MAIDSTONE UNITED 0 AFC HORNCHURCH 0
Next season when Maidstone United play at home to AFC Hornchurch, take my advice and place a bet for a final score of 0-0. The last four meetings between The Stones and The Urchins when Maidstone United have been at home have all ended as no-score draws!
Whether this was a point earned or two points dropped for the home side is a matter of opinion but The Stones managed to keep a clean sheet for the first time in this campaign and that against a forward line of outstanding pedigree.
However, having said that, on yesterday's showing it was hard to see any evidence of that claim as The Urchins' three strikers, Tommy Black, Martin Tuohy and Joe Flack barely managed a shot between themselves all afternoon. I would have said all game but all three of the aforementioned visitors were substituted by manager Jim MacFarlane such was their ineffectiveness at The Homelands.
With the game finishing goal less as it did, it can hardly be argued that the home side's strike force was particularly potent either but at least they managed a couple more efforts on goal than their opponents did. It took until 22 minutes for the first inkling of a goal attempt and that came from the hard working Jake Hobbs who fired in a low effort from 18 yards that was comfortably dealt with by keeper Ollie Morris-Sanders.
Within a minute Danny Hockton had headed wide of goal following a deep back post cross from Colin Richmond. With momentum slowly building for the home side James Peacock hit a long free-kick into the penalty area which Hockton won with his head. The ball dropped to Hobbs but he volleyed over the cross bar.
The second half began with a Stones attack. Richmond 's lofted free kick into the box found the head of a defender and was then fumbled behind for a corner by Morris-Sanders. It took until the 55th minute for AFC Hornchurch to have their first effort on goal and it was Joe Flack who struck a good, clean volley from the edge of the penalty area that required Andy Walker to make a full length diving save to his right.
Within a minute of this came Maidstone 's best goal scoring opportunity of the match. Richmond won a superb clean, sweeping tackle from behind on the edge of the Hornchurch area before delivering a beautifully clipped cross to the far post where Hockton headed towards goal. However, Morris-Sanders pulled off a great save from point blank range to keep the scores level.
Five minutes later, Adrian Stone turned inside the box and fired a volley narrowly over the bar. With seven minutes remaining Hornchurch thought that they had broken the deadlock when Leon Hunter fired a shot into the bottom corner of the net but he was disappointed to see the assistant referee's flag raised for offside.
The last meaningful chance of the game came four minutes later when Hobbs ' cross was only partly punched clear by the keeper to Antonio Gonnella who saw his firm shot blocked.
Match Report by Darren Lovell
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