Gallagher Stadium, home of Maidstone United based in Kent and play their trade in the National League. Nicknamed the “Stones” as it’s in the name ‘Maidstone’.
A former Football League club believe it or not but tragically in 1992, the club folded due to money issues… But they weren’t dead for long! Maidstone Invicta charged through the leagues and during that time became Maidstone United once again! Last season they were promoted into the National League after winning the National League South. Can they become a Football League club again one day?
For the first time this season, I’m away with York City! The best part about groundhopping wouldn’t be just visiting grounds, it’s the making friends side and my good friend Gary has got me a ticket for Maidstone away! Will my good form of watching York continue today?
8:45am and I am on the move from Shirebrook to Markham Moor just off the A1 to meet Gary and the rest. 9:20am and here I am next to the Truck Stop all parked up and now to head over to the other side of the services. Here we are and off we go!
It certainly is a long journey today but we’ve got Music Roulette to make the journey shorter! Cornershop – Brimful of Asha & Shed Seven – Chasing Rainbows later from me and… I’m on thin ice! Am I being thrown off the roulette wheel here? The Smiths – Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now… No I’m back in the good books! Come on Gary!
The Fanzine author has passed me over the Fanzine for this season now. A great read! A big recommendation for York fans! I especially liked the fans best and worst moments of last season and predictions for this season but my favourite part is the Airplane montage!
The journey goes on and here we are now at Dartford crossing! The end is near! We are now in the Garden of England that is Kent! Now for a pit stop at Nell’s Cafe in Gravesend. It certainly is a nice Cafe and it’s got good taste! And I’m not just talking about the food, it’s a cafe run by Liverpool fans!!
Back on the road we go! Gary certainly picked a good cafe there I have to say! Here we are finally in Maidstone and now we’re on foot. A lovely 5 minute walk later through Whatman Park and over the bridge to the ground… That bridge was wobbly! Here we are at the ground at last!
£19 for this National League tie! Now then! A good following from York today as per usual! The flags are up and the fans are searching for shade… Me too! One pint of Spitfire Lager later and it’s time for the game! Out come the teams!
Kick Off! “Ally Ally Ally Oh! Maidstone FC! Yellow & Black army!” Maidstone fans in good spirits so far! “Yorkshire! Yorkshire!” And so are the York fans!
9 minutes in and York play down the right hand side, it’s crossed into the middle, Lenell John-Lewis with the header… It’s off the bar…… Did that bounce in……? The linesman has flagged! It’s a GOAL!!! YORK CITY LEAD HERE IN KENT!! The shop is open for business once again!! 0-1!
18th minute and York give away a silly free kick on the edge of the box for Maidstone, Regan Booty will take… OH! Just wide… And he’s hit the steward! Good accuracy I say! Goal kick.
York are looking pretty comfortable in the game so far and are defending really well. 30th minute and York break forward, it’s worked across to Maz Kouhyar on the right, he gets into the box and goes for goal… Deflected… Wide! Corner… “HI HO CITY! CITY HI HO! I’ve missed that! In comes the corner… Straight into the keeper’s grasp.
2 minutes later and York break forward again, it’s played out to the right and it’s crossed in, it’s Alex Hurst with the header… Wide! Close!
2 minutes after that and Maidstone have a corner, in it comes… Joseph Ellul charges at it… Ooooooh! Just over! Very close for Maidstone there!
38 minutes on the clock and Maidstone come forward, some good passing work in the box and here’s Jack Barham… He goes down… Referee… Points to the spot! That is not a Penalty for me that was a good challenge! York fans furious! Maidstone fans delirious! My good record of watching York is under threat here… No Pete Jameson in goal this time around like the Brackley game… Can Ethan Ross pull off the same heroics to stop Jack Barham here… Here comes Barham… SAVED!! OH MY WORD! A carbon copy of Brackley only a bit earlier this time but my word! As I look around at Gary and the rest… Am I really a good luck charm for York!!? It is a corner for Maidstone though, in it comes… All the way out for a goal kick! Justice has been done there!
43rd minute and Maidstone win a free kick in the York half, it’s played into the middle… It’s headed away but only to Jack Cawley who shoots on the volley… Over! York hold on to lead 1-0 at half time. Is it going to be a carbon copy of the Brackley game result wise here? A John-Lewis goal and a missed Penalty for the home team?
Second half, a slow start this time around… 52 minutes now and York come forward, it’s played to Maz Kouhyar on the right, he gets to the edge of the box and shoots… Straight at the keeper who holds on.
57 minutes now and it’s Maz Kouhyar down the right again, it’s played across to Ollie Dyson who sets up John-Lewis in the box to shoot… Good block by Maidstone but it’s loose in the air… York win the header… But it’s wide!
65th minute and York have a corner…
There it is again! In comes the corner… It’s John-Lewis with the header…… It’s hit the post… Maidstone clear! So close there for York!
74 minutes gone and the atmosphere is starting to build between both sets of fans now again! Maidstone come forward, it’s played to Dominic Odusanya who shoots from 20 yards out… Just over!
78 minutes on the clock and Maidstone come forward down the left hand side, it’s crossed in, it’s Sam Corne with the free header… It’s there… There will not be a repeat of the Brackley game and my luck has run out… Maidstone equalise and it’s 1-1!
The Maidstone fans are in fine spirits now! “Since I was young! I followed them! Maidstone FC! The team for me!” 2 minutes later and here come Maidstone again down the left, they charge into the box and it’s played across… IT’S ANOTHER ONE! It’s struck home from close range and it’s Sam Corne AGAIN! York City are shell-shocked! Like the late Tommy Cooper once said: “Just like that!” This time without the funny laughter after it… Maidstone amazingly lead here 2-1!
“Since I was young! I followed them! Maidstone FC! The team for me!” Maidstone fans making the noise now! York fans stunned into silence… A bit of light hearted banter between the 2 sets of supporters now as the game goes on, can York find an equaliser here?
We’re into 6 minutes of added time now and Maidstone are running down the clock… The ball is played back to the Maidstone keeper to clear… He’s not hit that right and it’s come of Duku who chases it… But the keeper is reprieved! Too much on that from Duku sadly…
Last minute of stoppage time now and Ethan Ross plays it long, one final charge for York perhaps, Maidstone win the header… That’s it! Referee blows for full time and Maidstone claim the 3 points… My good spell of watching York is all over! It was a good performance from York I believe but 2 minutes of no concentration has cost York today… Maidstone win 2-1.
FT: Maidstone United 2-1 York City
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 6/10 – Pretty good from both sets of fans today! Maidstone and York with the flags, a bit quiet in the second half at the start but overall pretty decent.
- The Ground: 7/10 – It’s a nice ground! It’s got a non league feel to it! I love the stand behind the goal where I was and the long stand at the side especially! I think a few more rows behind the far goal and a little bit along the far side would improve the ground for sure!
- Expense: 7/10 – £19 for the ticket, £25 fuel for Gary, £4.50 for the pint, £4 pin badge and £5.50 for a cheeseburger at Nell’s Cafe along the way. Was it worth it? It wasn’t too bad in all fairness.
- Overall Experience: 7/10 – It was a good day! Great to see Gary again and meet the rest of the lads in the van today! A lovely cafe at Nell’s Cafe along the way but only the result could spoil the day…
27/40