Late twist denies Stones
MAIDSTONE
Joe Pigott took his pre-season form into the opening day but Maidstone were shocked by a late equaliser.
Pigott, with seven goals in friendlies, showed his class with a brilliant second-half free-kick to give United the lead on Saturday.
They should already have been a couple of goals to the good against National South champions Maidenhead and further chances followed before an 88th-minute header from Sam Barratt rescued a point for the Magpies, who might even have pinched victory in a frantic finish.
Before that, the step up in class from National South to the National League was clear as Maidstone – with a year under their belts at this level – looked largely in control against the league new boys.
Ma iden he a d were big and strong but most of the football – and that bit of quality that’s needed in nonleague’s top flight – came from the hosts.
Indeed, it was looking like as comfortable a 1- 0 win as you’re likely to see.
Maidstone named four debutants with Joe Anderson at left-back, Josh Hare and Alex Finney pairing up in defence and Harley Willard lining up on the left wing.
United made an assured start, Stuart Lewis and Reece Prestedge picking everything up in the middle and Jack Paxman getting on the ball in good areas while full-backs Anderson and Seth Twumasi got forward well.
A lovely move just before the 15th-minute mark saw Lewis and Pigott combine to feed Willard, whose terrific strike from 20 yards hit the crossbar.
The chance of the half came on 40 minutes when Willard played a fine ball across the sixyard box for Delano Sam-Yorke to slide on to but his effort went just wide.
Maidstone took the lead in the 51st minute.
Paxman was fouled centrally on the edge of the box and Pigott stepped up to bend a lovely strike into the top left-hand corner.
Harry Pritchard worked Lee Worgan with a free-kick at the other end but United almost made it two midway through the half when Pigott’s header from a Willard free-kick came back off the bar. Maidenhead nearly put through their own net under pressure from Pigott then a pass from the goalscorer, intended for Sam-Yorke, fell to substitute Tom Wraight, who probably should have scored.
Wraight then threw himself at Sam-Yorke’s cross, just missing a touch and ending up in the net, while a 20-yard Lewis strike tested keeper Carl Pentney.
Having looked in charge, United were rocked with two minutes left when a corner was headed home by Barratt.
It brought Maidenhead to life with Worgan producing a fine double save from Barratt and then Dave Tarpey, who looked certain to finish the loose ball. Maidstone: Worgan, Hare, Anderson, Hare, Finney, Paxman (Phipps 84mins), Lewis, Prestedge, SamYorke, Pigott, Willard (Wraight 74mins). Subs not used: Wynter, Reason, Richards. Attendance: 2,298.