Maidstone United Thump Hampton & Richmond to Extend Unbeaten Run to Five

Maidstone United: Tom Leahy (12', 69'), Leone Gravata (50'), Riley Court (75')

Hampton & Richmond Borough: Zanda Siziba (65')

Maidstone United's excellent early-season form continued at the Beveree, as the Stones thumped Hampton & Richmond Borough 4-1 to extend their unbeaten run to five matches. Tom Leahy was the star turn with two well-taken goals either side of a Leone Gravata header, before Riley Court's superb counter-attacking finish put the result beyond doubt.

The hosts had the better of an even opening, with Uriah Djedje and Reece Grego-Cox both going close, but it was Maidstone who struck first on 12 minutes. Riley Court found Gravata on the break, and Gravata's lovely through ball sent Leahy clear to dispatch past goalkeeper Marco Underwood with ease. Leahy continued to cause problems throughout the first half, going close again on 36 minutes with a deflected shot well tipped away by Underwood, while at the other end Lenny Holden did well to keep out a Zanda Siziba effort that struck the post.

Five minutes after the break, Maidstone doubled their advantage. Leahy battled to win possession deep in Hampton territory before combining with Jayden Davis and driving to the byline, standing the ball up for Gravata to head home from close range. Hampton pulled a goal back on 65 minutes when Sakariya Hassan's ball over the top set up Siziba to fire past Holden, but any hopes of a comeback were extinguished within four minutes, as Court lifted a deep cross for Leahy to head in his second of the afternoon.

The Stones weren't finished there. Substitute Farron Chime carried the ball out of defence and released Leahy, who in turn found Court's run with a perfectly weighted pass — Court ruthlessly finishing past Underwood to make it four. Substitute Rowan Gravenell-James went close to a fifth late on, denied by an excellent Underwood save, as Maidstone closed out a comprehensive Bank Holiday win.

It's a fifth game without defeat for the Stones, who head into September firmly in the mix at the top end of the National League South table. Source: maidstoneunited.co.uk