Hare-raising finale earns Stones point
MAIDSTONE
When Jay Saunders picked Josh Hare over Seth Twumasi at right-back, he could never have imagined it would pay off quite like this.
United were heading for a third straight defeat until Hare popped up with a dramatic equaliser in the fifth minute of injury time on Tuesday night.
The goal gave Maidstone a deserved share of the spoils from what was an excellent game, ending Aldershot’s 100% start to the National League season.
The timing of the goal was special enough but the fact keeper Lee Worgan played such a big part in the build-up, after coming up for a corner, only added to drama.
Staying up after the initial ball was dealt with, he kept his nerve to feed Jai Reason who played in the cross for Hare’s header.
Worgan’s contribution to the goal crowned a top night for the Stones keeper, who made a series of saves to deny the league leaders.
The game was heading for the one of the best goalless draws you’ll see before Jake Gallagher gave Aldershot a 76th-minute lead, shortly after coming on.
But it would have been harsh on Maidstone to wind up empty-handed.
There were big chances at both ends in an open first half that somehow finished goalless.
For United, the best fell to Delano Sam-Yorke two yards out from a Reason cross but he didn’t put enough on the ball and keeper Jake Cole was able to block.
Earlier, Joe Pigott robbed Callum Reynolds just inside the Shots half and burst clear but Cheye Alexander got back to snuff out the chance and seconds later, the ball dropped to Reason in space but it took him by surprise and he missed the target.
At the other end, Worgan made three superb saves.
The first saw him sharply off his line to dive at the feet of Matt McClure, who looked certain to score.
He did even better to keep out McClure’s header from Shamir Fenelon’s cross, readjusting his body brilliantly and that was followed by another flying save to tip over James Rowe’s first-time effort from 20 yards.
Bobby-Joe Taylor, on his return to the Gallagher, flashed an effort inches wide from 25 yards and at the end of the half, crossed for dangerman Rowe whose diving header at the near post went across goal.
Early in the second half, Taylor had a shot blocked by Hare, then Worgan saved well from McClure in a fast start.
Pigott’s 20-yard free-kick, following a foul on Reason, forced a decent tip-over from Cole at the other end as the North Stand made themselves heard.
The pace continued with Jim Kellermann hitting the bar on the turn for Aldershot midway through the half.
Another golden opportunity then fell to Sam-Yorke who was denied at point-blank range by Cole after meeting Pigott’s cut-back at the near post.
Maidstone would pay for the latest miss when Gallagher put Aldershot in front.
He’d only been on the pitch three minutes when he timed his run to perfection to take a pass and finish low into the corner.
Sam-Yorke sent an injurytime chance into the stand for the Stones and that looked to be that until Hare had other ideas. Maidstone: Worgan, Hare, Anderson, Okuonghae, Wynter, Reason, Prestedge, Paxman (Phipps 81mins), Sam-Yorke, Pigott, Wraight (Richards 78mins). Subs not used: Twumasi, Willard, Taylor. Attendance: 2,524 (367 away).