Stones make light work of Villagers
NORTH FERRIBY
Maidstone were too good for the villagers of North Ferriby – even with 10 men.
United played the second half a player short after Jack Evans was sent off for bringing down Reece Thompson just before the break.
They were already leading through Liam Enver-Marum’s second goal in two appearances for his new club and quickly killed off the game through a lovely Alex Flisher strike before working hard to deny the Yorkshiremen a sniff of a comeback.
Last Saturday’s meeting was a clash of the National North and National South play-off winners.
It should have been close but there was a gulf in class as Maidstone made the Villagers looked ordinary.
It’s remarkable Ferriby are even in the National League.
A pleasant village with a population of less than 4,000, it was like popping along to Boughton Monchelsea for a National League game.
It’s a joke he’s no doubt used before but, when asked what sort of side Ferriby would have out, the local journalist even said: “Welcome to village football – it’s whoever turns up at 10 to 3!”
Ferriby confidence was low after three defeats in a row and for most of the first half they sat off and let Maidstone do whatever they liked.
A goal looked a matter of time as United dominated and it arrived on 11 minutes.
Jack Paxman launched the move deep in his own half, finding Tom Murphy, who picked out the overlapping Tom Mills.
The Stones full-back continued his run before pulling the ball back for EnverMarum who swept home first time from 12 yards.
North Ferriby started to get into the game but with Maidstone defending sensibly, they barely mustered a shot.
Their hopes were raised when last-man Evans was dismissed two minutes before half-time, catching Thompson on the edge of the box as the home striker raced on to a Connor Oliver long ball.
Murphy made way at half-time as Reece Hall-Johnson came on to fill Evans’ rightback spot, with Stones switching to a three-man midfield.
The 10 men doubled their lead on 49 Maidstone: Worgan, Evans, Mills, Coyle, Lokko, Sweeney, Murphy ( Hall- Johnson 46mins), Paxman ( Mavila 80mins), Flisher, EnverMarum ( Rogers 75mins), Taylor. Subs not used: Greenhalgh, Richards. Attendance: 479.