Points shared in entertaining Stones draw

City picked up a hard-fought point this evening in a 2-2 draw against Maidstone United at the Gallagher Stadium. They deservedly twice lead through goals from Cody Cooke and Elliott Frear but were pegged back by the home side before withstanding late pressure to secure a point.

City enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges without creating any clear-cut chances. Just as the Kent side were beginning to see more of the ball City opened the scoring on 37 minutes. Dan Hayfield saw his header from a Frear cross blocked on the line and Cooke reacted quickest to fire home the loose ball. Moments later another scramble in the Maidstone box almost ended with City doubling their lead but in the final minute of the half Faal levelled for the Stones from their first effort on goal. There was still time for Hayfield to see his goalbound effort diverted over the bar by Greenidge.

The second half saw early chances at both ends, Tanga denying Frear with a great block then Rush’s low shot flying narrowly wide. City regained the lead on 58 minutes when Ewan Clark’s cross was headed home by Frear. The lead only lasted five minutes though as Berkeley-Agyepong stabbed home Tanga’s cross from close range. Another cross from Clark saw Hayfield miss the target as City continued to look the better side. However, as the game reached it’s closing stages it was Maidstone who began to look the more likely winners. Fowler headed a corner just over the bar, then Josey Casa-Grande saved brilliantly from Rush’s rising shot. From the resultant corner Hayfield cleared Greenidge’s header off the line to ensure the points would be shared.