Unbeaten run ends on the road
MACCLESFIELD
Maidstone conceded just 62 seconds as nine-match unbeaten ended at Macclesfield Tuesday night.
United were caught cold as the lively Rhys Browne opened the scoring for the FA Trophy finalists.
The Silkmen clinched victory with Danny Whitaker’s penalty and a Jack Mackreth goal in the last three minutes.
It was one of United’s two games in hand over teams at the bottom of the National League and while they leftempty-handed, a five-point cushion in 16th place leaves them well placed to stay up.
The opening goal came from the first attack as Browne got clear up the right after a mistake by Kevin Lokko, broke into the box and finished across Lee Worgan.
It was the fifth game running Maidstone had fallen behind and they didn’t look unduly worried, seeing plenty of the ball in an open start.
The dangerous Whitaker was making the Silkmen tick in the middle of the park, involved in pretty much everything they did well.
He’d often look for Mackreth up the right, with Tom Mills after their run on Report: kept busy as Macclesfield looked to get crosses in the box.
Whitaker had a big chance to make it two from a Browne cross but missed unmarked at the far post.
Soon after, it was his corner that led to Chris Holroyd’s effort being blocked on the line.
Whitaker continued to have a big influence, going through himself but Worgan was out well to block.
Macclesfield had the best of the chances but with the game as open as it was, Jack Paxman, Reece Prestedge and Stuart Lewis got on the ball regularly in midfield.
They played some neat football but United were lacking the final pass to unlock the Silkmen, limited to Lewis’ 25-yard strike which was comfortably saved, as was Kevin Lokko’s header from a Mills free-kick.
The one time they really got in behind the defence, Joe Pigott hit the side-netting from a difficult angle.
Maidstone continued to probe away at the start of the second half but with no joy, introduced Yemi Odubade and Jamar Loza.
In between those changes, Macclesfield should have doubled their lead as Brown beat Lokko and then Jamie Coyle but scuffed his shot wide of the near post.
Loza’s first contribution was to tee up Mills after good work on the edge of the box by Pigott but the Stones left-back fired wide.
Stones’ first clear chance arrived in the 82nd minute as Pigott worked an opening in the box but Ross made the save and Bobby-Joe Taylor’s followup was blocked.
It was game over on 87 minutes when Twumasi’s nudge on Browne was enough to earn a penalty, with Whitaker beating Worgan down the middle.
A third followed on 89 minutes as Mackreth cut inside and found the far corner with a smart finish. There was another late blow at the end as Lewis walked off injured. Maidstone: Worgan, Twumasi, Mills, Coyle, Lokko, Lewis, Paxman (Odubade 61mins), Prestedge, Taylor (Oakley 88mins), Pigott, Flisher (Loza 68mins). Subs not used: Phipps, Okuonghae. Attendance: 988 (107 Stones fans).