Stones show urgency to
CHESTER
United were a team in a hurry at Chester – in more ways than one. Determined to get their first National League win – and avoid a repeat of the sobering first-half experience at Aldershot – they flew at the Blues last Saturday.
Goals from Anthony Acheampong, Ben Greenhalgh and Alex Flisher secured the result their efforts deserved but there was no time to celebrate, with a race against the clock to catch their train home.
Maybe Chester turned up expecting to brush aside the league new-boys, having easily beaten much-fancied Dagenham in midweek.
The home crowd did and they were quick to let their side know they weren’t happy as Maidstone outplayed them.
Opened up regularly at one end, and largely snuffed out at the other, Chester frustration boiled over 12 minutes from time when goalscorer James Alabi was sent off for a dreadful studsup challenge on Lee Worgan.
Amazingly, he was given a standing ovation as he trotted off, while Worgan left the Deva with his arm in a bandage.
Jack Evans made his debut at right-back in place of the injured Callum Driver while Jack Paxman came in for Dan Sweeney as Stones made two changes from the midweek defeat at Aldershot.
Stones were overrun early on at the Rec last Tuesday night but made a far better start here, with Bobby-Joe Taylor and Tom Murphy exploiting space out wide. Murphy in particular was having
a field day down the right before the hosts twigged and got tighter towards the end of the half. A good early chance fell Maidstone’s way with Murphy making his way down the flank and squaring for Flisher, who was denied on the line. Maidstone were in front on 20 minutes. Murphy, picking up a loose ball after Greenhalgh’s corner was partially cleared, had time to turn and stand a lovely ball up to the back post where Acheampong headed home. Jay Saunders’ side threatened a second soon after with Murphy’s strike parried by Liam Roberts and Greenhalgh’s follow-up blocked. Home fans were starting to get impatient but on 31 minutes were on their feet cheering the equaliser, Alabi cutting inside from the left and firing across Worgan. Chester keeper Roberts did well to parry from Flisher, when played in by Tom Mills and then Greenhalgh, from a Taylor cross, as Stones started the second half well. But he was picking the ball out of his net in the 57th minute when Greenhalgh controlled Flisher’s inswinging cross from the right and stabbed home. Maidstone were soon celebrating their third, Murphy cutting inside and finding Flisher who turned just inside the area and fired into the bottom corner after 64 minutes. Maidstone handed a debut to former Norwich youngster Reece Hall-Johnson and he was involved in the build-up as fellow substitute Dumebi Dumaka hit the post. Maidstone: Worgan, Evans, Mills, Acheampong, Lokko, Rogers, Murphy, Paxman (Sweeney 75min), Flisher, Greenhalgh (Hall-Johnson 82mins), Taylor (Dumaka 67min). Subs not used: Coyle, Karagiannis. Attendance: 1,912.