Hampton & Richmond 2-1 Maidstone United match report
Published: 16:45, 02 November 2019
Updated: 07:36, 03 November 2019
Maidstone conceded late for the second game running as their seven-match unbeaten run ended at Hampton.
Nana Kyei cancelled out Kyron Farrell’s opener on his return the starting XI.
But the Stones, pegged back by an injury-time leveller at Braintree on Tuesday, were beaten by a 90th-minute strike from Hampton substitute Tyrone Lewthwaite.
The Stones started well, Iffy Allen forcing a couple of early corners, but Hampton took the lead in the ninth minute with a cracking strike.
The ball arrived at the feet of left-back Farrell whose terrific 25-yard drive flew past Jake Cole and into the corner.
Maidstone won plenty of corners during a first half short on quality in the rain and went close to an equaliser when Ryan Johnson met Noah Chesmain’s ball to the near post only to see a downward header cleared off the line by Sam Cox.
Hampton goalscorer Farrell then did his job at the back with an excellent block to deny Ibby Akanbi from a good move that saw Allen, Noah Chesmain and Justin Amaluzor combine down the left.
Saidou Khan went on a couple of good runs from midfield and just past the half hour played the ball into Amaluzor, who fired wide on the spin.
Danilo Orsi-Dadomo might have made it two when the ball dropped in the box at the other end while Ross Marshall’s effort was gathered at the second attempt.
Maidstone had a golden chance at the start of the second half when Akanbi broke into the box.
The ball ended up with Kyei who perhaps had too much time to think about it and Lincoln got a hand to his shot.
Kyei wasn’t to be denied a second time, though, as Maidstone levelled in the 50th-minute with a 20-yard strike that hit the underside of the bar and went in.
Jefferson Louis - still a useful player aged 40 - worked Jake Cole after a decent run took him past George Elokobi as Hampton looked for a quick response.
It was end to end for a spell after that, including fancy footwork from Kyei whose confidence had clearly been lifted by the goal.
Maidstone introduced Jonny Edwards and then Jake Embery in search of a winner but it was Hampton substitutes Ryan Hill and Lewthwaite who combined to win the day.
The warning signs were there when Hill got past Elokobi from a long ball and fired wide.
And, soon after, in the 90th minute, the winner came as Hill’s cross was turned in by Lewthwaite from a couple of yards out.
Maidstone: Cole, Hoyte, Johnson, Elokobi, Chesmain, Marshall, Khan, Amaluzor, Allen, Kyei (Edwards 78mins), Akanbi (Embery 85mins). Subs not used: Pennell, Gilbert, Lewington.
Attendance: 619.
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Craig Tucker