Dover Athletic 2-4 Maidstone United

DOVER ATHLETIC 2-4 MAIDSTONE UNITED
Saturday 10^th February 2007
Ryman League Division One South
Stephen McCartney reports from Crabble

A passion filled crowd of 1,527 were treated to an enthralling Kent derby, although it was on-form Maidstone United that won both the local bragging rights and three points during a six-goal thriller in front of the largest Crabble crowd this season.

Maidstone United’s fourteenth league win of the season puts them in third place in the Ryman League Division One South table and despite going into the game as leaders, Dover Athletic drop to fourth after losing their last two games and leaking eight goals in the process.

Dartford, who beat local rivals Sittingbourne 2-1 at Bourne Park today, reclaimed top spot on 50 points, whilst Dulwich Hamlet, Maidstone United, Dover Athletic and Hastings United fill the play-off spots with 48 points apiece.

With both teams roared on by their passionate supporters, it was Maidstone United that created their first chance of the game.

A hanging cross from Craig Roser from the left was knocked down by Mo Takaloo and Nick Hegley drove an eighteen-yard shot just past the right post.

But it was Maidstone United that drew first blood, taking a deserved lead after 10 minutes and 44 seconds into this pulsating game.

The Stones were awarded a free-kick some 30-yards from goal on the left-hand side of the penalty area.

Quick thinking Aaron Lacy passed the ball to an unmarked Nick Hegley some ten yards away.

Hegley then cut in unchallenged from the left and with a left-footed shot on the angle from 12-yards, his shot floated past Glen Knight to score his fourth goal of the season.

James Dryden twice went close for Dover Athletic before his 15^th goal of the season brought the hosts back on level terms after 21 minutes.

After sending a left-footed curling free-kick over the bar from thirty yards, the former Folkestone Invicta striker issued the Stones a warning when he latched onto Lee Spiller’s defence splitting through ball but he stroked the ball into Pat Mullin’s grateful arms from twenty yards.

But Dryden’s second one-on-one beat the former Dover Athletic goalkeeper as Crabble erupted again.

And once again it was skipper Spiller that played the perfect through ball and after springing the offside trap, Dryden clinically slotted the ball past Mullin inside the bottom right hand corner.

But within three minutes Maidstone United reclaimed the lead for the second time.

Mo Takaloo’s shot from an acute angle was parried by Knight but Alex Tiesse was on hand to stab the ball home with a right-footed shot from eight yards.

Knight produced another fine save to deny Takaloo when he tipped over the 27-year-old striker’s 30-yard right-footed free-kick over.

However, the game’s fourth goal arrived in the 32^nd minute when Tommy Tyne’s eleventh goal of the season came from the penalty spot.

Tyne’s right-footed penalty sent Mullin the wrong way after Dryden’s deft touch on the left hand side of the penalty area resulted in big central defender, Ryan Royston bringing him down and referee Ian Regan had no option but to point to the penalty spot.

With fans catching their breath on the excellent football on show, Tyne twice unleashed long-range shots that flashed past the foot of the post.

Maidstone United, however, also had a couple of late chances as Knight was called into action to save Takaloo’s right-footed drive from 22-yards, which bounced right in front of the diving goalkeeper.

Then Errison Ahwan drilled a right-footed shot from 30-yards that screamed past the right upright.

The first half, however, lived up to expectations and we hoped for the same during the second period.

Craig Wilkins rose to head Spiller’s free-kick over the bar from twelve yards which was Dover’s first chance of the second half.

Both sides then went close when Shane Hamshare’s header was saved by Mullin before Takaloo drove agonisingly past the foot of the far post following good play from left-winger Hegley.

In fact, the pace of Hegley and Tiesse was causing Dover problems throughout the game and were both instrumental in Stones’ success.

Tiesse made progress down the right hand side after 56 minutes before cutting the ball back to Lacy and his right-footed cross was met at the far post by Takaloo, who planted a header over.

But controversy reared it’s ugly head when Maidstone United increased their lead with 22 minutes left.

The Stones played the ball out of defence and Tiesse was bundled over by former Chatham Town defender Matt Bourne, who was shown a straight red card for being the last man.

Knight dived to his right but couldn’t prevent Takaloo scoring his sixth goal for the Stones this term from the resulting penalty.

Dryden drove a shot agonisingly past the foot of the near post and Nick Humphrey shot straight at Mullin as the goalkeeper presented the defender a chance from an acute angle.

But Maidstone United wrapped up their perfect day by scoring from another penalty with seven minutes left.

Substitute Simon Austin fell to the ground under Humphrey’s clumsy challenge on the right hand side and Austin got up to net his ninth goal of the season by tucking the ball past Knight who had guessed the right way.

Despite their two goal advantage that put the Stones above Dover in the table, there were some anxious Stones fans in the crowd as they had to withstand almost nine minutes of stoppage time before this entertaining Kent derby came to an end.

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