Unbeaten home run ended by bogey side
MAIDSTONE
There’s something about Bromley that Maidstone can’t get to grips with.
That’s three meetings in the National League now and each time the Lillywhites have won 2- 0.
Their latest victory, at the Gallagher on Tuesday night, ended United’s unbeaten home record and was just a second defeat in 11 for Jay Saunders’ side.
Bromley were the better side in the first half, taking the lead when Magnus Okuonghae put through his own net from a Louis Dennis free-kick.
Dennis made the points safe in the last minute as Maidstone pushed men forward. Manager Saunders under pressure.
“But when you’re leaving yourself that open and really pushing for it, taking gambles and pushing extra bodies forward, you’re liable to them nicking another goal and that happened.”
Maidstone struggled to create anything in the first half, threatening only from a 25-yard free-kick by Joe Pigott which went just wide.
A challenge by ex-Bromley man Reece Prestedge on Iffy Allen earned a booking and led to the opening goal.
Dennis swung over the free-kick and the ball went in off Stones defender Okuonghae to hand Bromley a 38th-minute lead.
Maidstone made a change at the break, Jack Richards coming on for Jai Reason and moving out to the left with Zavon Hines now infield.
It almost paid off with Hines in the box to meet a cross from Seth Twumasi but Jack Holland made an excellent challenge.
Down the other end, Worgan saved well from George Porter, who was after a third goal in as many games against his old club.
Stones took Hines off midway through the half – he’d been booked early on and was walking a tightrope – with Tom Wraight on in his place.
Wraight soon won and took a corner which was headed back across goal by Okuonghae to Pigott, with ter horst forcing a superb point-blank save from David Gregory.
Pressure was starting to build and United went close again, Pigott’s 30-yard free-kick hitting the bar.
Another chance fell Pigott’s way soon after but he couldn’t make the most of a Richards cross when wellplaced, then Wraight fired straight at Gregory.
The match was in the final minute of normal time when Dennis stabbed home the second after good work by Luke Wanadio in the box. Maidstone: Worgan, Twumasi, Anderson, Okuonghae, Wynter, Lewis, Prestedge (Paxman 83mins), Reason (Richards 46mins), ter Horst, Pigott, Hines (Wraight 65mins). Subs not used: Finney, Muldoon. Attendance: 2,541 (203 away).