16thnov03

Sunday 16th November 2003

Maidstone progress with two quick goals

Bromley 1-2 Maidstone United

Sunday 16 November 2003

Plaaya Cup Second Round (under 18)

by Stephen McCartney www.kentishfootball.co.uk

Maidstone United progressed into the third round of the Plaaya Cup after two goals in the space of three minutes early in the second half saw them beat Bromley at the Clive Christian Stadium in Hayes Lane.

Both teams had chances in the first nine minutes of the game. Maidstone United goalkeeper Dan Morrin blocked Jamie Leggett's low shot after he beat the offside trap before he positioned himself behind Danny Pearce's powerful free kick from 25 yards.

Sandwiched between these chances was a looping header from Ryan Lee, but Bromley goalkeeper Dean Carins saved comfortably.

Maidstone United got back into the game and Colin Finch saw his two long range efforts sail high over the Bromley crossbar in a space of a minute.

Bromley's Nick Latham almost scored an own goal after sixteen minutes when he clipped the ball into the grateful hands of Cairns, and referee Mr Butler ignored the appeals of a backpass from the Stones' bench.

The talking point of the game came after 25 minutes. Bromley captain and biting central midfielder, Danny Pearce played a superb defence splitting ball from midfield.

Leggett, was behind Maidstone defender, Gary Stock when the ball was played, but managed to get to the ball first, and as the goalkeeper attempted to make a block, Leggett fired the ball into the net inside the near post.

It was only at the point when the ball crashed against the goal-net, the stand in assistant referee, from Maidstone, raised his flag and the goal was disallowed by referee Butler.

Bromley got over this setback, however, taking the lead after 33 minutes.

Danny Pearce slipped the ball to Alan Owens on the right hand side of the penalty area. Owens evaded Lee's strong challenge before he unleashed an unstoppable shot that flew past Morrin's flying dive to his right, hitting the left corner of the net.

Pearce and Leggett both shot over from distance for the home side before the break.

Ben Samuels won the visitors a free kick from 25 yards after he was fouled by Pearce. The home side lined up a four man wall for Finch's free left footed free kick. Goalkeeper Cairns palmed the shot wide of the left post and moments later he saved Stock's shot on goal.

Maidstone turned the screw however, scoring two goals in the space of three minutes.

Good play from Finch saw him centre for Louis Wilson to shoot past Carins after 51 minutes before the goalkeeper was beaten again two minutes later from Ben Samuel's strike from eight yards following a surging run towards goal from his team-mate.

Cairns, who has recently been called up into Bromley's first team squad, pushed a low shot around the post after 63 minutes.

Maidstone goalkeeper Morrin made two comfortable saves late in the game. His first save came from Edwin Mante's twenty-five yard free kick before saving Danny Anderson's effort from the edge of the penalty area.

Maidstone introduced James Holden late in the game, and the towering forward almost added to the scoreline during injury time but his header was narrowly wide of the right upright.

Bromley: Dean Cairns, Elliott Payne, Edwin Mante, Chris Hill, Tom Ponton, Nick Latham, Jamie Leggett, Danny Pearce (Capt), Danny Anderson, Alan Owens (Sol Mere 62), Jack Hicks (Ashley Barry 58). Subs: Michael Sibley, Junior Olatunde, Kunle Lanal

Maidstone United: Dan Morrin, Louis Wilson, Ryan Lee, Mark Wilkinson (Colin Holman HT), Ricki Cable, Colin Finch (Alex Groom 67), Lloyd Miller, Ben Samules (James Holder 86), Keith Lasson, Scott Ellison, Gary Stock.

Referee: Mr A R Butler