Croydon Athletic 1-2 Maidstone United - We're just trying to build a little brick in the wall - Ford

Wednesday 27th October 2010

CROYDON ATHLETIC 1-2 MAIDSTONE UNITED
Ryman Premier League
Wednesday 27th October 2010
Stephen McCartney reports from Mayfield Road

MAIDSTONE UNITED striker Danny Hockton says a more professional approach towards training is the secret behind his rich reign of goalscoring form this season.

The 31-year-old took his goalscoring tally for the season to nine (scoring in his last seven games) as his brace away to troubled Croydon Athletic sent the Stones climbing out of the relegation zone and into 17th place in the Ryman Premier League table after 14 games.

It stretched the Kent club’s unbeaten run to four games and new boss Andy Ford, who took over only seven days ago, has picked up five of the club’s eleven points in his first three games in charge.

The Stones leapfrogged over their opponents, who slip to one place off the foot of the table, and they have stretched their winless run to eight league games.

Hockton, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards said: “It was a good win tonight. It gives the boys' a bit of confidence, good for me again, another couple of goals, which always keeps my confidence up as well but I thought we deserved it tonight.

“I thought Croydon (Athletic) were pretty poor to be honest and we could’ve let it go towards the end when they nicked a goal back, but we managed to keep ourselves a bit composed and went on to win

2-1.”

Hockton added: “Andy’s come in and his put his point across right. I think, maybe when Peter (Nott) was here he was a nice fella and maybe not quite strong enough. I think Andy’s come in and he’s laid the rules down and the boys’ have had to take to it and it seems to be working.”

Previous manager Nott, however, did ensure that the club stepped up their training regime to two nights a week and Hockton admitted he is reaping the benefits this season.

He said: “I always try and set myself a target of trying to get between 20 and 25 (goals), which I do every season and that’s what I try and do. Last year was probably my worse season and I think that was through not training really.

“This year we’ve training every Tuesday and Thursday and where we’ve been playing I’ve got my fitness up and obviously that helps.”

Unpaid outfit Croydon Athletic handed Dorian Smith, 23, his debut and the former Tooting & Mitcham United midfielder almost marked his first appearance with a goal within 34 seconds, but his fierce left-footed drive, following a run forward, flew just over the crossbar.

A tight opening, Maidstone United’s first chance arrived at the midway point of the first half.

Colin Richmond was the third man in a slick move and the former Sittingbourne midfielder teed up Hockton and his shot on the turn from the edge of the D brought a comfortable low save from Croydon Athletic keeper Simon Locke.

Hockton was angry with himself when he skied an angled shot over the crossbar before he gave the Kent side a 29th minute lead with a clinical finish.

Ant Bodle teed him up and Hockton unleashed a low right-footed drive from 25-yards, which zipped beautifully off the pitch and nestled into the back of the net, leaving Locke rooted to the spot.

Hockton is enjoying fine form and he was then released by Ryan Andrews down the inside right-channel and his low drive evaded the sliding Adrian Stone on it’s way through to the keeper at his near post.

The Croydon Athletic keeper then made a comfortable save from Stone.

No balls went through a solid looking Maidstone United defence until the final five minutes of the half as the Rams squandered two good opportunities.

Journeyman Reggie Savage was released down the left and the striker cut inside and centred to Stefan Joseph, who blasted the ball wide, when left unmarked at the near post six yards from goal, although keeper Andy Walker did enough to make himself big.

Then, left-back Helge Orome went on a run and after cutting inside a couple of defenders his shot lacked conviction and rolled towards Walker.

With the temperature dropping during the half-time interval, Maidstone United doubled their lead within three second half minutes.

Peter Hawkins threw the ball to Stone, who rolled the ball back to the central defender and Hawkins looped in a cross from the left touchline and Hockton challenged Tom Hughes, who raised his arm and beat the ball away.

Referee Mr Paul Harris - who along with assistant referee Graeme Ions actually live in Maidstone - pointed to the spot.

Hockton stepped up and sent Locke the wrong way with a right-footed penalty, which nestled into the bottom left-hand corner.

