Maidstone United 2-1 Grays Athletic

From the Gallagher Stadium

Ryman Premier League

 

GRAYS Athletic lost their first league match in 11 games to slip two points outside the play-off places.

Mark Bentley’s Blues lost 2-1 to champions elect Maidstone United, but only after a late goal condemned them to defeat in north Kent.

James Stevens looked as though he had grabbed Grays a point until a goal in the last 10 minutes from Frannie Collin gave Maidstone the win.

Maidstone started the better of the two teams and could have taken an early lead when Jack Parkinson was denied by Lamar Johnson, who has been a fixture in the team since he replaced the suspended Conor Gough last month.

Billy Bricknell fired into the side netting before Blues’ first chance. Harry Agombar’s free-kick was beaten away by Lee Worgan and Kenny Beaney’s follow-up zipped just wide of the far post.

Johnson dived to keep out Jay May, with Grays countering through Dumebi Dumaka, with Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson’s drive deflected wide.

Shane Huke cleared a Fortnam-Tomlinson effort off the goal-line after the half-time break but it was the Stones who opened the scoring.

A Collin corner fell to May and, although his first effort was blocked, he crashed home the loose ball.

That lead was short-lived as Grays won a free-kick on the edge of the box, with the deflected shot wrong-footing Worgan.

Grays were pressing for a winner, with Agombar denied by the upright and three minutes later Maidstone were back in front.

James Rogers won possession in midfield and played in Collin who crashed home.

Grays’ next game is at Whytleafe FC, as they take on Hendon in the Ryman League Cup final on Wednesday.

 

Grays Athletic: Johnson, Leader, Siva, Cronin, Parry, Stevens, Agombar, Beaney, Dumaka, Fortnam-Tomlinson, Carlos