Maidstone United 2 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 17/07/634 - Saturday, 22nd September 2007 - Ryman Premier

Maidstone United (1) 2 Hegley 8 Cumbers 84
Tonbridge (0) 1 Main 81
Att. 528

Entrance: £9
Programme: £2
Mileage: 44/1,322
New ground: 219

Match Report
Whether you are a Spurs supporter losing at Arsenal or a City fan losing at United there is no worse game to lose than the derby fixture. League positions hardly count, these are the grudge matches that give you the bragging rights even if you are propping up the table.

Over the years Maidstone United have been my grudge team. There has never been any love lost with them and Tonbridge fans and when they had their brief time in the Football League they became the arch rivals of Gillingham as well. Never to be forgotten was the Kent Senior Cup victory in 1975 at the old London Road ground and then there is also the bitter memories of Gillingham being knocked out of the FA Cup by the Stones when they were still a non-league side.

Both sides have endured a poor start to the season with Maidstone bottom with just a win to their credit and Tonbridge a couple of points better off. Maidstone were quicker out of the blocks, scored an early goal and generally bossed the first half. Whatever Tony Dolby said at half time it was short and probably not sweet, but he was back in the dugout long before the break had finished. The Angels did show a greater purpose in the second half but the quality was sorely lacking and Maidstone’s well marshalled defence was holding out with no real scares. Tonbridge got a lucky break ten minutes from time when a Jon Main shot found the bottom corner with the aid of a deflection. But the parity was short-lived and following a great save from Matt Reed, Luis Cumbers, on loan from Gillingham (oh the irony), finished from close range.

During the week a new investor has put £100,000 into the club for a 50 per cent share. Nick Sullivan has already made clear his displeasure at the club’s present position. If this new investor is much of the same opinion (and how can he not be?) then Tony Dolby’s tenure could well be entering its last phase. Derby games and the FA Cup can produce emotive results. We’ve lost the derby , a FA Cup exit next Saturday could prove the final straw.

Today’s game was played at Bourne Park, Sittingbourne where Maidstone are lodging with Sittingbourne. The ground is in the shadow of Central Park. Fifteen years ago (perhaps more) this was a state-of-the-art stadium built on the proceeds of a huge sale of Sittingbourne’s town centre ground. Sadly the money was frittered away, allegations of misappropriation, and now the ground has literally gone to the dogs as only greyhound racing now takes place inside the walls. Both clubs now play on the old training ground on a cabbage patch of a pitch with one small stand and a club house. Maidstone have purchased land and are reported to be returning to their home town next season. I regularly pass the site and there is absolutely no progress and with financial problems they may have to stay in Sittingbourne for a while longer.