Maidstone United 1-1 Margate - We've got to turn our own fortunes around, says Hume

From conceding a soft winner to Horsham on Saturday, through the elation of the Ryman League Management Committee‘s decision to allow the Canvey Island 4-0 win to stand, to the news that defensive rock Liam Harwood had been recalled by Bristol Rovers - only to turn up at Carshalton 24 hours later - you can never tell what will happen next on the Blues‘ roller-coaster ride.

With both sides forced into changes to their threadbare squads; the fit-again Meschach Nugent replacing James Peacock for Maidstone, Kieran Morris and Jack Haverson in for the suspended Dan Young and the departed Harwood, the performances could not have been more contrasting. Indeed, Margate will feel aggrieved to leave Bourne Park with just the one point.

After a moment of panic in their reorganised defence, that allowed Elliot Bradbrook to shoot high over the bar from the edge of the box, Margate took control of the early part of the game, with skipper Ryan Peters central to the action.

His flick from the first of many Aaron Lacy throws found Curtis Robinson free 30 yards out, but the defender‘s shot was wild.

Then, Peters himself, having been brought down as he approached the area, saw his tame free kick sail well over.

From a Maidstone free kick, Peters‘ long cross field ball released Joe Healy, whose leftwing cross towards Robinson was blocked by Peter Hawkins as the defender tried to steer the ball goalwards.

Two more Lacy throws created mayhem in the Stones‘ box. First from the right, that Andy Walker palmed away from the back post, then from the left, which saw a Ben Lewis header turned over by a full-length Walker save.

Margate deservedly took the lead on 16 minutes but, like a number of decisions from referee Mr Woodward, there was an air of controversy surrounding the goal.

As Peters tried to hold off Roland Edge on the corner of the penalty area, Mr Woodward blew for a free kick. Healy‘s delightfully floated ball in towards the back post beat a stationary defence and Kenny Pratt stole in to glance a header into the bottom corner of the home net.

The goal seemed to sting Maidstone in action, as James Pinnock first scuffed a shot towards goal having turned Luke Wheatley, then the former Margate forward drove over from the edge of box.

The home fans came alive on 24 minutes, when Mr Woodward waved away loud appeals for a penalty, when it appeared that Robinson upended Nathan Paul in the area, but as the Stones‘’full back hit the ground, the referee blew for a handball in favour of the visitors.

The best chance of the match for the Stones came on 28 minutes, when Nugent flicked on a long clearance, but as Pat Mullin advanced, Pinnock‘s delicate lob cleared not only the former Stones keeper, but the bar as well.

Another former Blue, Jay Saunders, did well to calm a potentially fiery moment on 38, when Hawkins and Peters tangled on the halfway line, earning each a caution, before other players started into the melee.

Peters will wonder how he didn‘t extend Margate‘s lead before halftime, when he latched onto a long defensive clearance and rounded Walker, but from an acute angle he steered his shot over the bar.

Wheatley spoiled an outstanding performance when he took out Paul on the sidelines with a crude challenge as the half closed, which earned him Margate‘s second caution of the day.

Both keepers were called into action early in the 2nd half, with Mullin palming a Bradbrook corner over his bar, before Healy and Walker challenged for a high Lacy free kick, that Walker turned behind.

Bradbrook then took advantage of Margate protesting a Roland Edge challenge on Peters to unleash a 30 yard drive, that Mullin watched fly past his left hand post.

Ben Lewis had to be alert to deny Pratt after good work from Healy, who cut a good cross back from the byline, before Bradbrook fired another shot over.

Peters released Pratt clear on goal just before the hour, but as the forward looked for his second goal of the afternoon, Walker saved brilliantly from the 1-on-1 situation with a fine left-handed save.

Maidstone found their way back into the match just after the hour, when Blackman‘s cross from the edge of the area appeared to strike the arm of Kieran Morris. Mr Woodward gave the decision, but the Blues players protesting the decision immediately surrounded the official. After calm had been restored, Blackman stepped up to fire the penalty low into the bottom left corner of Mullin‘s net, beating the keeper‘s dive by inches.

The home side could have taken the lead almost immediately, when Bradbrook‘s corner was missed by Nugent and Haverson, but bounced off Mullin‘s chest, before being hooked clear.

