Whitstable Town FC

Whitstable Town 1-1 Maidstone United

Whitstable Town: Marc Brown, Gary Sayer, Tom Parker, Mark Adock, Shane Davies (Mark Lane), Marc Seager, Stuart Harrison, Marcus Perona, Steve Marshall, Sam Prett (Andy Constable 86), Aaron Knight. Subs not used: Robbie Summers, Rob Thomas, Wayne Barrett.

Maidstone United: Dave Wietecha, Nathan Paul, Garry Kimble, Lloyd Hume (Neil Miller 45), Mario Celaire, Ryan Royston, Jimmy Strouts, Sam Tydeman, Mo Takaloo Lyndon Rowland (Lee Sperring 80), Simon Austin (Nick Hegley 45). Subs not used: Gary Hemens, Richard Mannerings

Stones manager Lloyd Hume blasted his players after a lacklustre performance for 60 minutes against Whitstable arguably cost his side maximum points.This was a keenly contested game with both sides having chances to win the match and Whitstable should have had a healthy lead by the time the Stones grabbed an undeserved equaliser in first half stoppage time.

And it was the way the Stones started so poorly that concerned Hume. He said: ? In the first half an hour we could have been 2 or 3 down and I don?t think that?s acceptable. Its nothing to do with the players not trying hard its to do with attitude. We should have started the game like we finished it.?

It was a defensive error from Ryan Royston with 7 minutes gone which lead to Steve Marshall sending Dave Wietecha the wrong way for the opening goal. And when Hume got caught out at the back, Whitstable really should have doubled their lead but Stuart Harrison?s shot missed the goal.Sam Tydeman was desperately trying to drive some life into the Stones performance and a neat move which started with Hume and Mario Celaire tidying up at the back ended with the midfielder striking a shot from distance which Marc Brown did well to parry wide.

Sam Prett and Marc Seager then threatened the Stones goal before United got a precious equaliser. Gary Kimble?s corner caused problems in the Whitstable box and Brown was only able to punch the ball as far as Celaire who had time to pick a spot and smash the ball into the net.
The Stones emerged in the second half with Nick Hegley and Neil Miller on for Simon Austin and Lloyd Hume and it was Hegley who particularly shone for United. With 68 minutes gone, and with Maidstone finally showing some much needed urgency, Hegley?s persistence lead to him crossing for Jimmy Strouts to get a slight touch to Mo Takaloo but his volley just cleared the bar.Another Hegley cross should have been converted by Lyndon Rowland but the striker headed over before Wietecha was forced to deny Harrison as the game moved swiftly from end to end.

Strouts was then guilty of a miss when Tydeman chipped the ball up for him but it bounced off his head and looped over the bar. Then with just four minutes remaining, the Stones had a glorious chance to win the game. Another Tydeman cross fell to substitute Lee Sperring who was in acres of space. He couldn?t have been aware that he had an age to pick his spot and he snatched at the chance, driving the ball well wide across the face of goal.