Impressive Stones cash in
MAIDSTONE
That’s another challenge ticked off the list – back-to-back wins in the National League.
United played so well at Chester in claiming their first victory last Saturday.
But Jay Saunders was quick to point it would mean nothing if they didn’t follow it up against Braintree on Tuesday night – and clearly his players listened.
Bobby-Joe Taylor’s first-half double led Stones to victory over a Braintree side who had defender Jon Ashton sent off in the last 10 minutes.
The Iron replied through substitute Joe Maybanks in the third minute of injury time. Maidstone dominated much of the first half. Kevin Lokko was inches wide with a header from an Alex Flisher long throw before United led through Taylor in just the fourth minute.
The Stones winger ran on to a neat Ben Greenhalgh pass and fired the ball past Town loanee Ross Fitzsimons.
Maidstone, with Jack Paxman bright in midfield, were all over the visitors with chances falling to Taylor and Flisher as Braintree struggled to get out of their own half.
The second goal came on the half-hour with Taylor played in through the middle by Paxman, turning his man on the edge of the box and beating Fitzsimmons with a deflected strike.
A 30-yard strike by Jack Evans flashed over – it would have been some goal – as United threatened a third.
Harry Lee was Braintree’s brightest player, both in open play and from his dangerous set-pieces.
Several times he picked out the head of Ashton from corners, one knockdown presenting the unmarked Lee Barnard with a golden chance in the six-yard box, only for the ex-Southampton man to lift the ball over.
Lee Worgan, having earlier dealt with Lee’s 25-yard drive, also did well to turn Rohell Gordon’s free-kick out for a corner.
Early in the second half Greenhalgh ran on to his own pass – intended for Flisher – and steamed clear but saw his effort float just over.
Anthony Acheampong threw himself in the way of a Jack Midson strike as space opened up for the Braintree man around the hour mark.
Flisher and Greenhalgh – who’s added workrate to his undoubted class, and almost forced a third through the keeper’s legs – continued to look a threat, while at the other end, United looked nice and solid.
Ashton was sent off for pulling back Flisher on the edge of the box in the 81st minute. Flisher took the free-kick himself, a thumping effort parried by Fitzsimons, who also got behind James Rogers’ follow-up. Time was almost up when Maybanks denied United their first clean sheet of the season. Maidstone: Worgan, Evans, Mills, Acheampong, Lokko, Rogers, Murphy (Hall-Johnson 74mins), Paxman (Sweeney 60mins), Flisher, Greenhalgh, Taylor (Karagiannis 84mins). Subs not used: Coyle, Richards. Attendance: 2,242.