More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Charlie Seaman scored a late winner as Maidstone came from behind to beat Welling in their National South opener.
Seaman - who’s rejoined the club on loan from Doncaster - capped an impressive home debut by handing United the points five minutes from time.
Stefan Ilic had put the Wings in front in the opening stages, with Scott Rendell - another home debutant - punishing a defensive mistake for the equaliser.
Welling boss Bradley Quinton made six changes following their shock FA Cup exit at Sheppey and saw his side take an early lead.
It came in just the sixth minute with Ilic’s header beating Rendell on the line after Chris Lewington had parried Liam Ainsworth’s strike.
The Stones had a good chance to level in the 18th minute when Gavin Hoyte’s deep cross was knocked back across goal by Seaman to Sam Corne but the former Wings man was denied by an excellent low save by Reise Cook.
Welling threatened a second just past the half-hour mark when Cook’s long clearance went all the way through to Rowan Liburd but he lifted the ball over the top.
Maidstone had more of the play and were getting balls in the box, Seaman with some decent deliveries, but nothing clear-cut was falling.
Seaman did, though, force a decent save from a 25-yard free-kick. He hit it well but Cook flew to his left to beat the ball away.
Seaman continued to look bright at the start of the second half, linking with Saidou Khan to fizz in a cross which Rendell couldn’t quite get enough on.
And as Welling sat on their lead, Seaman saw a deflected free-kick go narrowly wide just before the hour mark.
The equaliser followed in the 62nd minute after Richie Danquah dropped a backpass short, allowing Rendell to nip in and fire home his first Stones goal.
Welling were screaming for a penalty soon after when Khaleem Simons went down under pressure from last man Joe Ellul.
They wanted a spot-kick and a red card but Maidstone were convinced he’d dived and referee Jason Richardson waved play on.
Corne took the ball off George Porter’s toe - much to his frustration - as the Stones continued to look for a second.
And Cook was sharply off his line to deny Seaman as he raced goalwards moving into the last 10 minutes.
Maidstone kept going and it was their best player, Seaman, who made it 2-1 in the 85th minute, showing good strength to shake off a couple of defenders before lashing home into the corner.
Maidstone: Lewington, Hoyte, Ellul, Elokobi, Brown, Corne, Khan, Seaman, Krasniqi, Porter, Rendell. Subs not used: Olutade, Agboola, Constable, Odusanya, Pinto.
Welling: Cook, Ilic, Simons, Boateng (Azeez 73mins), Budden, Danquah, Cook, Ainsworth, McLean, Liburd (Akinyemi 81mins), Green. Subs not used: Ryan, Maja, Barrington.
