‘That’s the best we’ve played’
Maidstone were excellent at unbeaten Gosport last Saturday.
They left with a first draw in eight matches in National League South but deserved to win.
Stones boss Jay Saunders said: “It was the best we’ve played this season, especially in the first half. If we’d been two or three up at half-time it would have been a fair reflection.
“Their keeper made two unbelievable saves from Jay May, one from a volley and the other a header and we put in some great crosses that just missed people.”
There was a first start for on-loan striker Adam Birchall, while Alex Brown dropped to the bench to accommodate Jack Paxman in midfield.
Saunders said: “Browny’s been one of our best players.
“He was slightly off it over the Bank Holiday weekend – a few of them were – but I felt we needed to get Paxman in the middle alongside Joe Healy and I also wanted Birch in the side, so we changed things slightly.”
May’s 20-yard volley was somehow tipped over by Nathan Ashmore as Stones went close early on. His header came just
Pictures: after the half-hour from Stones’ fourth successive corner.
So good were Stones in the first half that Gosport, starting the day third in the league, had to take action.
Saunders said: “They’ve changed shape at half-time which shows how much we’ve dominated.
“You don’t often see that when you go away from home but that’s how well we played.
“They came into it in the second half but we’ve limited them to two chances.”
Gosport’s best chance fell to Justin Bennett, whose header was brilliantly saved by Lee Worgan.
May headed straight at Ashmore at the other end and later saw a shot blocked when played in by Bobby-Joe Taylor. Maidstone: Worgan, Driver, Mills, Coyle, Parry, Paxman, Taylor (Brown 84mins), Healy, May, Birchall (Collin 86mins), Akrofi (Bodkin 61mins). Subs not used: Pinnock, Watt. Attendance: 634.