No 2^nd chance:  The KOL has reminded clubs that the weekends cup games are played to a finish on the day: Their reminder was as follows: Please be reminded that all League Cup quarter-final ties are to be played to a finish on the day with extra-time and penalties if necessary. Could clubs please confirm with the referees before the start of the ties that they are fully aware of the league rules (no replays!!). If there are any doubts on the day please contact a league official immediately. With both ourselves and Herne Bay sharing the points in the previous two league  encounters, Andy Constable scoring the winner for Whitstable  late in the game in the Kent Senior Trophy tie back in November, the match on Saturday is sure to be a very tight affair.

Maidstone United 5 ? 0 Sevenoaks Town:

Bourne Park, Sittingbourne

Kentish Observer Kent League

Saturday 4^th February 2006

Goal Scorers

Maidstone United: Nick Hegley 24, Lynden Rowland 44, 54, Mario Celaire 65, Lee Sperring 73

Line Ups

Maidstone United: Pat Mullin, Aaron Lacy, Craig Roser, Scott Lindsey, Mario Celaire, Ryan Royston, Nathan Paul, Sam Tydeman (Jason Barton 68), Mo Takaloo (Simon Austin 59), Lynden Rowland, Nick Hegley (Lee Sperring 59) Sub not used: Lloyd Hume.

Sevenoaks Town: John-Paul Green, Ryan Hackett, Andy Mills, Perry Spackman, Darren Pearson (Dexley Fidyk 28), Kris Hollidge (Joe Barry 70), Ibroma Oruwari , Charlie Hawkes (Mike Babatunde 57), Nick Reeves, Dominic Websdale, Mike Cook. Subs not used: Mike Mansell, Lloyd Glasgow

For the seventh time this season The Stones hit five goals past the opposition but a more convincing win would have been a truer reflection of the gulf between the two sides.

This was another excellent performance from Maidstone as they controlled the game right from the outset. In addition to the five goals, they also hit the bar three times and had three efforts cleared off the line. The Stones? dominance over Sevenoaks lead Alan Walker to say : ? I think that their man of the match was probably their goalkeeper, I think he was outstanding until we scored the first goal. To be fair 5-0 really flattered them. It could have been a lot, lot more.?

John-Paul Green in the Sevenoaks goal was in for a busy afternoon and he pulled off a tremendous save with 9 minutes played. Sam Tydeman, returning to the side after injury, played a corner into the box that was flicked on by Ryan Royston and Green flung himself to deny Lynden Rowland from close range.

Charlie Hawkes then saw a low shot easily saved as Sevenoaks finally managed to break out of defence but The Stones quickly put them back under pressure when Nick Hegley passed to Mo Takaloo who had his back to goal. Takaloo managed to flick the ball up and as he turned and struck the ball across the face of goal, Rowland was inches away from applying the vital touch.

Rowland then had a header cleared off the line by Andy Mills but after going close numerous times, The Stones finally took the lead with 24 minutes played. Rowland put the ball across the face of goal and Takaloo?s over head kick came back off the bar for Hegley to smash the ball in past Green.

Four minutes later, Takaloo had a shot cleared off the line but Sevenoaks couldn?t prevent Rowland from ending his mini-goal drought just before half time. Takaloo was back working hard in defence and he released Hegley who sent over a pin point cross and Rowland just had to pick his spot to score with his head.

Rowland collected his second of the afternoon shortly after the break when Aaron Lacy headed Green?s goal kick to Nathan Paul put it another good cross and Rowland powered his header through Green?s outstretched arms.

Lacy and Paul were instrumental in another flowing Stones move moments later which ended with Paul?s header looping off the bar before Lee Sperring, on as a substitute for Nick Hegley, forced Green to make an excellent tip over with a rising drive. Then from the resultant corner, Tydeman?s cross was headed in off the post by Mario Celaire.

With 67 minutes played it was Ryan Royston?s turn to see his effort strike the bar but the Stones rounded off the scoring shortly afterwards. Pat Mullin pumped a goal kick into Sevenoaks? half which Rowland flicked into Sperring?s path and he raced to the edge of the box before clipping a low finish past Green.