Erith & Belvedere 0-1 Maidstone United

Sunday, 08 January 2006

Erith & Belvedere lost for the second consecutive game in the league for the first time this season, but they can count themselves very unlucky, writes Thomas Hawes. Maidstone United, armed with their usual couple of hundred supporters, dominated the first half territorially, and had a number of corners. However, they failed to penetrate a resistant Deres back-line and it was 0-0 at the interval. Maidstone still held the upper hand throughout the second half, but the Deres came into the game more, and, despite criticism from the away fans, Dickson caused the Stones many problems. A deflected Dickson shot was inches away from creeping inside the post and at this stage it seemed as if the Deres might snatch an unlikely victory. However, it wasn't to be the Deres day, as Nick Hegley made himself the Stones' hero as he grabbed a winner deep into second half stoppage time. Deres keeper  Ricky Hall saved Ryan Royston's header, but Hegley was on hand for a tap-in to put Maidstone United on top of the Kentish Observer League and they surely must now gain promotion. The Deres meanwhile, remain one point of third spot but slip down to 6th place.