Topless Terras a big turn-off
MAIDSTONE
Weymouth’s late winner was the last thing any Maidstone fan needed to see.
The reason for that wasn’t necessarily the defeat, more the sight of the topless Terras fan who ran on to the pitch to celebrate.
Suffice to say, he should definitely keep his shirt on at games in future, and the same goes for the rest of his mates who congregated in the Town End on Saturday.
A new-look Maidstone side included 10 debutants, with Justin Amaluzor the only survivor from last season. Amaluzor gave United the lead early in the second half but two late goals from Ben Thomson, including an 88th-minute winner, saw a bright Weymouth side take the points.
Stones head of football John Still felt Weymouth deserved their victory.
He said: “I think it might have been fair. I think so, if I’m honest. “First half I thought we were not very collective.
“We were good in spells but took too long getting into front people and didn’t really function in midfield.
“We got a goal, a good goal, and I thought we actually controlled the game for a while.
“I thought that was the first time we actually controlled the game but their goal was so soft. “From that minute on I’m not going to dispute that maybe they deserved to get the winning goal. “I’ve got no real insight into the winning goal other than it looked like a free header too close to our goal, which is poor.
“I thought when we attacked, we attacked good, but not enough players played to the standard or Report: Pictures:
the level for us to say we’re going to win games consistently.” Two divisions separated these clubs last season with Maidstone relegated from the National League while Weymouth won the Southern League.
The Terras played with the confidence of a team with a league title behind them, passing the ball nicely and opening up Maidstone a few times in the first half.
George Elokobi made a vital interception in the six-yard box while Thomson wasted a couple of good opportunities to open the scoring.
Maidstone looked bright in attack, too, with Amaluzor testing keeper Callum Ward and Nana Kyei planting a header just over, while Jonny Edwards also threatened.
Edwards was key to the Stones’ opening goal on 54 minutes. Showing great strength to win the ball on halfway, he forced his way up the right and while his cross evaded everyone, Amaluzor retrieved the ball, cut inside and fired into the bottom corner. Maidstone appeared to have seen off Weymouth – the Terras nowhere near as effective as they had been in the first half.
But that changed with the equalising goal in the 74th minute as Thomson spun Elokobi from Jake McCarthy’s pass and fired past Jake Cole from the edge of the box.
Cole made an excellent save from Thomson, with ex-Stones striker Yemi Odubade denied by Luke Pennell on the line from the follow-up.
The warning signs were there and Weymouth had their winner two minutes from time with Thomson’s header from an Ollie Harfield corner.