Day trippers blown away by fast start
MAIDSTONE
Surely a team capable of doing this to an established National League club like Chester can’t go down.
Maidstone blew away the visitors with three goals inside 13 minutes last Saturday – including two in the opening five – and were four-up at the break.
The visitors pulled a couple back in the second half but this was United’s day.
Chester had lost their last three games but were in the play-off mix a few weeks ago and on paper boasted a side good enough to test anyone in the division.
But they were a shell-shocked mess as Maidstone tore into them with their best attacking football of the season.
Defender Kevin Lokko scored two of the goals, with Delano Sam-Yorke and Joe Pigott – with his first for the club – also on target.
They led after two minutes with Pigott keeping the ball alive from Reece Prestedge’s far-post corner and setting up Lokko, who turned home.
It was soon two, Chester not dealing with another Prestedge corner and this time Jack Paxman showed good feet to work an opening for Sam-Yorke to take a touch and finish.
The dream start continued as Maidstone went 3- 0 up.
Stuart Lewis worked the ball back to Alex Flisher following a long throw and his cross was touched on by Sam-Yorke for Pigott to score at the near post.
Maidstone were full of confidence and it showed.
They were passing the ball for fun and had so much energy about their play, typified by Lewis in midfield.
Flisher crashed a 25-yard drive off the inside of the post just after the half-hour and then crossed for Pigott whose clever backheel was well saved by Alex Lynch at his near post.
Maidstone looked a threat every time they went forward and went four-up a minute before the break, Lynch making a mess of Lokko’s header from a Paxman corner.
There was a glimmer of hope for Chester in the 52nd minute when James Alabi sent Lee Worgan the wrong way from the penalty spot after a foul by Seth Twumasi.
Lynch made a flying save from Paxman’s 25-yard strike, then Pigott ran through with the keeper off his line but saw his lob drop over the bar as Maidstone looked for a fifth.
But Chester scored again on 67 minutes when a free-kick was headed in by Sam Hughes.
There were a few nerves by now although substitute BobbyJoe Taylor almost settled them, hitting the side-netting after cutting in from the right, and Lewis went close in the closing stages from Jamar Loza’s pass. Maidstone: Worgan, Twumasi, Mills, Coyle, Lokko, Prestedge, Paxman (Loza 84mins), Lewis, Pigott (Taylor 75mins), Sam-Yorke (McCarthy 87mins), Flisher. Subs not used: Acheampong, Odubade. Attendance: 2,120. Boss Jay Saunders said Maidstone’s breathtaking start against Chester didn’t feel real. Saunders called for a fast start after learning mid-table Chester – who normally stay overnight for away games – had made the 260-mile trip on the day. He thought United could catch them cold and his side delivered with three goals in 13 minutes. Saunders said: “It didn’t feel very real to be honest because I haven’t been in that position for a little while! “We knew they’d travelled down on the day and we’ve been doing that every week this season. “I was chatting to one