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Maidstone United 2 Dorking Wanderers 1 FA Trophy match report

17:00, 16 January 2021

updated: 17:00, 16 January 2021

Ravan Constable’s penalty save sent Maidstone through to round five of the FA Trophy.

Constable denied Jason Prior from the spot during the second half, with the Stones leading 2-1.

Maidstone United manager Hakan Hayrettin Picture: Keith Gillard
Maidstone United manager Hakan Hayrettin Picture: Keith Gillard

Saidou Khan had put them in front on his return from injury and Joan Luque restored the lead after James McShane’s equaliser.

Constable, one of four changes to the side who won at Eastbourne on Tuesday night, certainly earned his money as Dorking dominated the second half.

Khan, debutant Jaydn Mundle-Smith and Dominic Odusanya were the other changes as Hakan Hayrettin shuffled his pack.

Constable made a good solid save from Alfie Rutherford in the early exchanges before Khan marked his return with the opening goal.

It came in the seventh minute after a foul on Noah Chesmain out wide.

Luque took the free-kick, with his deflected strike coming back off the post and falling to Khan, who thumped the ball into the top corner with his left foot, ending more than two months of injury frustration.

Constable parried from Rutherford, with two follow-ups blocked, as Dorking threatened a leveller, which finally arrived in the 20th minute.

Maidstone broke down in midfield and Dorking countered through Matthew Briggs before Rutherford’s cross was buried by McShane.

Wanderers had a good spell after the goal and at times were getting through a little too easily.

Wes Fogden thumped over after Luke Moore, McShane and Rutherford combined, then another neat move involving the same players saw McShane hit the post.

Maidstone regained the lead against the run of play in the 29th minute when Moore’s slack pass out of defence landed straight at the feet of Luque who fired into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

It was a lovely finish from Maidstone’s Spanish winger, taking his tally for the season to five.

Constable made a brilliant save to push over Briggs’ strike, when released by Prior, with the ball heading for the top corner early in the second half.

He did even better moments later when Dorking were awarded a 55th-minute penalty for a challenge by Scott Rendell on Briggs.

Prolific Prior hit it well but Constable made a superb low save to his right to preserve Maidstone’s lead.

McShane hit the post for the second time on the hour mark as Dorking threatened again, then McShane fed Rutherford, who fired wide under pressure from George Elokobi.

The chances kept coming for Dorking, with Prior heading wide at the near post, Elokobi’s presence again crucial in putting him off.

And when a rare Maidstone attack broke down, Dorking were straight back on the attack with Constable bravely taking the ball at the feet of Prior who’d been played in by McShane.

Wanderers continued to knock at the door but Maidstone dug in, taking £5,250 in prize money.

Maidstone: Constable, Hoyte, Mundle-Smith, Elokobi, Chesmain, Odusanya, Khan (Corne 57mins), Seaman (Temelci 75mins), Porter (Pattisson 81mins), Luque, Rendell. Subs not used: Lewington, Olutade, Amaluzor, Akanbi.

Referee: Lloyd Wood.

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