Binns red card penalty sets City on way to Stones defeat

City returned empty-handed from their long trip to Kent to face Maidstone United this afternoon in a game that turned on the sending-off of keeper Charlie Binns early in the second half.

The eventful afternoon for Binns started with two excellent saves to deny Moore and Gilbert in the opening ten minutes. In between these chances Owen Windsor saw a shot deflected narrowly wide. The rest of the half was a largely even contest as Windsor fired another chance past the post from a Danny Greenslade cross then Brad Ash saw his 25-yard effort also deflected away for a corner. The Stones also fashioned several good openings, the best of these seeing Tanga head over Binns but into the side-netting.

After an equally even opening to the second half a swift Stones break on 54 minutes saw Papadopoulous’ cross squirm away from Binns and Moore went to ground over the prone keeper. The referee took the view that this was a deliberate infringement by Binns, first pointing to the spot and then showing the stunned keeper a red card. Harvey Wiles-Richards was introduced in place of Mitch Beadmore but he was comfortably beaten from the spot by Papadopoulous. Although City didn’t let their heads drop at the setback, Maidstone were rarely troubled at the back and should have increased their lead before another break in stoppage time ended with Court firing home to secure the points.