Maidstone United 1-0 Sutton United - Spot on Selley keeps his cool

For whilst Selley, who won the European Cup Winners Cup for Arsenal in 1993, and midfield partner Jay Saunders both had to be at their battling best to counteract a Sutton side physical yet intent on trying to play football.

And with skipper Ben Lewis leading by example and goalkeeper Andy Walker’s handling exemplary in swirling conditions the Stones joint-boss Lloyd Hume was a happy man after the game.

“With us involved in the FA Cup next week it was important to get the three points,” Hume told BBC Radio Kent.

“They were hard conditions today, the pitch was rock hard and it was difficult for both teams to play, but have to be complemented for trying to and obviously I’m delighted we got the break for the penalty.”

But Hume himself will be first to appreciate that there were times when his side conceded far too much possession and the battle between the centre of the Stones defence - skipper Ben Lewis and Ian Cox and Sutton’s twin strike force of Billy Dunn and Daniel Webb, son of former Chelsea star Dave - was a joy to behold - intriguing as a chess match yet as physical as a world heavyweight title fight.

Indeed, how one of the Sutton strikers didn’t open the scoring on seven minutes only they will know. A driven cross into the Maidstone box was brilliantly dealt with by Walker as both Sutton strikers bored down unmarked.

Maidstone, missing the injured Meshach Nugent, admittedly lacked some firepower up front but Seb Schoburgh playing as a makeshift striker more than kept the Sutton defenders occupied.

And it was Schoburgh who was fouled in the 34^th minute that led to the game’s only goal. Selley took the free-kick himself out on the left and as the ball bounced in the penalty area Karl Murray handled, giving referee Mr White no option but to point to the spot.

Selley then stepped up to send goalkeeper Paul Nicholls the wrong way for his first goal of the season.

Dunn was then twice denied an equaliser before the break - once by the brave keeping from Walker - and the second by the outside of the left post.

With the wind swirling all round Bourne Park - at one point the corner flags were blowing in different directions - the expected onslaught from the visitors after the break never happened.

And it was the Stones who had the better chances in the second 45 minutes.

With new signing Craig Thompson twice going close to a debut goal, the striker who only registered with the club this week, saw his 84^th minute shot well dealt with by Nicholls before inside injury time only the width of Bourne Park’s left post (at the clubhouse end) denied him.

That wasn’t to say that Sutton didn’t have their chances but Walker, whose catching in these treacherous conditions was magnificent. In fairness didn’t have a shot to save.

Indeed, the closest the visitors came was practically the last kick of the game when substitute Adam Wilde flashed a free-kick narrowly past the post but to be fair to Walker he could clearly recognise this and let the ball sail past his goal.

Hume admitted that his players weren’t pleased with their performance, but then said himself: “It’s a game when managers have to be happy because we got the points. We’ve been guilty of giving away silly goals this season so it was good to keep the clean sheet.

“We’ve got a long trip next weekend in the FA Cup and I’m hoping that Kevin Watson, Roland Edge and Meshach Nugent will be in contention.

“We know it’ll be a hard game, after all I don’t know how we’ll react to a three and a half coach trip!

“We’ve had them watched already and they do have some good football experience.”

But then grinning, Hume departed by saying; “But then again, so do we.”

Maidstone United: Andy Walker, Nathan Paul, Seb Schoburgh (Craig Thompson 63), Ben Lewis, Ian Cox, Andy Martin, Ian Selley, Jay Saunders, James Pinnock, Lloyd Blackman, Elliot Bradbrook.
Subs: John Wilfort, Keelan Mooney, Ashley Ulph, Steve Northwood.

Goal: Ian Selley (pen) 34

Booked: Ian Selley 82

Sutton United: Paul Nicholls, Dean Palmer, Alan Bray (Paul Cunningham 80), Gavin Heeroo, Chris Collins, Karim L-Salahi, Karl Murray, Delando Smith (Adam Wilde 63), Daniel Webb (Matt Hann 65), Billy Dunn, Gavin McCallum.
Subs: Jack Smith, Steve McKimm.

Booked: Gavin Heeroo 34, Dean Palmer 36, Alan Bray 38, Daniel Webb 55

Attendance: 435
Referee: Mr L Cook
Assistants: Mr Ian Fessenden (Gillingham, Kent) & Mr Guy Marley (Bexleyheath, Kent)