Whitstable Town FC

Maidstone United 4 vs Greenwich Borough 0: Kentish Observer Kent League

Bourne Park, Sittingbourne: Saturday 8th October

The Stones kept up the pressure on leaders Beckenham Town with an easy victory over basement side Greenwich Borough. Despite not playing to their full potential, United never looked troubled against a poor Borough side and Lloyd Hume was delighted with the outcome of the match. He said: ?It was a good result against one of the weaker sides in the league. I?m pleased with the performance, it could have been a lot more but I think we did enough.?

Despite a lackluster first half performance, the Stones found themselves 2-0 up at the break although they would have been further in front had it not been for some wasteful finishing.  With just seconds gone, Lyndon Rowland pulled the ball back to Nathan Paul but his shot was weak and it allowed Michael Holder to react quickly and palm the ball away. Rowland himself then found himself with just Holder to beat but again his shot lacked venom and it dribbled across the face of goal and hit the post before being cleared to safety.

Mario Celaire could have done better with an unchallenged header from Gary Kimble's cross before the Stones finally took the lead. Nick Hegley burst of determination took him clear of the Greenwich defence and he arrowed in a low shot into the far corner of the net.  Then five minutes later, Greenwich conceded a sloppy goal when Aaron Lacy's throw landed straight on Ryan Royston's head and he nodded it down over the line.  

A third goal looked likely on the stroke of half time when Nick Hegley had time to pick his spot following Rowland's pull-back but his effort went wide.

There was little action to excite the Stones faithful in the second half but it was suddenly brought to life with 68 minutes played. Simon Austin had just replaced Lyndon Rowland when he found himself chasing Ryan Royston's long ball forward. Austin let the ball bounce in the area before his first touch of the game saw him smack an excellent half volley past Holder.

A bad mistake from Ryan Royston then gave Greenwich a glimmer of hope when he failed to deal with a long bouncing ball and Dwain Moncrieve grabbed the chance to lob Pat Mullin.  But the game was finally put beyond doubt with 8 minutes remaining. Gary Kimble's ball forward flicked off a Greenwich defender and Mo Takaloo took the ball into the box before finishing superbly from an acute angle.

Maidstone United: Nick Hegley 35, Ryan Royston 40, Simon Austin 68,  Mo Takaloo 82

Greenwich Borough: Dwain Moncrieve 74