More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Maidstone missed the chance to move back into the National League South play-off places on a lousy night at the Gallagher.
A win would have sent them up to seventh, after Hemel’s game against Weymouth was called off, but they couldn’t make the breakthrough against lowly Chippenham.
Conditions undoubtedly affected the quality of the game but on a night when a mistake or a freak goal could easily have come into play, at least the Stones remain unbeaten at home since the opening day.
Saidou Khan was missing from Saturday’s win at Oxford, with defender Luke Pennell taking his place in a change of system.
Maidstone were playing into the wind and rain in the first half and found it hard to get out at times as Chippenham, who’d scored in each of their past nine away games, looked to use the conditions to their advantage.
They forced a series of early corners, without threatening, but a couple of chances fell their way early midway through the half.
The first saw Jake Cole save with his feet from Tom Owen-Evans, Callum Gunner fired narrowly over - with a corner given - then Cole denied Dave Pratt after Pennell’s square pass was cut out.
Maidstone mustered their first shot in the 34th minute with Justin Amaluzor making space for a strike that was deflected wide from the edge of the box.
Dan Wishart went close from 20 yards after Amaluzor blocked a clearance and fed Matt McClure, then a terrific clearing header by George Rigg from Gavin Hoyte’s dangerous cross saved the visitors.
A good chance fell Maidstone’s way early in the second half with McClure leading a counter-attack and releasing Wishart whose cross reached Amaluzor only for Will Puddy to make the save.
Minutes later, McClure glanced the far post after neat footwork in the box, with Amaluzor’s follow-up finding the side-netting, then Noah Chesmain’s deflected shot went out for a corner.
However, there was a scare at the other end when the ball came off George Elokobi and fell to Luke Haines in a glorious position but he blazed over the bar.
Maidstone: Cole, Johnson, Elokobi, Pennell (Allen 73mins), Hoyte, Marshall, Temelci, Chesmain, Amaluzor, McClure, Wishart. Subs not used: Kamdjo, Kyei, Gilbert, Lewington.
Attendance: 1,337.
