Maidstone United 0 Aldershot Town 2 match report
14:25, 27 April 2019
updated: 14:28, 27 April 2019
A pair of excellent goals lit up a forgettable match as Maidstone’s miserable season was put to bed.
They lost 2-0 at home to fellow relegated club Aldershot on the final day of the campaign, a match settled by second-half crackers from Matt McClure and Bernard Mensah.
Maidstone had the odd bright moment but it pretty much felt as though everyone just wanted the match - and the season - to be over.
A terrific reaction save by Jake Cole was the highlight of a goalless first half.
It came just after 20 minutes with Blair Turgott picking out Elliott Romain at the far post.
The Stones striker was no more than couple of yards and looked certain to score but Cole somehow made up the ground and flung himself to his right.
There was a far more straightforward save for Cole from Turgott’s deflected strike, player-of-the-year Michael Phillips and Romain doing well in the build-up.
The only other chance for Maidstone saw Jack Powell fire wide after a decent run from midfield.
At the other end, Scott Rendell couldn’t get his toe to Mensah’s cross, McClure went close after a good Shots break and Regan Booty worked Chris Lewington from Jake Gallagher’s pass.
Cole got a touch as Justin Amaluzor hit the side-netting and Powell whipped a shot wide just after the break.
But Aldershot went in front with a wonderful strike from McClure in the 56th minute.
There looked little on when he took possession 30 yards out but he had time and space to turn and arrow a beauty into the bottom corner.
Will De Havilland stopped Rendell making it two with an excellent block at the near post before Romain’s effort bounced off Cole.
Turgott - surely making his final Stones appearance - was given a nice reception by home fans when he made way for young debutant Charlie Dale with just over 10 minutes left.
Dale cleared the roof of the Genco Stand with his first strike - what a moment that would have been had he scored.
Aldershot then clinched victory with another superb goal.
Mensah was the scorer this time, picking out the top corner from 25 yards.
Maidstone: Lewington, Phillips, De Havilland, Swaine, Edobor, Muldoon, Powell, Taylor (Embery 61mins), Turgott (Dale 79mins), Romain, Amaluzor. Subs not used: Henry, Gilbert, Rollings.
Attendance: 1,929 (176 away).
Latest news
Features
Most popular
- 1
The abandoned ‘ghost road’ that once took holidaymakers to the Kent coast
23 - 2
Everything you need to know about Kent’s biggest Christmas market
3 - 3
Air ambulance lands after head-on smash between bus and car
- 4
'Our son didn't attend lectures for five months - why didn't uni check on him?'
- 5
Hundreds in the dark after power cuts