Stones given the all-clear to stage much-delayed Trophy tie at Homelands

Monday 18th January 2010

MAIDSTONE UNITED are confident that they will finally get their much-delayed FA Carlsberg Trophy tie against Histon played on Tuesday night, writes Stephen McCartney.

The first round tie has been postponed six times already, but the match has finally passed a pitch inspection at around 4:45pm this afternoon and will go ahead at Ashford Town’s Homelands Stadium, much to the delight of everyone at the cash-strapped club.

The Football Association told the Ryman Premier League club that this would be the last chance to stage the game at home. If it’s postponed tomorrow then the Stones must travel to Histon’s ground on Wednesday evening.

The Stones have confirmed that the game must be settled on the night, with extra time or penalties required to see which side will travel to Salisbury City in the next round. Cambridge United and Eastbourne Borough, who like Histon play in the Blue Square Premier, await the winners in the third round, scheduled for 30th January.

Stones joint-manager, Lloyd Hume, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, is desperately eager to get the game played.

“We haven’t played for two weeks, but we had a friendly on Saturday at the Beckham Centre, which was a good exercise for us because it was a competitive game,”

“We played Enfield Town, it was a good run out for us, we won 4-1.”

When the Trophy tie should have originally been played (12th December), Histon manager Steve Fallon was suspended with his chairman alleging he was asked to look at reducing four players’ wages but “chose to tell the whole team that they were going to be released,” reported BBC Cambridgeshire.

Fallon was suspended by the club on 7 December, but was reinstated on 11th January, but then parted company with the club, with assistant manager John Lewer remaining in charge of team affairs.

“It hasn’t hugely affected their form has it,” quipped Hume. “They’re in the top half of the Conference and still going well so we know they’re going to be a really strong side.

“Everyone has told us about them and have watched them for us and have said they’re very strong, they’re direct and they have a lot of pace about them.

“They are a powerful Conference side, which is why they’re in the top half of the table.”

Hume faces a selection headache for the game - two of his three central defenders have been ruled out through suspension, leaving teenager Tom Parkinson as the only one available.

“We’ve got a couple suspensions that have totted up so I’m going into the game with only one centre half,” revealed Hume.

“I have three to choose from but only one available because of suspensions - Tom Parkinson who is a nineteen-year-old kid.

“We’re going to have to move people around. We’re not going to change formation but without Peter Hawkins and without James Peacock it makes it harder for us.”

Hume urges the Stones faithful to make their pilgrimage to Homelands Stadium to back the boys.

“I’m really hoping we get the game on at home and we get big support,” he said. “There hasn’t been a game for ages and hopefully this will get the supporters appetite’s up for the game so we get a large numbers down there.”

Visit Maidstone United’s website: www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

Maidstone United v Histon

FA Carlsberg Trophy First Round

Tuesday 19th January 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Homelands Stadium, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN26 1NJ