Maidstone United 2 Tunbridge Wells 1

Match 04/13/1031 - Tuesday, 9th July 2013 - Pre-Season Friendly

Maidstone United (1) 2 McKenzie 20, Collin 73
Tunbridge Wells (1) 1 Sobers (o.g) 44
Att. 597

Entrance: £5
Programme: Sold Out
Mileage: 20/176

Match Report

A year ago this fixture would not have happened. But one of the benefits of last season's run to the Final of the FA Vase is that not only are Tunbridge Wells being offered a prestige friendly against Maidstone United, but they are also offered the opportunity of treading the hallowed plastic of the Gallagher. On Saturday, Tonbridge will also be offering their neighbours the respect of a first team fixture for the previously unworthy Courier Cup.

At the Gallagher, on a pleasant evening after another hot day, Tunbridge Wells were accorded a warm welcome with their achievements of last season being recalled by the stadium announcer. A couple of significant absentees to the Wells squad were Perry Spackman and Andy Irvine, both evidently carrying knocks, whilst in the Maidstone side, that fielded a different eleven for each half, were ex-Tonbridge heroes (almost legends), Lee Worgan and Frannie Collin.

Despite their superior status and although they dominated large periods of the game, Maidstone never really put Tunbridge Wells in their place and their visitors can take great heart from a really decent performance. They defended stoutly, Chris Oladogba and Mikel Czanner were called upon, and made, good saves in both halves, whilst leading the line, Jack Harris showed all the credentials that has attracted clubs far higher up the pyramid.

In the first half Maidstone fielded Leon McKenzie as a triallist, a player that has commanded a fee of £1 million when he moved to Coventry City and also scored over 100 goals at Football League level. He may well be heading towards the end of his career at the age of 35, but undoubtedly he should have enough in his locker to be able to perform at Ryman League level. It was indeed, McKenzie, who opened the scoring after 20 minutes when Oladogba could only palm a shot into the striker’s path who only needed a tap in to score.

The difference in divisions was evident, but the Wells dug in and Harris capitalised on a mistake just before the break and although his scrambled shot was cleared it came back off the post and rebounded into the net off an unfortunate defender.

With the fresh legs of a completely different eleven, Maidstone had the ascendancy for much of the second period and eventually reclaimed the lead on 73 minutes when a header from Charley Robertson came back off the underside of the bar for Collin (pictured) to head the ball home from about 5mm. Any Tonbridge supporters casting an eye on the game would have been amused when the stadium announcer chose to credit the goal to Robertson.

In the true scheme of things, a late equaliser for the Wells would have been unjust on the passage of play, but it could have been an oh-so-sweet moment had Richard Sinden not pulled a shot wide in the dying moments of the game, but results don’t win points in July and Martin Larkin will be more than satisfied with his side’s display in their first run-out of pre-season.

The phenomenal pulling power of Maidstone's return to their home town is obviously going to continue this season in great numbers when a crowd of 597 can be attracted for a low-key pre-season game.