Early reward for bold decisions
MAIDSTONE
There’s no room for sentiment in football – as shown at the Gallagher last Saturday.
Around the time crowd favourites Dumebi Dumaka and Vas Karagiannis may have been given a run-out, Maidstone turned to two new faces.
And didn’t Nathan Mavila and Liam Enver-Marum do well as Jay Saunders’ side battled back from 2-1 down to draw with National League big-guns Wrexham.
Enver-Marum equalised six minutes after coming on while Mavila added another dimension with his pace and is the type of player who gives defenders nightmares.
Dumaka had quietly moved on loan to Concord while Karagiannis watched from the players’ enclosure before starting his month at Margate.
A point was the least Maidstone deserved from their strongest home display of the season.
Much of their best work started in central midfield, with Dan Sweeney and Jack Paxman running the show.
Fans have come to expect Paxman to be confident and want the ball but Sweeney’s dominance as a defensive shield, breaking up play and keeping things simple, was hugely encouraging.
Having bossed possession, Maidstone finally took the lead in the 21st minute.
Alex Flisher was fouled just outside the box, with Ben Greenhalgh bending a 20-yard free-kick in at the near post.
Wrexham boss Gary Mills, a European Cup winner with Nottingham Forest, had criticised 3G pitches in the build-up.
He doesn’t think they should be allowed in the National League but his team were simply being outplayed.
It came out of nothing when they levelled on 38 minutes, Jack Evans gifting the ball to Callum Powell who was allowed to run along the edge of the 18-yard box before finding the bottom corner.
Kevin Lokko had a header blocked on the line, Bobby-Joe Taylor hit the legs of keeper Shwan Jalal, then Alex Flisher saw a diving header drop inches wide.
But Wrexham improved and went in front on 68 minutes when the ball broke to Powell after John Rooney – brother of Wayne – miskicked a Paul Rutherford cross.
Enver-Marum’s debut goal came on 77 minutes when he intercepted an attempted backpass by Curtis Tilt and beat Jalal.
He could have had the winner after meeting a Taylor cross in added time but headed straight at Jalal. Maidstone: Worgan, Evans ( Hall- Johnson 79mins), Mills, Coyle, Lokko, Sweeney, Murphy ( Mavila 67mins), Paxman, Flisher, Greenhalgh ( EnverMarum 71mins), Taylor. Subs not used: Rogers, Richards: Attendance: 2,550 (176 away).