Maidstone United 2-1 Wealdstone - We may be hitting form at the right time, says Hume

The 24-year-old striker scored two very good goals to end Wealdstone’s unbeaten six match run, which saw the Middlesex outfit collect a total of 14 points ahead of their visit to sunny Bourne Park.

But despite their run, which saw them go into this game occupying fifth place - the final play-off berth - Wealdstone were beaten by an all-round good performance from the Kent side.

The Stones, that’s the Kent version, leapfrogged over local adversaries Dartford into eighth place in the table, following their 14^th league win of the season, and are now five points adrift of Carshalton Athletic, who climbed two places into fifth spot.

And joint-manager Lloyd Hume, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, heaped plenty of praise on the two-goal hero.

“Meshach found the step-up (from Ryman One South side Dulwich Hamlet) to our level difficult when he first came to us,” he said.

“We let him go out on loan (to Croydon Athletic), since he’s come back, he’s been a different player altogether and he’s a handful for any defence.

“I look at him now and I think he’s probably one of the best strikers in our league.

"He’s almost impossible to play against, because he’s strong, he’s quick, he’s big, and now he’s finding the back of the net as well.

“He’s a really big threat to any team that we’re playing against.”

Maidstone United really should have opened the scoring, inside the opening four minutes of a half that was the better of the two.

Central defender Ryan Royston, from close to his by-line, drove a clearance forward, which was touched on by Nugent into James Pinnock, who swept the ball into Nathan Paul’s path.

The full-back, who sliced a shot wide after just 31 seconds, delivered a cross which sailed over a defender’s head into Nugent, and after bringing the ball down with his chest, his driven right-footed shot brought a fine block from Wealdstone goalkeeper Luke Woods.

But Woods was to be beaten by Nugent with eleven minutes on the clock.

The striker accepted a gift from some poor defending from Wealdstone central defender Carl Martin and went on to curl a right-footed shot across the goalkeeper and into the far corner.

But in-form Wealdstone went up the other end and levelled just 115 seconds later.

An in-swinging corner from the left from set-piece taker David Hicks was met by a thumping flying header by striker Greg Ngoyi at the near post, which screamed into the top left-hand corner from just three yards out.

But the Kent side came so close to regaining the lead, following their first corner, on the half-hour mark.

Pinnock’s right-footed in-swinging corner from the left was met by a towering glancing header by Royston, and this was cleared off the line at the back post by Wealdstone midfielder Ryan Ashe.

Maidstone United’s recently adopted 3-4-3 formation saw them play some nice football, with Nugent, playing wide on the left, partnering Lloyd Blackman (central) and Pinnock up front, with right-sided midfielder Paul getting forward as often as he could, the Kent side were causing their opponents’ problems.

And with a back three of Royston, the excellent Peter Hawkins and the improving James Peacock, this was an impressive performance from the Kent side.

And they really should have went into the half-time break with the lead.

Paul was released down the right and after cutting inside Wealdstone’s left-back Lee Chappell, their long-throw specialist, the former Beckenham Town player floated in a cross into the box, but the unmarked Jay Saunders, Maidstone’s midfield rock, glanced his header agonisingly past the far post.

When Wealdstone attacked the hosts during the first half, right-winger Kieron Forbes was the thorn in the Maidstone’s side with his pace.

And after cutting in from the right, going past two players, including Hawkins, his initial shot was spilt by Andy Walker at his near post, and the vocal travelling supporters behind the goal appealed for an in-direct free-kick as the ball was picked up by the former Bromley goalkeeper, via Peacock.

And another Forbes run presented Wealdstone with an excellent chance inside first half stoppage time, but his floated cross was met by another flying header by the unmarked Ngoyi, but his effort from inside the six-yard box flew over.

The second period was cagey, unlike the free-flowing first half, and Wealdstone looked the more likely to take the lead early on with plenty of the ball.

But their only chance arrived from Hicks’ right-footed curling free-kick, which was met by Chris O’Leary’s towering header, which cleared Walker’s crossbar, just eight-yards out.

Wealdstone rued that miss as Maidstone United scored the winning goal, against the run of play, with 61 minutes on the clock.

It was the home side’s first attack of the second half. It was well worth the wait!

