Delano delivers for Stones boss
MAIDSTONE
Delano Sam-Yorke broke his duck for the season after a late reprieve.
Jay Saunders decided to drop the former Woking striker but changed his mind the night before Saturday’s game.
He stuck with him and the big striker delivered against his old club, scoring Maidstone’s second goal in a 3-1 win.
Sam-Yorke scored for Woking against Maidstone after his successful loan spell at the Gallagher last season and something told Saunders it would be his day again.
Saunders said: “If I’m being brutally honest, on Wednesday he was dropped and then last night he was back in.
“I did consider it but then in the back of your head, as we found out when he played against us last year, you always come back to haunt old clubs.
“His workrate was excellent and he was back to what I thought he was when he was here last season.
“He’s a good lad, his attitude hasn’t changed, he’s kept his head up and he’s kept working for the team.
“As long as you’re doing that then your luck will change in front of goal.”
Fortune favours the brave and Maidstone deserved their victory for a bold approach that saw them play four forwards.
Sam-Yorke, Joe Pigott and Johan ter Horst – making his first start – formed the front three with Zavon Hines causing havoc in behind.
With Stones committed to attack, they needed a midfield enforcer – and Reece Prestedge performed the role superbly on his return to the team.
Prestedge also had a hand in the first goal, as Maidstone took the lead on 34 minutes.
He took the ball into space before finding Hines whose pass to ter Horst led to a chance for Pigott.
The Stones striker’s shot was blocked with the ball falling to Hines who fired home down the middle of the goal.
Woking hit the post through Jason Banton early on and it was United’s turn at the end of the half after ter Horst cut in from the left.
Maidstone’s second goal, in the 67th minute, owed much to the industry of Stuart Lewis.
He carried the ball from deep inside his own half into Woking territory before finding substitute Jai Reason whose pass was fired home first time into the far corner by Sam-Yorke from outside the box.
It was a lovely finish with his left foot and Sam-Yorke’s celebration said it all. Woking were back in the game five minutes later, Joe Ward on target after a cross from substitute Jamie Philpot wasn’t cleared.
But Maidstone had their third in the 77th minute, Hines closing down a clearance before squaring for Pigott, who took a touch and finished nicely. Maidstone: Worgan, Hare, Prestedge, Wynter, Okuonghae, Lewis, Sam-Yorke, Anderson, ter Horst (Reason 59mins), Hines (Richards 85mins), Pigott (Paxman 81mins). Subs not used: Finney, Twumasi. Attendance: 2,527.