Kingstonian 0-1 Maidstone United
NO STONE-WALL PENALTY FOR K'S

Maidstone secured their first win of the season as once again Kingstonian failed in front of a Kent team.

At home, and following on from a mid-week reversal away to Folkestone, the home side were unable to convert periods of dominance into anything but a series of pumped balls into the goalkeeper's hands or low to the side of the uprights.

Unfortunately it was not defender - and goalscorer - Ant Bodle who garnered the headlines but the referee David Woolford who made sure that his presence was left unforgotten.

With Matt Gray on the floor after a shove just outside the area in the build-up, he allowed the goal to stand. Then 'stone's defender Ryan Andrews was only shown a yellow for a lower arm to Tom Bird's face in retaliation for a tackle in front of the main stand.

He also disallowed the legitimate goal when in the 36th minute Colin Richmond's goal was adjudged to have seen a foul to Rob Tolfrey in the build-up as Tolfrey was easily beaten from less than 10 yards. A pass back to Andy Walker from 25 yards out in the 42nd minute after Danny Hockton's shot was met by a counter-attack was ignored.

Minutes after Bird's arm in the face - Dean Lodge was fouled on the left of the penalty area and referee Woolford put the ball almost on the edge of the box. Lodge fell in the area with the foul possibly being a yard or two beyond the ball placing.

And finally to add to a frustrating afternoon under a September sun Bird was sent off as he lashed a ball against the advertising boards by the halfway line in front of the main stand in the 86th minute, resulting in a second yellow card after a throw-in was conceded. Early action favoured the home side with Adam Thompson heading over from 10 yards from Bird's pass from the right. Gray's corner from the left was headed in from the right but beyond the near post.

A cross in the eighth minute from Peter Hawkins was just too far ahead of striker Simon Pettit. However within eight minutes a low drive from 15 yards avoided a crowded area of legs to beat Tolfrey with Gray left on the ground after a push from behind.

Gray's free kick minutes later went across the goal. His next free kick some time later was less threatening as it went straight to the keeper - a pattern to be repeated from one player or another from then on - and Carl Wilson-Denis was unable to profit from any error. However at the other end Maidstone scored only for its legitimacy to be overturned. Hawkins was able to follow this up minutes later but Tolfrey was hardly troubled as he picked the ball out of the air. Hockton's attempt minutes later was equally saved.

The counter-attack ended in controversy as a pass-back, possibly picked up out of the area, was ignored.

The first half ended with Gray's free kick lacking pace before a counter attack resulted in another counter attack but Wilson-Denis' chip was tipped away by Walker. Hockton then limped off the field with Adrian Stone replacing him.

The second half kicked into life as Thompson cut out an attack with half-time sub Sean Johnson bought down in the 50th. Within minutes Bird was holding his nose following a lower arm to his face.

Traynor was denied as his shot went straight to a defender's legs. Lodge then went on a run up the left, outwitting three defenders but not Walker, in goal. Wilson-Denis saw his pass to Thompson shot low and wide. Not quite his last touch of the ball but he was soon replaced by Billy Dunn.

The second half saw the home side fail to convert the occasional chance and with frustration growing both on and off the pitch Bird found himself taking a slightly early bath as he kicked a ball straight back into the hoardings.