Margate 3-4 Maidstone United - Striker Cumbers wants his Gillingham chance

MARGATE 3-4 MAIDSTONE UNITED
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 17^th November 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from Hartsdown Park

Striker Luis Cumbers believes recently installed Gillingham boss Mark Stimson should come and watch him and give him a chance in League One.

The 19-year-old took his tally to eleven goals with his brace and played a part in all four Stones goals, as the visitors’ fought their way back from being 3-1 down after 50 minutes to secure a dramatic 4-3 victory.

Margate had opened the scoring after just 28 SECONDS and all three of their goals came from headers, from Jay Saunders (two) and Rob Haworth.

Haworth then had a goal ruled out for offside, which would have finished off a Maidstone United side that’s rising up the Ryman Premier League table at a rate of knots, despite a disastrous start to their campaign.

But when Margate player-manager Robin Trott headed into his own net after 54 minutes, this sparked a remarkable comeback from the Stones, in this enthralling, value-for-money thriller.

Chelmsford resident Cumbers then netted his second following a scramble with thirteen minutes left, before his pace tore apart Margate before crossing low towards the far post, where Welshman Andy Martin, who did nothing throughout, sealed a dramatic last gasp winner, with 101 seconds of stoppage time remaining.

Margate had signed left-sided midfielder, Ryan Martin, 20, from rivals’ Tonbridge Angels two days before this match, and the Blackheath based player impressed on his debut.

“I think Ryan Martin had a great debut actually, on the left,” Trott told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

Trott was also without Dean Standen, who was serving the first of his three-match ban.

Maidstone United, meanwhile, were without Chris Smalling (England youth team trials), defender Errison Ahwan (hamstring) and striker Lynden Rowland (knee).

And player-coach Jimmy Strouts, 36, was appointed the new joint-manager of Kent League strugglers Faversham Town, along with former Hythe Town assistant, Justin Luchford, 30.

The crowd of 789 paid their respects for Manchester United, Tranmere Rovers, Margate, Ashford Town, Canterbury City and Ramsgate legend, Bob Harrop, who died nine days ago, aged 71.

Hartsdown Park fell silent for a “minute’s appreciation” before Margate director Mr Keith Piper, standing between the two seated stands, started the “appreciation” by slowly clapping, and this sparked everybody else to start clapping slowly.

And the Margate faithful were soon celebrating when Saunders headed the home side into the lead - with just 28 seconds on the clock.

Jimmy Jackson clipped a free-kick into the penalty box from the left, and Saunders’ towering header floated into the left-corner.

It was evident from an early stage that both side’s defences were going to gift chances to their opponents‘.

In total, 20 corners (11 to Maidstone United) were awarded as you had to keep your eye on the action at all times.

Maidstone United were denied an equaliser when Jackson cleared Ben Lewis’ shot off the line at the right-post, following Andy Martin’s corner.

But the Stones drew level with ten minutes and 56 seconds on the clock, courtesy of loan-signing Cumbers.

Goalkeeper Pat Mullin’s kick wasn’t dealt with by the flat-footed Margate defence and Cumbers sent an exquisite right-footed lob from twenty-yards over the advancing Scott Chalmers-Stevens and was celebrating as the ball dropped into the bottom left-hand corner.

Striker James Pinnock squandered a couple of good chances to hand the advantage to Margate; his left-footed drive from 20-yards brought a low save from Mullin; and then turned Ryan Martin’s drilled cross agonisingly past the near post from six-yards.

Maidstone defender Ben Lewis sent his towering header just past the left-post from eight-yards after Sam Tydeman delivered a left-footed free-kick after 23 minutes.

Another superb cross from Ryan Martin caused problems in defence for Maidstone and Ryan Peters blazed a good opportunity over.

Margate regained the lead with 39 minutes and 58 seconds on the clock, through another header.

Peters, on loan from Brentford, delivered an in-swinging corner towards the near-post and Haworth out jumped his marker to glance his header into the net from six-yards.

Margate had chances to put the result beyond doubt early in the second half.

Pinnock started the move when he hooked the ball into Peters’ path, who burst towards the Maidstone penalty area.

Peters then delivered a low cross from the right for Haworth and with his back to goal laid the ball back to Pinnock, whose right-footed drive was blocked by Mullin’s legs.

But the 25-year-old goalkeeper was picking the ball out of the net just 291 seconds into the second half.

Saunders was left unmarked inside the penalty area, and his header flew into the roof of the net from eight-yards, following another Jackson free-kick.

And just 125 seconds later it should have been four, but Margate had a goal ruled out for offside.

Following a run from Peters, Pinnock drilled a shot towards goal from inside the penalty box, but the flag was raised as Haworth turned the ball into the bottom right-hand corner from close-range.

Maidstone United clawed a goal back, courtesy of Trott with eight minutes and 54 seconds on the clock.

