Maidstone United 0-2 Carshalton Athletic - Lack of belief is worrying, admits Hume

Stones joint-manager Lloyd Hume said afterwards that he couldn‘t put his finger on why the performance was so disappointing.

He said: “We‘ve had a bit of an enquiry in the changing room and asked the players to take a long look at themselves.

“We‘ve got no belief at the moment and that‘s one of the worrying things for me. It looked like we accepted being beaten, which as a manager, is one thing I cannot accept.”

In fairness to Hume, Maidstone did create a number of early chances from wide positions, but no-one could produce the final touch that would have converted the crosses into goals.

Only once was Carshalton goalkeeper Stuart Searle severely tested in the opening half, diving out well at the feet of Meshach Nugent to deny the striker a shot following a James Pinnock cross.

By contrast, Carshalton looked dangerous even though the chances they created were few and far between.

Stones goalkeeper Andy Walker had to be alert to deny the lively Richard Jolly one-on-one at the edge of the area as early as the 11th minute, after the striker had broken through a static defence.

Carshalton deservedly took the lead three minutes before the half, capitalising on Maidstone failing to clear a throw-in by the corner flag.

Three quick passes across the front of the defence later and Jolly fed in Junior Kadi, who rifled the ball home from just inside the box.

The second goal came on 56 minutes from a long ball by Kadi, finding Jamie England breaking from midfield behind Nathan Paul and the Carshalton man made no mistake with a low left footed drive.

In trying to get back into the game, Maidstone were restricted to hurried shots from distance, and Walker had to be alert to stop the visitors increasing their lead on 78, saving a shot he saw late from substitute James Evans following good build-up play by Jolly.

Maidstone United: Andy Walker, Nathan Paul, Neil Smith, Kevin Watson, Ian Cox, Roland Edge, Ian Selley (James Peacock 58), Seb Schoburgh (Lloyd Blackman 76), James Pinnock, Meshach Nugent, Elliot Bradbrook.
Subs: Aaron Lacy, Lloyd Hume, Steve Northwood.

Booked: James Peacock 73, Kevin Watson 74

Carshalton Athletic: Stuart Searle, David Graves, Dean Carpenter, Lewis Gonsalves, Adrian Toppin, Paul Honey, Barry Stevens (Carl Beckford 70), Jamie England (James Evans 76), Junior Kadi, Richard Jolly (Michael Power 85), Ryan Martin.
Subs: Dwain Clarke, Phil Wilson.

Goals : Junior Kadi 42, Jamie England 56

Booked : Paul Honey 52

Attendance: 278
Referee: Mr I Bentley (West Wickham)
Assistants: Mr Andy Mead (Orpington) & Mr Ian Fessenden (Gillingham)