Maidstone United 7th November (H)

[Shredding Green]

I was looking forward to this fixture last season as it was the final scheduled league match but it's importance  then suffered from Maidstone United having a bad run and the season being curtailed.

This season, helped by a commanding 6-0 home win over Concord Rangers in their previous fixture, Maidstone United are the division's leading scorers by 3 and have the best goal difference by 2. They begin a massive triple header away to Slough Town followed by Dartford (H) and Ebbsfleet United (A).

A strong team spirit is a feature of Maidstone United this season with Justin Amaluzor the pick of a devastating attack.

I notice that the post for the previous home match against Bath City was opened six days before the match and 3Spirit's correct score forecast posted five days before. Just three days to go before this one ... so here's the post and I look forward to 3Spirit's score forecast! 

[Reading Rebel]

11 hours ago, Shredding Green said:

I was looking forward to this fixture last season as it was the final scheduled league match but it's importance  then suffered from Maidstone United having a bad run and the season being curtailed.

This season, helped by a commanding 6-0 home win over Concord Rangers in their previous fixture, Maidstone United are the division's leading scorers by 3 and have the best goal difference by 2. They begin a massive triple header away to Slough Town followed by Dartford (H) and Ebbsfleet United (A).

A strong team spirit is a feature of Maidstone United this season with Justin Amaluzor the pick of a devastating attack.

I notice that the post for the previous home match against Bath City was opened six days before the match and 3Spirit's correct score forecast posted five days before. Just three days to go before this one ... so here's the post and I look forward to 3Spirit's score forecast! 

It certainly seems that things have conspired against you watching a match between Slough and the mighty Maidstone SG.

No score forecast from your good self then SG?

 

[Shredding Green]

2 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

It certainly seems that things have conspired against you watching a match between Slough and the mighty Maidstone SG.

No score forecast from your good self then SG?

 

Now it is an advantage to Slough Town being classified as "Elite Soccer". I have a friend in Sydney to whom I send a weekly email featuring a match each week of the soccer season. This weekend I will feature two massive matches : FC United of Manchester v Doncaster Rovers and Slough Town v Maidstone United. There is only one phrase for such matches ... "elite soccer"!!!

No doubt Bakes and Unders have studied the video of the 6-0 win over Concord Rangers who played well, despite the scoreline. Just a shame that I can not sponsor the match this season. As for the scoreline ... it will be a match between two well organised teams both with a great team spirit. A massive test and learning curve for Slough Town and anything better than a 2-2 draw would put them in good stead for at least the play-offs.

[Reading Rebel]

1 hour ago, Shredding Green said:

Now it is an advantage to Slough Town being classified as "Elite Soccer". I have a friend in Sydney to whom I send a weekly email featuring a match each week of the soccer season. This weekend I will feature two massive matches : FC United of Manchester v Doncaster Rovers and Slough Town v Maidstone United. There is only one phrase for such matches ... "elite soccer"!!!

No doubt Bakes and Unders have studied the video of the 6-0 win over Concord Rangers who played well, despite the scoreline. Just a shame that I can not sponsor the match this season. As for the scoreline ... it will be a match between two well organised teams both with a great team spirit. A massive test and learning curve for Slough Town and anything better than a 2-2 draw would put them in good stead for at least the play-offs.

Not sure why it will be a 'learning curve' for Slough Town?

 

[Shredding Green]

33 minutes ago, Reading Rebel said:

Not sure why it will be a 'learning curve' for Slough Town?

 

I am sure that after the match Bakes and Unders will let us know what they learned about how the squad can deal with such a massive fixture.

And 3Spirit's still doing the calculations on his score forecast!

[Irishadrian]

I'm not going to predict the score but I'm  expecting a  Rebel victory

Although its early days Maidstone are another team like Bath so far  strong at home and poor away from home

5 games played  10 points scored but only 1 point away from home and dumped out of the FA Cup away from home by lower opposition.

I think we can be confident and optimistic going into this one.

