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York City 4 Maidstone United 1 match report: Yoan Zouma scores 30-yard own goal as Stones suffer sixth successive defeat

17:03, 07 January 2023

updated: 17:04, 07 January 2023

Yoan Zouma scored a bizarre own goal on his debut as Maidstone were thumped at York.

Zouma, whose loan signing from Dagenham has divided opinion among Stones fans after a conviction for filming his brother kicking a cat, needed a good start.

Maidstone United manager Hakan Hayrettin. Picture: Steve Terrell
Maidstone United manager Hakan Hayrettin. Picture: Steve Terrell

But he beat his own keeper from 30 yards as York recovered from Jack Barham’s first-minute opener to thrash Hakan Hayrettin’s side 4-1.

Shaqai Forde scored a hat-trick as York won a home game for the first time since October 8, while it was a sixth successive National League defeat for the Stones.

Maidstone, desperate for a win, made an ideal start with their early opener at the Community Stadium.

There were only 58 seconds on the clock when Ryan Galvin got away down the left and squared to Barham, who feathered the ball past Ethan Ross.

The home crowd had the hump, there were protests against the owners and you sensed there was an opportunity for Maidstone to pounce on the negativity.

Instead of that, they were 2-1 down after nine minutes and on their way to a first-ever defeat against York.

Forde equalised in the sixth minute, firing home at the second attempt after his initial effort from Lenell John-Lewis’ pass was blocked by Joe Ellul.

Zouma’s own goal followed as York went 2-1 up.

There was no danger at all when George Fowler knocked the ball to Zouma, some 30 yards out.

Without looking, he turned and played a backpass which left Dan Barden stranded as the ball ended up in the net.

York went on to take charge, looking bright in the attacking third, if a little shaky in their own half at times.

Sha’mar Lawson missed a chance to level after turning on a Galvin cutback eight yards out and York added number three in the 39th minute.

Forde, who’s on loan from Watford, ran on to a pass from Mitch Hancox and fired into the roof the net from a tight angle, with Barden beaten by the pace.

Fowler made a goal-saving challenge as Manny Duku went through just past the hour mark, that coming moments after Regan Booty’s free-kick evaded Stones substitute Josh Fawole at the back post.

Stand-in captain Roarie Deacon then had an effort blocked in the six-yard box by Adam Crookes and with Fawole putting himself about, Maidstone enjoyed a decent spell as York sat on their lead.

But it was game over in the 82nd minute when Ellul’s attempted header back to Barden allowed Forde to nip in for his hat-trick.

York: Ross, Fallowfield, Crookes, Kouogun, McLaughlin, Hurst, Forde (Whittle 89mins), John-Lewis (Duku 46mins), Hancox, Pybus, Thomas (Sanders 79mins). Subs not used: Burgess, Whitley.

Maidstone: Barden, Fowler, Zouma, Ellul, Galvin, Booty, Lawson (Wanjau-Smith 53mins), Corne (Odusanya 79mins), Deacon, Barham, Ghandour (Fawole 58mins). Subs not used: Pattisson, Mersin.

Referee: Matt Corlett.

Attendance: 3,832 (190 away).

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