Cumbers flicked on Tydeman’s free-kick into the penalty area and the 33-year-old player manager sent his header past a wrong-footed Chalmers-Stevens towards the far-corner.

Trott almost made amends at the other end, but he headed Jackson’s corner agonisingly past an unguarded far-post.

Shearer’s last action before being substituted saw the central defender blaze a deflected shot over the bar, after Chalmers-Stevens punched out Tydeman’s free-kick.

This proved to be a masterstroke for Maidstone United as they moved Cumbers down the left-hand side to exploit Margate right-back, Louis Smith.

Their equalising goal wasn’t pretty, but try telling that to the vocal and vast Stones faithful as Cumbers turned to fire the ball into the bottom right-hand corner after a scramble inside the box after a corner from substitute Aaron Lacy caused panic.

A trademark Lacy throw was met by a towering header from Lewis, but this time it went straight into the grateful arms of the Margate goalkeeper.

The Stones sensed the winner, and former Margate favourite, substitute Mo Takaloo was unlucky when his right-footed shot from thirty yards sailed just over the bar.

Margate almost grabbed the victory when Mullin’s punched the ball towards his own goal, following Peters’ corner, but Craig Roser was on the right post to thump the ball clear.

But with 47 minutes and 12 seconds on the clock, Maidstone United sealed only their second win on their travels, courtesy of Andy Martin, who went missing until this moment.

Mullin shanked a clearance and was relieved to see the ball land at Cumbers’ feet in midfield.

The fast teenager burst forward and with the Stones fans roaring him on, he left right-back Smith, incidentally the only Margate based player in the home side, wanting, and whipped in a low cross towards the far-post and Martin stabbed the ball into the bottom right-hand corner to spark wild celebratory scenes.

Man-of-the-match Cumbers, a player whose sparked Maidstone United’s revival, feels Gillingham boss Stimson should come calling.

Stimson, Ronnie Jepson’s successor, has already drafted in a couple of loan signings from non-league clubs recently, with Dennis Oli, 23, arriving from Grays Athletic, and Leroy Griffiths, 30, from Fisher Athletic.

But Stimson has a very talented - and quick - striker already on the books at Priestfield Stadium in Cumbers.

But Stones fans, who were more vocal than their Thanet counterparts, would ideally like Cumbers to stay at the Ryman Premier League club to assist the club’s progress - they’re now sixth in the table with 22 points from 16 games - and for him to gain more experience.

“When we went down obviously our away form’s not been great so far this season, but I think everyone did terrific, worked extremely hard and I think you could say, we did deserve it.” Cumbers told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“I have a bit of pace, maybe I don’t use it as much when I’m playing through the middle because I like to get the ball into feet quite a lot.

“I’ve played down the left for Gillingham youth a couple of times last year and my pace hurt some players and I know when I got the ball, the right-back weren’t going to catch me, so it worked out quite well.”

Reflecting on his goal-scoring contribution, Cumbers said: “First goal was allright! I knew the keeper was coming out so first instinct was to put it over him.

“Of course I want to claim the other one because I flicked on the header from the free-kick but the defender took such a big deflection into the goal so obviously no chance (of claiming the goal).

“If he (Trott) wants to give me it I’ll happily take it and of course the other one was a bit scrappy but they all count and we got three points.”

And on his Gillingham future, the young prospect added that Stimson should pay a visit to Bourne Park in the near future.

He said: “He’s not afraid to use players from the non-leagues and he’s showed that already.

“Unfortunately for me he’s not had a chance to look at me yet so he hasn’t made his mind up, so we’ll have to see how it goes really.”

Cumbers added: “Hopefully he’ll get a chance to come and watch and I’ll put a good performance for them.”

Margate: Scott Chalmers-Stevens, Louis Smith, Jimmy Jackson, Ryan Peters, Dan Young, Robin Trott, Steve McKimm, Jay Saunders, James Pinnock, Rob Haworth, Ryan Martin.
Subs: Mark Watson, Keiron Morris, Nick Moir, Paul Axon, Matt Bowles

Goals: Jay Saunders 1, 50, Rob Haworth 40

Booked: Dan Young 54

Maidstone United: Pat Mullin, Nathan Paul, Craig Roser, Ben Lewis, Mario McNish, Rob Owen (James Peacock 66), Sam Tydeman, Lee Shearer (Aaron Lacy 69), Luis Cumbers, Andy Martin, Ray Freeman (Mo Takaloo 73).
Sub: Nick Hegley.

Goals: Luis Cumbers 11, 73, Robin Trott (og) 54, Andy Martin 90

Attendance: 789
Referee: Mr Tony Mason (Sidcup)
Assistants: Mr Keith Stone (Ramsgate) & Mr Gary Bryant (Folkestone)