Second-half goals secure the points
JEFFERY STRIKE SENDS STONES BACK TO THE TOP OF THE TABLE
Stones eventually found a way past Ryman League, Premier Division strugglers VCD last Saturday.
Second-half goals from Jay May and Alex Flisher gave Maidstone victory over their old Kent League rivals.
The visitors put up a decent fight in a quiet first half and should have gone in front after the break.
Stones boss Jay Saunders said: “People were asking if we had one eye on the FA Cup. Maybe it was that but we never got out of the blocks in the first half.
“It was a typical top v bottom game where everyone expected us to turn them over comfortably.
“You look at it, see the run they’ve been on and think we’ll be all right.
“But they came here with nothing to lose and had a go.
“If we’d scored early in the first half when Alex Akrofi crossed for Frannie Collin, it would have been a different game.
“We said a few things at half-time and got a response. The main thing was to get the win. It would have been a nightmare to lose or draw and go into the cup weekend knowing Margate could be 12 or 13 points ahead of us by the time we play again.”
Akrofi showed early promise with a couple of lively runs down the left.
He was involved in Stones’ best chance of the first half on 10 minutes, his blocked cross falling for Collin whose strike was saved by Nick Blue.
A couple of times the visitors got in good areas but couldn’t take advantage, James Rogers proving enough of a nuisance to stop Lea Dawson getting a clean strike on goal when played in by Michael Power.
Matt Bodkin worked Blue after a one-two with May early in the second half. But seconds later, there was a let-off for Stones when Power hit the post and somehow put the rebound over with the goal gaping.
It was the start of a lively spell which led to United going in front with May meeting Jack Parkinson’s far-post cross after 59 minutes.
Substitute Flisher offered United an extra spark, setting up Bodkin for a shot that was well held by Blue.
Stones looked in control but needed the cushion of another goal which arrived on 78 minutes when Parkinson played in Flisher who fired across Blue into the far corner. Maidstone: Worgan, Starkey, Mills, Coyle, Miles, Rogers (Jordan 79mins) Parkinson, May, Collin (Flisher 62mins), Akrofi (Brown 67mins). Subs not used: Davies, Godmon. Attendance: 1,903