Stones make up for lost time
FC HALIFAX
Stuart Lewis plans to play on for many more years after hitting 30. You might think the Maidstone midfielder’s all-action game would catch up with him eventually but he looks after himself and is enjoying his football more than ever. Turning 30 isn’t the barrier it once was for footballers, with Lewis drawing inspiration from former Barnet team-mate Andy Hessenthaler. Lewis, who celebrated his 30th birthday on October 15, said: “I suppose 30 is a milestone moment for a footballer. “In the old v young games at training, I’m one of the oldest in the old team now. “I keep myself fit and work hard to stay on top of my fitness. Nowadays with everything that’s come into the game, all the recovery and stuff like that, hopefully I’ll have plenty more years to come. “I made my debut with Andy Hessenthaler at Barnet and he was brilliant. He was 37 or 38 when he played with me and was the fittest player in the team. “I’m probably a little bit similar to him as a player and he was playing into his late 30s so hopefully anything past 35-36 would be brilliant.” Lewis is the same bundle of energy who burst on the scene at Barnet before enjoying play-off final success at Wembley with Gillingham in 2009 and League 2 promotion with Wycombe two years later. The difference now is he knows when to hold his runs. He said: “I’m all about energy and how I play on the front foot is part of my game. “I’ve always tried to keep that side to me but I probably try to pick and choose a little bit more, although there’s some games when I keep wanting to go and still feel like I’m 21. “I feel fresh and I feel good so Maidstone made it four away wins on the spin with Tuesday night’s impressive performance at FC Halifax.
It’s technically five with the FA Cup extra-time victory as well but National League success on the road means United are up to 10th – only six points behind leaders Dover with a game in hand.
Stones, back up north three days after the abandoned game at AFC Fylde, led through Joe Pigott’s 15th-minute goal.
Jai Reason, the latest man on penalty duties, clinched the points from the spot after an hour.
If Maidstone were feeling the effects of a long bus trip, Pigott’s goal put the spring in their step.
Stones boss Jay Saunders said: “We’ve had two long trips and it takes a lot out of you, especially Tuesday.
“We left at 12 o’clock, we got there at half-six and only had one 20-minute stop because of traffic.
“It’s one of them where you get off the coach and think ‘how’s it going to go?’ but the boys were excellent.
“On trips like that I just think the first goal is so important. If you get it you’ll be OK.
“Mentally you’re then up for it and it gives you that extra bit of energy.
“If you concede the first goal it always makes it tougher for you but we were well worth the three points.
“I thought we were excellent. We managed the game really well, defended really well and limited them to two long-range shots.”
With Joe Anderson out with an ankle injury, Seth turning 30 had been more of a number than anything else. “There’s going to be players coming in who are younger than you but you’ve got to adapt and stay one of the top players.” Signing for Maidstone gave Lewis’ career a shot in the arm after an unhappy end to his time at Ebbsfleet. He said: “Since January, when I arrived, it’s kicked me on again and I’m enjoying my football more than I ever have at any club and that’s probably showing in my performances. “Having the connection I’ve got with the fans here has been a highlight of my career. “That means as much as anything because you don’t get it too often at clubs. “I lost a little bit of the buzz for football at Ebbsfleet and I got it back here. “I owe that to the manager and the fans who have given me that extra kick over the last eight or nine months.” Twumasi covered admirably moving across to left-back, with Josh Hare strong on the right as Stones kept Halifax dangerman Matty Kosylo quiet.
Pigott had plenty to do for the opener after Halifax failed to clear their lines, staying on his feet and rounding keeper Tom Nicholson before finding the empty net.
Pigott went close to a second before Reason’s lovely pass set up Zavon Hines who hit the post after cutting inside.
Hines had another chance just after the break, Nicholson making a smart block, then it was Delano Sam-Yorke’s turn to hit the post.
Maidstone doubled their lead after a foul by Scott McManus on Hines.
With Hines and Pigott both missing penalties over the last couple of weeks, Reason took responsibility and confidently smashed home.
Maidstone had dropped to 13th following the Flyde call-off, putting pressure on United’s trip to the Shay.
Saunders said: “After our game was called off on Saturday it was really important we got three points.
“Where this league is so tight, if we’d lost all of a sudden you start dropping down the league, which is crazy considering we’ve done all right this season.” Maidstone: Worgan, Hare, Twumasi, Wynter, Finney, Lewis, Reason, Hines ( Loza 81mins), Sam-Yorke ( ter Horst 85mins), Pigott, Wraight ( Prestedge 67mins). Subs not used: Paxman, Taylor. Attendance: 1,410.