On 73 minutes, Dan Stubbs hit a 35-yard shot that appeared to surprise Walker, who parried the ball down in front of him. As the ball ran loose, Peters was first to react, but his blushes, in chipping over the bar with the Stones keeper grounded, were saved by the assistant‘s flag.

Both teams were disrupted by injuries to key players. Bradbrook for Maidstone, Robinson for Margate – before Pratt sliced Healy‘s cross well wide of the goal. From the clearance, Wayne Wilson did well to release Peters into another 1-on-1 with Walker. The Blues forward rounded the Stones keeper, but despite an empty net, Peters somehow managed to put the ball into the side netting.

Margate almost snatched a dramatic winner deep in stoppage time, after substitute Luke Coleman had done well to steal the ball from Lewis and pushed the ball across the area, but Wilson‘s powerful drive was blocked bravely by Hawkins‘ lunging tackle.

Maidstone United joint-managed Lloyd Hume, speaking to BBC Radio Kent afterwards, wasn’t happy with his side’s performance.

“I thought the performance we put in today was very inadequate and I’ve let the players know that,” he said.

“They‘ve let themselves down. Whilst we are not going to give up on the playoffs until it‘s mathematically impossible, today has gone a long way to dent our hopes.

“Up until last week, we‘d gone 5 unbeaten, but today we were ineffective all over the pitch.

“I‘d hoped Tooting was just a blip, but it has carried on today. Margate looked like a team who were fighting for their lives and they showed more desire today; they won a lot of first and second balls.

“We are struggling to put an 11 together at the moment. Jay Saunders‘ doctor told him not to play today as he‘s been struggling with bronchitis, Elliot (Bradbrook) has done his hamstring, and Nathan (Paul) is carrying a knock, so we are struggling.

“I‘m not going to blame the financial situation, but it certainly hasn‘t helped. Ever since the situation started our form has dipped and the season taken a downward turn. It‘s just how it has gone.

“I‘m not giving up on the playoffs just yet. If we can go on a run now we can still get in there, but I‘m certain that based on today‘s performance, if we perform like that, we won‘t pick up too many wins.

“We‘ve got to turn our own fortunes around and show we are a good side. I‘ve said to the players that no matter how good you are, or what level you‘ve played at, you have to prove you‘re better than the individual you are playing against, which will help us prove we are better than the team we play against.”

With Margate boss Terry Yorath not travelling to Bourne Park, having been taken ill last night, and Neville Southall disappearing without facing the media, it was left for Aaron Lacy to give his opinions on the game against his former club.

“I think we deserved to win,” Lacy told BBC Radio Kent. “Ryan Peters had two good chances, but all around it was a good game for us. Ryan got into 2 good positions, but Walk‘s is a very good keeper and it difficult for you.

“But to be fair, you have to get on with it and we did. We are confident (we can get out of relegation trouble), we‘ve got 2 good people in the changing room in Terry (Yorath) and Nev (Southall), and I think that is what is giving us the push and belief at the moment. They tell us to go out and play with pride.”

Lacy, a long throw specialist, praised Maidstone United fans for his reception that he received upon his return to Bourne Park.

“It’s hard to come back and play against your old side,” he said. “But the fans today were brilliant towards me, gave me a warm welcome and I think I proved a point.

“To the Margate fans, I want to say believe in us, you give us good support and keep on following us.”

Maidstone United: Andy Walker, Nathan Paul, Roland Edge, Ben Lewis, Peter Hawkins, Tom Parkinson (Ant Boldle 46), Meshach Nugent, Jay Saunders, James Pinnock, Lloyd Blackman, Elliot Bradbrook (James Peacock 77).
Subs: Taylor Sinfield, Nerada Pascal, Steve Northwood.

Goal: Lloyd Blackman 61 (pen)

Booked: Peter Hawkins 38, Ant Bodle 54

Margate: Pat Mullin, Kieran Morris, Curtis Robinson (James Gregory 80), Jack Haverson, Dan Stubbs, Luke Wheatley, Aaron Lacy, Wayne Wilson, Joe Healy, Ryan Peters, Kenny Pratt (Luke Coleman 90).
Subs: Nick Treadwell, Jackson Ohakam, Damian Rowlands.

Goal: Kenny Pratt 16

Booked: Ryan Peters 38, Luke Wheatley 41

Attendance: 411
Referee: Mr Irvine Woodward (Seaford, East Sussex)
Assistants: Mr Tim Burman (Welling) & Mr Guy Marley (Bexleyheath)