Maidstone United 4 Dartford 1

MAIDSTONE stayed clear at the top of Ryman League Division 1 South with a convincing 4-1 victory over promotion rivals Dartford at Bourne Park on Saturday.

A season's best crowd of 814 watched as Maidstone dominated the Darts in the first period.

The Stones took the lead in the 13th minute when a long ball from Craig Roser found striker Lynden Rowland who rolled the ball into the net at the second attempt.

Dartford were then given a let-off when keeper Tony Kessell handled the ball outside the box with Mo Takaloo bearing down on goal.

The angle may have saved Kessell who was only shown a yellow card and Dartford survived a second scare when the former Maidstone player Lew Watts pushed Ryan Royston in the penalty area only for play to be waved on.

The Stones got the second goal their dominance deserved in first half stoppage time when Sam Tydeman's corner was headed onto the crossbar by a Dartford defender and Takaloo prodded in the rebound.

However, Dartford emerged a different side in the second half taking charge for 20 minutes before finally pulling a goal back with a superb volley by Brendon Cass.

But the goal seemed to revive Maidstone who weny on to score a decisive third goal when Rowland headed in Tydeman's corner with 11 minutes to play.

Simon Austin then hit the crossbar for United and a deflated Dartford side conceded a fourth in the 90th minute when Austin turned in Alex Tiesse's cross.

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