Croydon Athletic should have pulled a goal back just five minutes later when Hawkins was too slow in tacking Joseph’s run through the middle but thankfully the striker dragged his shot wide of the far post with only Walker to beat.

The home side had a different strike pairing for the final twenty minutes - Dan Moody joining Charlie Sharman, the latter spent a loan period in the Kent League last season and Tunbridge Wells manager Martin Larkin was in the crowd tonight.

Jeremy Williams spread the ball out to Smith who was unmarked and his cross was met by the unmarked Rob George, but his glancing header was saved low down by Walker.

Sharman then played a clever through ball for overlapping right-back Cody Best but he cracked a rising right-footed drive from ten-yards, which crashed back down the top of the near post with Walker beaten.

Substitute Stephane Yaba then curled a free-kick into Walker’s arms before Croydon Athletic scored a deserved consolation with three minutes remaining.

Yaba released Sharman through the heart of the Stones defence and his fierce drive ricochet off Andrews and this wrong-footed Walker and he could do nothing to prevent the ball finding the back of the net.

Despite the home side pressing for a cruel equaliser, Maidstone United held on to only their second league win of the season, much to the delight of boss Ford.

“We played not a particularly strong team, they’ve got a lot of youth team players out there,” Ford told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“At 2-0 up we should’ve been coasting and made it easier, but we didn’t. That was the disappointing thing about tonight really was that we were hanging on at the end, but three points is three points.

“I’d rather have three points than a draw or a loss obviously so I’m pleased with that.”

When told that tonight’s win lifts the club out of the relegation zone, Ford didn’t seem to bothered, saying: “Does it? I don’t even look at tables at the moment to be honest because there’s no point.

“I’ve just said to the lads we’re aiming for a midtable position, hopefully just above the top half if we can but obviously we’ve got to work quite hard to get to there.”

The former Welling United manager has set Hockton a target of 20 goals this season.

He said: “That’s what Danny’s about. If he’s not doing that - he doesn’t offer other things to the team sometimes - but if he’s scoring, which he did today and it was a good goal to be honest, yes, we can work around him.

“Twenty goals? Yep. I think that’s possible with Dan. Easy! At this level he should be able to get that and we wouldn’t have any problem or hesitation in saying he will do that. Obviously we need to provide for him and we did today.”

Ford admitted he is still trying to fit round pegs in round holes.

“We played three formations out there today in the whole game and we’ve got to try and settle it down and get to one but at the moment we’re just obviously new in the job and seeing different players.

“We’re just trying to build a little brick in the wall, just trying to build it and get better each game.”

Hockton was pleased that his two goals helped his club to climb out of the drop zone.

“To be fair there’s been games this year we’ve drawn or lost and really we should’ve won or got a result out of the game,” he said.

“People say you’re at the bottom for that sort of reason but I think we’ve been unlucky in games. By not winning games that’s what’s keeping us down near the bottom.

“If we had won those games we would have been halfway up the table and we needed to get out. Once you get out of the relegation zone things seem to come a little bit easier. Being down the bottom it’s a dog-fight all the time.”

Croydon Athletic: Simon Locke, Cody Best, Helge Orome, Rob George, Tom Hughes, Callum Donaghey, Kevin Sefaah (Stephane Yaba 79), Jeremy Williams, Stefan Joseph (Charlie Sharman 62), Reggie Savage (Dan Moody 71), Dorian Smith.

Subs: Danny Dudley, Adam Peck.

Goals: Ryan Andrews (own goal) 87

Booked: Tom Hughes 48, Callum Donaghey 63

Maidstone United: Andy Walker, Ryan Andrews, Tom Parkinson, Joe Vines, Peter Hawkins, James Peacock, Ant Bodle (Alex Flisher 46), Colin Richmond, Adrian Stone (Jake Hobbs 85), Danny Hockton, Tommy Whitnell (Joe Goldsmith 63).

Subs: Kane Rice, Harry Lee.

Goals: Danny Hockton 29, 48 (pen)

Booked: James Peacock 86

Attendance: 137

Referee: Mr Paul Harris (Maidstone)

Assistants: Mr Graeme Ions (Maidstone) & Mr Phillip Rowley (Canterbury)