After Saturday’s draw to Chelmsford saw us lose our spot at the top of the National
League South, Wanderers were presented with a challenging mid-week visit to the
lively Gallagher Stadium to face promotion-seeking Maidstone United.

The hosts took no time in establishing their game plan for the evening. After an early
warning shot from Ruben Shakpoke led to a Wanderers goal kick, Maidstone were
eager to limit our centre-backs’ time on the ball and dispossessed the visitors few
times in the opening fifteen minutes.

The upside of this for was that the Stones left plenty of space in behind their defence
for our Wanderers to find. Jimmy Muitt was the first to capitalise on this, launching a
ball into space for Alfie Rutherford to run onto. Rutherford drove towards the box and
laid it off to Jason Prior, whose powerful effort whistled into the side-netting.

Our first shot on target came moments later. Josh Taylor recycled possession well
and put a proving cross in, which after a rebound fell to Alfie Rutherford whose half-
volley forced goalkeeper Alexis Andre Jr to make an excellent reflex save.

Both teams appeared determined to play through their opponents. The hosts
repeatedly put smooth passing sequences together but failed to create any
significant chances while the Maidstone press continued to force our boys long,
which largely allowed them to regain possession stress-free.

One particularly silky team move culminated in Rutherford firing another effort on
goal just before the break, but we remained without reward.

Half-time: 0-0

Rutherford was presented with a golden opportunity barely a minute into the second
half after a slip from Temi Eweka left the 26-year-old one on one with Andre Jr, but
just as had been the case all evening, the Stone goalkeeper was equal to the effort.

Wanderers would then ride out a sustained spell of pressure, with the hosts
continuing to control possession but failing to create any chances. A rare moment in
the Maidstone half allowed Jordan Norville-Williams to beat two Stones defenders
and attempt a cross from the left George Fowler had to slide to block.

This marked the start of a strong spell for our Wanderers just past the hour mark.
Taylor tried his luck from range, and we recouped possession to inject a moment of
magic into the game. A fluid fast-paced move involving Rob Milsom, Josh Taylor and
Charlie Carter all linking up to play Muitt in, who stretched to pull the ball back across
to Rutherford, who knocked it home and wheeled away towards the rapturous
Wanderers fans. 62’ 0-1

With the deadlock broken, the game found a new level of intensity. Maidstone
became direct and eager to pile pressure on our defence in front of the Gallagher
Stadium’s terrace who were a relentless wall of sound all evening. The game was
end-to-end for five minutes after the goal, but as both teams looked to settle down it
became clear that Wanderers were entirely focused on defending what they had.

The result of this was that the hosts established a stranglehold of possession. As we
retreated further back we invited pressure, and a simple passing sequence followed
by a menacing cross allowed Maidstone substitute Tom Leahy to bundle the ball
home at the back post. 89’ 1-1

The aforementioned Gallagher terrace found a new lease of life – as did their team.
The Stones smelled blood and continued to pile pressure on our Wanderers: late
free kicks, late corners and late crosses all asking questions of our defence deep
into injury time.

It was a nail-biting end to a gripping evening and Wanderers falter to fourth in the
table – but with a potentially decisive clash against Torquay at Meadowbank on
Saturday, Wanderers have an immediate chance to bounce back.

Full time: 1-1

Match report by Charlie Partridge