[Shredding Green]

10 minutes ago, Irishadrian said:

I'm not going to predict the score but I'm  expecting a  Rebel victory

Although its early days Maidstone are another team like Bath so far  strong at home and poor away from home

5 games played  10 points scored but only 1 point away from home and dumped out of the FA Cup away from home by lower opposition.

I think we can be confident and optimistic going into this one.

Maidstone United would have won all three of those away  games if they could score penalties - they have missed seven of their last eight!

Drew 2-2 at Havant & Waterlooville after missing a penalty.

Lost 1-0 at Chelmsford City after missing two penalties.

That's their league away record this season : 0-1-1 F2 A3

Missed a penalty in normal time before drawing 2-2 at Wimborne Town in the FA Cup. Then lost the penalty shoot out 3-1 after missing three of their four penalties!!!

These are very unusual statistics for a division's leading scorers.

As I support both teams, I can be both confident and optimistic ahead of Saturday! 

[3spirit]

I'm no expert on what scores will be what [ just jammy last week] but I think Slough may struggle to win this week.

I'll give my prediction tomorrow after I've slept on it.

[Shredding Green]

2 hours ago, 3spirit said:

I'm no expert on what scores will be what [ just jammy last week] but I think Slough may struggle to win this week.

I'll give my prediction tomorrow after I've slept on it.

Great to hear from you 3Spirit. This is a very fascinating fixture in so many ways. I haven't purchased my Live Stream yet but intend to do so.

[Reading Rebel]

13 hours ago, Shredding Green said:

Maidstone United would have won all three of those away  games if they could score penalties - they have missed seven of their last eight!

Drew 2-2 at Havant & Waterlooville after missing a penalty.

Lost 1-0 at Chelmsford City after missing two penalties.

That's their league away record this season : 0-1-1 F2 A3

Missed a penalty in normal time before drawing 2-2 at Wimborne Town in the FA Cup. Then lost the penalty shoot out 3-1 after missing three of their four penalties!!!

These are very unusual statistics for a division's leading scorers.

As I support both teams, I can be both confident and optimistic ahead of Saturday! 

Goes to show that sometimes the devils in the detail.

Not unusual to support two teams but surely you must favor one over the other?

I support both Slough and Spurs but if they were to play each other I'd always want Slough to win.

So come on get off that fence and tell us who you want to win tomorrow.  

[Shredding Green]

32 minutes ago, Reading Rebel said:

Goes to show that sometimes the devils in the detail.

Not unusual to support two teams but surely you must favor one over the other?

I support both Slough and Spurs but if they were to play each other I'd always want Slough to win.

So come on get off that fence and tell us who you want to win tomorrow.  

I certainly don't want Slough Town to lose but, as mentioned above, feel that anything better than a 2-2 draw would be a very good result for Slough Town.

I intend to watch the match. It could be a cracker!

[Reading Rebel]

52 minutes ago, Shredding Green said:

I certainly don't want Slough Town to lose but, as mentioned above, feel that anything better than a 2-2 draw would be a very good result for Slough Town.

I intend to watch the match. It could be a cracker!

That's cryptic for 'I'm on the fence and staying there'  ?

Edited November 6, 2020 by Reading Rebel

[3spirit]

I think this game is a big test for the Rebels. Of course, Bakes and Unders will try to get a positive result against Maidstone. I think there will be two goals in it but unfortunately I'm predicting 0 - 2 loss. I hope I'm wrong, maybe we can muster a 1-1 draw but I just have a feeling Slough won't win.

I don't know about Mystic Meg but perhaps Mystic Keg is more apt [keeping away from pubs that don't sell real ale]. ? 

[Reading Rebel]

39 minutes ago, 3spirit said:

I think this game is a big test for the Rebels. Of course, Bakes and Unders will try to get a positive result against Maidstone. I think there will be two goals in it but unfortunately I'm predicting 0 - 2 loss. I hope I'm wrong, maybe we can muster a 1-1 draw but I just have a feeling Slough won't win.

I don't know about Mystic Meg but perhaps Mystic Keg is more apt [keeping away from pubs that don't sell real ale]. ? 

