fairness to the boys, we've asked them to go out there and put in a shift and we've come away with three points again. 

“If it means that we don’t play well at home and still win games then I'll take that all day long." 
 
When asked about the incredible finale to the game, Saunders said, "We've gone through at the one end as Baff (Addae) is on a run and Shaun's come across him and the ball's hit Shaun's heel,  From that they've broken away, and we've managed to block the shot at the end - I thought it was Charlie but the boys have just confirmed that it was Graeme who cleared it, and you need a bit of luck at times - then we've gone back up the other end and Flish has scored a heck of a free kick!"
 
When asked about the outstanding performances of his two scorers, the Stones boss said, "We had some good performances tonight - I thought Nick Reeves looked solid at the back, and Tommy Osborne at right back. I could go through a lot of them, but you know what you get with Shaun and Flish with their work rate which is tremendous. 

“That’s five wins on the trot now and four clean sheets in a row (its actually 410 minutes now since the Stones conceded their last goal at Crawley Down) - when we lost at Whitstable second game and everyone was down, I said to the boys that our season starts now at Crawley and we'll go on a run and now we're on that run we want it to continue."
 
It’s just a shame that the Stones smallest gate of the season so far were at Bourne Park to watch what was an entertaining game, to which the visitors must receive a lot of credit for the way they attacked their hosts particularly in a very even first half in which the Stones back line were stretched to their very limits on more than one occasion.
 
Indeed after only 8 minutes, Stones keeper Charlie Mitten produced a smart save to deny the lively Graeme Purdy's shot on the turn.


The home side then enjoyed several good chances without breaking the deadlock.  On 9 minutes, Walton keeper Gareth Williams (who’s former clubs include Bromley) pulled off a brave block to deny Welford, but was left motionless when, nine minutes later, Andrews powered a header against his left post from a corner. 

Jimmy Humphris then created the home sides next good chance on 27 minutes, playing a super through ball for Welford, who held off Jon Munday before firing into the side netting.  Indeed the first half battle between Munday and Welford was a joy to behold.
 
It was in the closing stages of the first half that the visitors had their best chances.  On 32 minutes a mazy run by Bradley Quamina saw the gangly midfielder feed the ball through for Purdy to chase, and only the fast feet of keeper Mitten saved the day for the home side as the keeper raced off his line to clear with his feet. 

Two minutes later a long teasing cross from early Walton substitute Josh Webb fell invitingly for Munday, who was up for a corner that had just been cleared, and the defenders first time volley left Mitten motionless as the ball flew inches wide.
 
It really was now an enjoyable contest which was summed up by what only can be described as an "old fashioned" tackle between Sam Bewick and Ashley Quashie where both players thundered in without giving any quarter asked or any given and the only "victim" was the ball.
 
The second half began in spectacular fashion when Stones full back Tom Mills almost caught out keeper Williams with a vicious cross that would have crept in at the back post but for a fabulous back pedalling tip over! 

However, the game then turned on the Stones way in a big way on 47 minutes, when Munday gave referee Robathan no option as the defender who was last man pulled back to rampaging Welford as the Stones top scorer raced clear. 

Yet as often happens when a team gains a man advantage, Maidstone seemed to struggle to get in top, and it took a speculative 30 yard dipping volley from Danny Lye - which keeper Williams did very well to bundle over the bar - to really get the home side going again.
 
They finally broke the deadlock on 73 minutes when Welford netted his ninth goal of the season.  A corner caused chaos in the visitors’ box, and after the ball ricocheted through the penalty area it fell to the Stones striker who showed great composure to take the ball around Williams to roll the ball into the net. 
 
Ellis Green then had two great efforts - one flew just wide and the second curled just too high - but the Stones went into stoppage time with just Welford's goal to show for their efforts. 

And than came that sensational finish when Bradley should have stolen the visitors a point before Flisher's last kick pile driver sealed the points for Saunders' Stones.
 
So after two crushing defeats to start the season, Maidstone have won five games out of five in League and Cup, and are beginning to live up to their early season billing as one of the promotion candidates.  With Saunders soon to have his full squad to choose from, the rookie manager looks to have some very interesting times ahead as he tries to steer the Stones not only to home in Maidstone but also to an immediate return to the Premier Division of the Ryman League.

Maidstone United:  Charlie Mitten, Tommy Osborne, Tom Mills, Nick Reeves, Graeme Andrews, Danny Lye, Ellis Green, Sam Bewick, Shaun Welford, Jimmy Humphris (Baff Addae 46), Alex Flisher.
Subs:  James Pinnock, James Abraham, Alex Waugh, Peter Gill

Goals:  Shaun Welford 73, Alex Flisher 90

Booked: Alex Flisher 27

Walton & Hersham:  Gareth Williams, Ryan Adams (Josh Webb 17), Ashlee Quashie (Glenn Stanley 53), Victor Kiri, Jon Munday, Dan Sintim, Bradley Quamina, Harry Smart, Graeme Purdy, Jonathan Cosgrove (Sean Bradley 74), Phil Williams.
Subs:  Gary Frewen, Sheikh Ceesay
 
Booked:  Josh Webb 80
 
Sent Off: Jon Munday 47 
 
Attendance: 255
Referee:  Mr Daniel Robathan (Dorking, Surrey)
Assistants:   Mr Shaun Scott (Guildford, Surrey) & Mr K Belcher