Expectations kept in check
MAIDSTONE
No one likes losing but Maidstone’s final-day defeat may not be such a bad thing.
A top-half finish looked there for the taking when National League runnersup Tranmere rested their entire first XI in preparation for the play-offs.
They fielded what amounted to a youth team last Saturday, with nine debutants and an average age of 19.
Victory in front of a record crowd of 3,409 would have seen United finish 11th and fuelled expectations for next season.
The fact they’ve ended up 14th just calms everyone down a bit and it’s a position United can realistically improve on.
Tranmere may have put their kids out but they were a good side.
They were never going to be bad players being on the books of a club the size of Rovers but not only could they play, they weren’t shy of putting their foot in.
Maidstone needed to knock the enthusiasm out of them early and they threatened to by forcing six corners inside 15 minutes, Joe Pigott going close from one after the ball dropped off Kevin Lokko.
Widemen Alex Flisher and BobbyJoe Taylor saw plenty of the ball while Magnus Okuonghae showed he’s more than just a big stopper with a couple of terrific crossfield passes.
Stones’ best chances fell to Stuart Lewis, who was denied by a smart low save by Luke Pilling, and Yemi Odubade, Pilling once again in the way after Taylor squared.
Pigott, having started a neat move, saw his header from a Taylor cross held by Pilling, while Rovers blew a big chance to lead when the unmarked Erico Sousa blazed over from the lively Aaron Collins’ pass.
Odubade was inches away from a spectacular opener early in the second half but Stones fell behind in the 57th minute. Lewis initially did well to snuff out the danger in the Stones box but the ball ended up with Rovers’ Adam Dawson, who played in Sam Ilesanmi.
It went flat for Maidstone after that, skipper Lee Worgan doing his best to fire them up.
They went close to an equaliser when Flisher hooked the ball goalwards, Pilling alert to make the save.
Tom Mills’ late effort was blocked, with handball appeals waved away, while Flisher’s strike was parried by Pilling. Maidstone: Worgan, Twumasi, Mills, Okuonghae (Coyle 65mins), Lokko, Taylor, Lewis, Prestedge (Paxman 57mins), Flisher, Pigott (Phipps 88mins), Odubade. Subs not used: Acheampong, McCarthy. Attendance: 3,409 (496 Rovers fans).