Maidstone United striker Muhammadu Faal was left delighted with his side after their 2-1 victory over Yeovil Town at the Gallagher Stadium on Saturday.
After a ‘media stormed’ week following Maidstone’s 2-1 win over Championship high-flyers Ipswich Town in the FA Cup Fourth Round, George Elokobi’s side were looking to end a three-game winless drought in the National League South against 10-game unbeaten Yeovil.
January signing Faal opened the scoring for the Stones in the 12th minute after a loose ball fell kindly for the striker to tap home following a free-kick just outside the Yeovil penalty area.
Matt Rush doubled Maidstone’s lead in the 19th minute after FA Cup goalscorer Lamar Reynolds produced a brilliant cross from the left-hand side for the striker to head home.
It was a game of minimal chances for both sides, but Yeovil finally found their breakthrough in the 75th minute when Dylan Morgan found space on the edge of the area to guide home past the helpless Lucas Covolan.
The away side pushed for an equaliser however the Stones defence mirrored their brilliant performance at Portman Road last week to see off a late goal Yeovil goal.
Speaking after the game, Faal expressed his delight after continuing his run of scoring in all three of his Maidstone games since signing for the Kent side last month.
“It was such a great moment,” remembered Faal. “The ball came into the box and I’m being held.
“All I can think about is where the ball is going to drop. Thankfully it fell right at my feet. But it was a bit behind me so I had to claw my leg back but all I had to do was get a bit of contact and I knew it would be a goal.
Elokobi’s side came out firing in the first half with a high intensity press from the front, which Faal described as the perfect game plan.
“We worked on the shape all week,” said Faal. “More to do so with out of possession tracking and how we should be pressing.
“It worked a treat in the first half. In the second half they had more of the ball but that’s do to with the score line but I still feel like we pressed well the whole game and prepared really well for them. “
Maidstone are next in action on Tuesday as they face another promotion chasing side in Torquay United and Faal knows just how important another three points would be.
“I don’t know what the gaffer has in plan,” said the 26-year old. “But I know we are going to work hard for one another.
“It’s going to be another big game. We are going to need the same players, energy and application that we gave today.
“Games are coming thick and fast so first things first is we have to recover.”
