Kedwell’s ‘revenge’ as Lewis sees red
EBBSFLEET
Fleet team. Lewis was fired up but no more than normal and he’d stayed out of trouble before the tackle on Drury saw him leave the field to boos from the home crowd.
Maidstone had the better chances in a high-quality game between two decent sides. It wasn’t the blood- and-thunder occasion some expected but fascinating all the same.
Nathan Ashmore made big saves from Joe Pigott’s free-kick and a first-time Lewis thunderbolt in a goalless first half.
The Fleet keeper was at it again after the break, getting down sharply to block Tom Wraight’s far-post header.
That save from Wraight came shortly before the classy Luke Coulson opened the scoring in the 66th minute.
Fleet had changed shape, moving to a flat back four with Coulson switching from right wing-back to leftmidfield.
The switch paid off when Coulson pounced on a mistake out wide by Seth Twumasi and fired the ball past Worgan, who was still trying to regain position having anticipated a backpass.
Fleet were on top after the opener and quickly threatened a second with Alex Finney making a superb tackle to rob Darren McQueen.
Finney had been outstanding all night, as calm as you like and always in the right place at the right time.
But he went off with a groin injury, replaced by Alex Wynter and moments later, Kedwell made it two in the 77th minute.
Jack Powell ran on to a pass and shaped to shoot before squaring to Kedwell who powered the ball past Worgan.
Fleet were home and dry and it took a smart save from Worgan to deny substitute Aaron McLean a third. Maidstone: Worgan, Twumasi, Anderson, Hare, Finney (Wynter 76mins), Lewis, Prestedge, Reason (Paxman 71mins), Sam-Yorke, Pigott, Wraight (Willard 74mins). Subs not used: Phipps, Richards. Attendance: 2,519.