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Aldershot Town 1 Maidstone United 3 match report: First away win for the Stones

Three goals in five second-half minutes led Maidstone to victory at Aldershot.

United blew away their hosts immediately after the break, with Regan Booty’s penalty and headers from Jack Barham and Bivesh Gurung putting Hakan Hayrettin’s side in charge.

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

Former Stones man Justin Amaluzor produced an instant reply for the Shots, giving them hope, but the visitors claimed a second win in three days and their first away victory of the National League season.

Sam Corne returned in midfield after serving a two-match ban, replacing Dominic Odusanya, while Jack Cawley came in for on-loan Shots defender Kodi Lyons-Foster, who was ineligible.

There was also a start for ex-Aldershot forward Josh Fawole, with Roarie Deacon ruled out through injury.

The best chances of a goalless first half to the hosts, whose starting XI included Amaluzor and big ex-Dover striker Inih Effiong.

The pair featured prominently in the Shots’ best work going forward, Effiong seeing an early header from Archie Davies’ cross hit the underside of the bar and bounce down on the line.

It was an Amaluzor pass that led to a big opening just past the half-hour.

He came away with the ball in midfield and fed Ryan Glover whose low ball to the back post set up Frank Vincent a couple of yards out.

Vincent eventually got his shot in but it lacked power and was cleared off the line.

Amaluzor was the creator again just before the break, playing in Effiong, with Yusuf Mersin sharply off his line to make a good block with his feet.

Maidstone’s best chance of the half came in the first couple of minutes, Fawole pinching possession in a dangerous area and crossing for Corne, who timed his run well but volleyed over.

There were penalty shouts from both sides, Joe Ellul tussling with Amaluzor at one end and Fawole going down at the other.

While those appeals were turned down, referee Aaron Jackson did point to the spot early in the the second half for a challenge on Barham.

Booty, enjoying an excellent game, immediately took the ball and sent an unstoppable spot-kick into the top corner for United’s 49th-minute opener.

It was just the start to the second half Maidstone needed and it got even better two minutes later when Christie Pattisson’s cross saw Barham get across his man and head home at the near post.

Number three followed in the 54th minute, Pattisson with another cross from the right and this time the unmarked Gurung headed in his first Stones goal.

Aldershot replied a minute later, the ball reaching Amaluzor, who arrowed a beauty into the top corner from 25 yards.

Francis Amartey fired just wide and saw another effort snuffed out by Corne as Aldershot, having looked likely to fold, took heart from their goal.

They should have had a second with 20 minutes left, Ellul doing enough to put Effiong off in the middle of the goal when he looked odds-on to score.

Effiong was put through again minutes later, firing wide under pressure from Mersin, as the Shots kept knocking at the door.

Aldershot: Ashby-Hammond, Davies, Harfield, Cordner, Amaluzor, Vincent, Effiong, McQuoid, Amartey, Phillips (Willard 68mins), Glover. Subs not used: Hall, Panayiotou, Jordan, Klass.

Maidstone: Mersin, Fowler, Ellul, Cawley, Hoyte, Booty, Gurung (Odusanya 69mins), Corne, Pattisson, Barham (Alabi 77mins), Fawole. Subs not used: Hadler, Vincent, Woods.

Referee: Aaron Jackson.

Attendance: 1,887 (408 away).

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