Super Sweeney feels the love
MAIDSTONE
Victory over Eastleigh was sealed with a kiss – or make that two.
Co-owner Terry Casey planted a celebratory smacker on Dan Sweeney’s forehead as the Maidstone midfielder talked about his starring role in Tuesday’s night victory over Eastleigh.
So chuffed were Maidstone to win a game after four National League defeats in a row – and eight in their last 10 – that chief executive Bill Williams also took the chance to plant a kiss on Sweeney.
He was an unlikely hero – not even in the side until Jamar Loza got held up on the long drive down from Norwich.
But he grabbed the chance with both hands, scoring in just the fifth minute and bossing midfield in partnership with James Rogers and Jack Paxman.
Eastleigh are throwing big money at trying to get into the Football League and levelled with a penalty early in the second half.
They had the big names but they didn’t match Maidstone’s heart and work rate and Jay Saunders’ side were soon back in front when Bobby-Joe Taylor scored the winner from the spot.
Maidstone led when Sweeney curled home with his left foot Report: Pictures: from just inside the box after Tom Mills took an Alex Flisher pass and squared.
Former Premier League striker Jamie Cureton hit the sidenetting after bursting through from the restart but it was a rare scare for a Maidstone side who were buzzing after Sweeney’s goal.
It did wonders for Sweeney personally – he was getting about the pitch and winning everything – and also his team-mates, who looked good on the ball and were quickly on to Eastleigh when the Hampshire side had possession.
Flisher fired over after winning the ball while Paxman went close after Sweeney intercepted a pass midway inside the Eastleigh half.
The visitors did threaten shortly after the half-hour, Jamie Coyle blocking a header from Ross Stern.
United were pegged back on 49 minutes, a penalty given against Paxman and Michael Mandron scoring down the middle.
Maidstone’s response was immediate, Scott Brown with an excellent save from Sweeney’s strike and Flisher clearing the bar from the rebound.
A minute later, Mills fed Yemi Odubade whose near-post effort was kept out by Brown.
Back came Eastleigh, with Worgan making an outstanding save from Mandron’s header.
What a game it was turning into, with Maidstone back in front on 59 minutes.
Odubade went down under a challenge from Joe Partington – clever play from the ex-Eastleigh man – and Taylor buried his spot-kick low to the keeper’s right.
It was such an open match, Worgan getting down well from Luke Coulson’s 25-yard strike, then Odubade raced through one-on-one but lifted the ball over.
Chances continued to fall at both ends, James Constable somehow missing the target for Eastleigh from four yards in the last couple of minutes and Worgan denying Andy Drury in injury time. Maidstone: Worgan, Twumasi, Mills, Coyle, Rogers, Sweeney, Paxman, Taylor, Flisher, Odubade (EnverMarum 90mins). Subs not used: Hudson-Odoi, Evans, Greenhalgh, Loza. Attendance: 1,714.