Stones are all right, Jack
MAIDSTONE
Jay Saunders knows it must be ‘horses for courses’ as far as his team selection is concerned this season and he backed the right one on Tuesday night.
Having picked James Rogers for the heat of battle at Dartford three days earlier, Saunders recalled Jack Paxman for the visit of Wealdstone to the Gallagher.
And the diminutive midfielder played the pass of the night, splitting the visiting defence wide open to lay on the winning goal for Jay May.
Saunders said: “It’s different players for different games. I knew what the Dartford game would be like, with the three they play in midfield and I felt it suited Rogo more.
“Pax would agree if you asked him but he came in on Tuesday and ran the game for us in midfield. He got on the ball, created a lot, retained possession and he’s getting better at the defensive side of things.”
May had already gone close twice before the goal, rattling the bar with a long-range strike and heading over from Matt Bodkin’s cross.
His run was timed as well as Paxman’s pass was weighted and May showed great composure to roll the ball under Jonathan North for his first league goal since September 19.
Saunders said: “You can be critical of Jay and say he’s not been great lately but the service into him has not been good enough. Of late, I think you could have played anyone up there and I don’t think they’d have had too much joy.
“Everything we’ve been playing up to him has been a battle for him but it was a great through ball from Pax and he’s finished it nicely.”
Lee Worgan had a quiet night in the Stones goal despite a couple of alarms in front of him. Matthew Ball shot straight at the goalkeeper and Shaun Lucien volleyed wide in the second half.
But the division’s 1- 0 specialists should probably have won by more on this occasion. Manny Parry had a header cleared off the line and May almost doubled his tally late on, only to see the ball strike Dale Binns and bounce to safety.
Saunders said: “I thought it was a big game for us after the last couple. We were a lot more positive in our play and we kept the ball better than we have in recent weeks.
“Wealdstone are a decent side so for me, that’s a good three points.” Maidstone: Worgan, Driver, Mills, Coyle, Parry, Paxman, Bodkin ( Flisher 71mins), Healy, May, Birchall ( Rogers 81mins), Taylor. Subs not used: Akrofi, Collin, Butler. Attendance: 1,812.