Whitstable Town FC

Lordswood 0 - 5 Maidstone United Kentish Observer Kent League: Tuesday 27th December 2005

Maidstone United finished 2005 in emphatic style with a resounding victory over Lordswood. It has been a terrific season so far for The Stones who are still unbeaten with 14 league games played.
And despite the snowy and difficult conditions, this was another accomplished display from United which once again left Alan Walker delighted. He said: "There were a lot of fantastic performances throughout the team and I don't think anyone had a poor game "

It didn't take long for The Stones to register their first goal. With just 9 minutes played, Aaron Lacy's throw was missed by Ryan Royston but Nathan Paul managed to head the ball to Mo Takaloo who had his back to goal. Takaloo seems relish receiving the ball in such positions and he quickly turned and volleyed his shot past Gary Hopper.

Lordswood are a much improved side this season yet they were struggling to contain Maidstone at times. A quick break with 13 minutes gone ended with Nick Hegley shooting wide and then Takaloo went close again after an Ashley Russell mistake.

Alan Backshell then made a vital goal line clearance from an excellent Simon Austin free-kick before Gary Hopper kept Lordswood in the game with a succession of good saves. First, he was called into action to block Takaloo's volley from Ryan Roystons' flick on and then he pulled off a one handed save to deny Austin.

The start of the second half was a much tighter affair as Lordswood pushed forward in search of an equaliser. And one was nearly forth coming with 63 minutes on the clock. Pat Mullin rushed from his goal to try and clear the ball but he made a hash of his kick which gave Backshell the apparently simple task of lobbing the ball into the net. But his shot didn't quite have enough momentum and Mullin raced back to goal and superbly scooped the ball off the line and over the bar.

This was an important turning point in the game as from the resultant corner Mullin quickly punted the ball up field to Takaloo who had time to bring the ball down before firing it past Hopper.

And within seconds, Maidstone had put the game beyond Lordswood. Nick Hegley burst forward and pulled the ball back to the unmarked Takaloo, who was never going to miss from such a central position, and his shot went in off the post.

Although the win was guaranteed by now, Maidstone kept pouring forward in search of another goal and they were rewarded when another quick break out of defence yielded Takaloo's 4th of the afternoon. Sam Tydeman's superb ball located Hegley on the wing and he quickly played it onto Takaloo who was full of confidence by now and needed no help in burying the ball in the back of the net.

The with the snow pouring out the sky and just 4 minutes remaining, the hardworking Austin saw his long shot parried and Paul was on hand to tuck away the rebound to round off a great second half of the year for The Stones.

Goal Scorers

Maidstone United: Mo Takaloo 9, 63,65,76, Nathan Paul 86

Line ups

Lordswood: Gavin Hopper, Andy Skinner, Ashley Russell, Neil Crust (Warren Phillips 67), Shane Hetterley, Andy Forster, Tony Read (Aaron Burrett 52), Steve Sharp, Andy Doerr, Ray Broad (Jay Hayfield 76), Alan Backshell. Subs not used: Martin Difede, Sam Cormack.

Maidstone United: Pat Mullin, Aaron Lacy, Craig Roser, Nathan Paul, Mario Celaire, Ryan Royston, Simon Austin, Mo Takaloo (Gary Hemens 80), Lynden Rowland, Nick Hegley. Subs not used: Nick Blade, Lloyd Hume, Nick King, Richard Mannerings.