Loza centre stage in best away day so far
WOKING
Who saw that one coming?
Not the goal for ex-Stones loanee Delano Sam-Yorke – it seemed just about everyone expected that.
We’re talking about the amazing comeback from 2- 0 down as Maidstone moved above National League relegation rivals Woking on Saturday.
Jamar Loza’s hat-trick – his first in senior football – turned the match before substitute Yemi Odubade made sure of victory with a late fourth.
That made it seven games unbeaten for Stones and of all the memorable away days in United’s first year back at this level, this must go down as the best.
The win at Dagenham, with the whole night-game atmosphere and beating a team who were second in the league, runs it close – but this tops it. Maidstone actually started pretty well, Alex Flisher inches away from meeting an inviting Stuart Lewis cross while Joe Pigott’s overhead kick was well saved by Michael Poke.
A lot of the game was played in the Woking half, Stones getting in several decent positions high up the pitch, until the inevitable Sam-Yorke goal left them trailing.
There were big appeals for offside as the ball was fed back into the box but the linesman’s flag stayed down and Sam-Yorke kept his cool and slipped it past Lee Worgan.
It came moments after Stones fans had been singing ‘ SamYorke is a Maidstone lad’ and, while he had a job to do, his celebrations were low-key.
Maidstone conceded a lousy second in the 25th minute, Jamie Lucas beating Kevin Lokko from a long ball, first in the air and then on the floor and finding the far corner.
Stones needed a quick response and got it four minutes later.
Reece Prestedge found himself in plenty of room, leading a counter-attack and playing in Loza who continued his run and bent a beauty into the far corner.
Maidstone thought they were level six minutes into the second half, Jamie Coyle’s header from a Flisher throw looking over the line but play went on amid big protests. But Stones did equalise in the 68th minute as Flisher worked the ball to Loza in a crowded box and he finished through Poke’s legs.
Maidstone piled on the pressure and went 3-2 up in the 76th minute.
Prestedge’s free-kick from the left wasn’t dealt with and there was Loza to pounce and complete his hat-trick, cueing wild celebrations from the 603 away fans.
They were going crazy again seven minutes later as Maidstone made it four.
This time, Flisher collected the ball on the left and squared for Odubade who finished smartly into the corner with little room to play with. Maidstone: Worgan, Twumasi, Mills, Coyle, Lokko, Prestedge, Paxman (Odubade 67mins), Lewis, Loza (Phipps 85mins), Pigott (Oakley 90mins), Flisher. Subs not used: Taylor, Okuonghae. Attendance: 2,088 (603 Stones fans).