Booth at the double as Stones move up

By Peter Butcher

MAIDSTONE climbed to second place in Ryman South tonight (Wednesday) with a 3-0 victory at Eastbourne Town, who were fifth, one position above Stones, when the game kicked off.


The hosts were in deep trouble after only 12 minutes, when Sonny Cobbs was sent off for a ‘professional foul’ and Paul Booth converted the penalty.

Town then held out until the 75th minute, when Booth struck again: his tenth league goal of the season to go with seven in the FA competitions.

Ian Draycott added the third as Maidstone, the pre-season title favourites, moved to within a point of leaders Crawley Down with a game in hand.

The night’s other game was the sole remaining second-round League Cup tie and it also produced a three-goal away win as Concord chalked up a 4-1 victory at Romford.

Perhaps it would have been a different outcome had Boro taken their early chances, but Ryan Imbert shot wide of an open goal and Joe Oates had a weak penalty saved by Michael Jordan.

Jason Hallett (pictured by Gavin Ellis/TGS Photo, on the receiving end of a challenge by Matt Toms) drove in a fierce cross-shot to put Concord ahead on 27 minutes and John Easterford finished off a goalmouth scramble to make it 2-0 on the hour.

Substitute Jerome Walker scored seconds after joining the action in the 71st minute, making the most of an unselfish pass by Hallett. Imbert got one back four minutes later but another substitute, Harry Elmes, completed the scoring with a perfect free-kick three minutes after that.

The draw for the third round will be published on Friday.

Where next?

League Cup draw announced THE draw for the third round of the Isthmian League Cup has been made and features only three all-Ryman Premier clashes.
Cruel exit for never-say-die Rocks SINCE 1872 there have been tens of thousands of FA Cup matches. Few, if any, will have had the drama of the fourth qualifying round clash at Rookery Hill last night (Tuesday), when East Thurrock drew 4-4 with Chelmsford before going down 5-3 on penalties.

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