With a squad that trains full time and without doubt one of the top budgets in the division Maidstone were expecting to challenge for promotion last season but flattered to deceive on many occasion ending up outside the play-offs in 9th place.

After a change of manager, they have made a great start to the season and currently sit in 3rd place 3 points off the top.

I agree with 3spirit that this game is a massive test for us but I think we can rise to the occasion and predict a 2-1 win for the Rebels.   

[Shredding Green]

1 hour ago, Reading Rebel said:

With a squad that trains full time and without doubt one of the top budgets in the division Maidstone were expecting to challenge for promotion last season but flattered to deceive on many occasion ending up outside the play-offs in 9th place.

After a change of manager, they have made a great start to the season and currently sit in 3rd place 3 points off the top.

I agree with 3spirit that this game is a massive test for us but I think we can rise to the occasion and predict a 2-1 win for the Rebels.   

Not quite right there RR.

In January 2019, John Still was appointed Head of Football on an eighteen months contract and Hakan Hayrettin Head Coach, a position which he still retains. It is just that on Wiki he is called head coach and on the Maidstone United FC website manager. The only thing which has changed is that this season he has sole responsibility for football matters.

I have paid my £7-99 for the 3 pm kick off. That probably works out at about a pound a goal!

[Reading Rebel]

4 minutes ago, Shredding Green said:

Not quite right there RR.

In January 2019, John Still was appointed Head of Football on an eighteen months contract and Hakan Hayrettin Head Coach, a position which he still retains. It is just that on Wiki he is called head coach and on the Maidstone United FC website manager. The only thing which has changed is that this season he has sole responsibility for football matters.

I have paid my £7-99 for the 3 pm kick off. That probably works out at about a pound a goal!

You're right SG but the principle is the same.

Still no prediction from yourself then? You'll be getting splinters sitting on that fence  ?

  

Edited November 7, 2020 by Reading Rebel

[Shredding Green]

On 06/11/2020 at 11:13, Reading Rebel said:

That's cryptic for 'I'm on the fence and staying there'  ?

RR : 54 minutes gone and it's 2-2!

[Reading Rebel]

We took the lead from a well taken goal from Paul Hodges after what looked like a mix-up by the Maidstone defense and keeper.

Maidstone drew level shortly afterwards when a simple cross to the far post was poorly defended resulting in an unchallenged header for the equalizer.

The first half Maidstone bossed the midfield whilst we looked lightweight up front so overall a deserved half time lead for Maidstone.

Second half was better from us and a second goal from Paul Hodges brought the score level.

Really disappointing to concede a 3rd goal which came about from some really poor play from Max Worsfold who looked to have ducked out of a challenge on the far side which allowed a player to cross the ball for the winning goal. 

Overall really disappointing not to get a point from the game which we probably just about deserved based upon our better second half performance. 

 

[Irishadrian]

I'm disappointed and I'm sure so are Neil/Jon  I've not watched any of the game yet but failure to adequately defend seems to have cost us again

At kickoff the records of both teams in their past 4 games was identical  2wins each 1draw and 1 loss each  Maidstone ahead of us by dint of an extra  game played. I had expected better.

 

Edited November 7, 2020 by Irishadrian

[Jon Underwood]

Yes disappointed to lose but not disappointed with the performance or the effort from our lads.

At 2-2 it was anyone’s game and both teams had a couple of chances and they managed to take one of theirs with a great cross and header. The game really could have gone either way.

To say you expect better is a strange one given that they are full-time and I would guess have at least double our budget. We can try to beat these teams, and we sometimes will, but to expect it is an odd way to look at it in my opinion. 

Their only points dropped to date were a 1-0 defeat at Chelmsford where they missed TWO penalties and a 2-2 at Havant where they were 2 up in the 90th minute. I fully expect them to finish in the top 5 and they really should do that along with Havant, Dartford, Dorking and Ebbsfleet as those teams are on a different level resource wise to the rest of us.
 

 

Edited November 7, 2020 by Jon Underwood