Picking the ball up with his back to goal, following a throw from the right from substitute Tom Parkinson, Nugent turned Wealdstone defensive substitute Darren Locke, and then turned his marker to drill a right-footed shot, from a very acute angle, on the right by-line, across the stunned goalkeeper, which flashed into the bottom far corner.

Wealdstone did have plenty of the ball during the second half, but Maidstone United’s formation ensured they ran into an amber brick wall, with Walker behind his solid defence plucking crosses out of the air when called upon.

Fans had to wait until the 86^th minute for the next shot on goal, and it came Maidstone United’s way.

Roland Edge’s over-hit pass was cleared by Woods, which was charged down by Maidstone substitute Keelan Mooney, who turned and played the ball to Pinnock, and his right-footed drive from 35-yards was comfortably saved by the goalkeeper, making amends for his error.

With champions Dover Athletic, runners-up Staines Town and third-placed elect Tonbridge Angels sealing the top three places, Hume hasn’t ruled out finishing in one of the two other available play-off places.

Hume knows his side must collect maximum points from their last five games, against Hendon, who were stuffed 5-1 at Tonbridge Angels today, Dover Athletic, Ashford Town (Middlesex), Harrow Borough and Billericay Town, if they are to qualify for the end of season play-off lottery.

“I’ve been saying for about nine games that I think we can lose another two games and get into the play-off’s, and every time we win one it means we still got one to lose sometime,” he said.

“I still think we’ll be in with a great chance so we’ve got five games to go and if we can win four of them, I’m pretty sure that will get us into the play-off’s.

“All the teams at the top are dropping points and we may be hitting form at the right time because the last four or five games we’ve started looking like a decent side.

“We had a blip at Tooting but other than that we look like we’re doing well and today I felt we could’ve been 3-0 up inside the first ten minutes.

“But Wealdstone are a good side, they showed us how to battle back.”

Since losing at Staines Town on 21^st February, Maidstone United have picked up half of the 30 points available, and Hume has told his players to not fall at the final furlong.

“I said in the dressing room, if we don’t get three points today, everything we’ve done over the last week goes out of the window, with the hard work and the effort that we‘ve put in” he said.

“But they didn’t let us down. I thought it was a scrappy game, the pitch didn’t help, it was rock hard and bobbly but we battled through and we got what we needed.

“I thought in the second half we defended brilliantly.”

The Stones certainly didn’t miss Ben Lewis, who wasn’t given permission to play for Margate at Harrow Borough today - a move blocked by the football authorities.

Hume praised Hawkins - and James Peacock - for their contribution.

“Peter gives us the option where he’s such a clever player and reads the game well to go three at the back instead of the four and gives us more attacking options,” Hume spoke of his new 3-4-3 formation.

“We’re not really conceding too much at the back but for the pick of somebody who stood up was James Peacock.

“I think he’s been absolutely outstanding in these last two games.

“When we lost Ben (Lewis) on Tuesday, we thought we’d miss him, miss him dearly, but if I’m honest PK has really stepped up to the plate and has impressed everyone here and if he keeps doing that he’ll earn himself a good deal for next year.”

Maidstone United: Andy Walker, Nathan Paul, Roland Edge, James Peacock, Peter Hawkins, Ryan Royston, Meshach Nugent, Jay Saunders, James Pinnock, Lloyd Blackman (Keelan Mooney 85), Elliot Bradbrook (Tom Parkinson 6, Steve Elliott 66).
Subs: Nerada Pascal, Steve Northwood.

Goals: Meshach Nugent 11, 61

Wealdstone: Luke Woods, Marvin McCoy, Lee Chappell, Carl Martin, Alan Massey (Darren Locke 53), Ryan Ashe, Kieron Forbes (Danny Spendlove 70), Chris O’Leary, Ben Alexander (Ben Clarke 70), Greg Ngoyi, David Hicks.
Subs: Sam Leggett, Davis Haule.

Goal: Greg Ngoyi 14

Attendance: 377
Referee: Mr Harry Lennard (Portslade, East Sussex)
Assistants: Mr John Pike (Hurstpierpoint, East Sussex) & Mr Dominic Lyons (Lewes, East Sussex)