‘It feels more like a defeat’ – Hawks stunned after conceding two injury-time goals against Maidstone

Joe Iaciofano celebrates after scoring his first goal against Maidstone United. Picture by Dave Haines.

A first half brace by Joe Iaciofano meant the hosts looked like christening their brand new 3G pitch with a hard-earned win.

With the Hawks still holding their advantage a minute into stoppage-time, it all looked done and dusted.

Instead the Hawks defence, which had looked solid all game, fell apart at the seams.

Joe Iaciofano scores against Maidstone. Picture by Dave Haines.

First Sam Magri failed to clear and George Porter curled a delicious shot into the far corner of the net.

Then, with the final act of the game, an unmarked Joe Ellul thumped home a header from a corner.

It was a massive frustration for Hawks manager Paul Doswell.

'It is two points thrown away,' he rued.

Moussa Diarra, on his competitive debut for Hawks, tussles with Scott Rendell. Picture by Dave Haines.

'When you have a two-goal lead going into stoppage-time then you expect to win the game.

'To concede in the 91st and 95th minute is gutting.

'In our dressing room it feels more like a defeat.

'If we clear the ball down the line like we should have done then they don't score their first goal.

Moussa Diarra seems to have won the ball from Justin Amaluzor, but ref Steven Hughes awarded Maidstone a penalty for this challenge. Picture by Dave Haines.

'All afternoon we defended well at set-pieces and then at the last one we present them with a free header.'

In the opening 20 minutes the Hawks looked good going forward but lacked accuracy with their final pass.

Bedsente Gomis went closest with a shot that rebounded off the goalkeeper's legs.

Maidstone, however, were an enterprising outfit and the hosts had a huge let off midway through the half.

Joe Ellul wheels away after scoring Maidstone's dramatic injury-time leveller against Hawks. Picture by Dave Haines.

Moussa Diarra brought down Justin Amaluzor in the area to concede a penalty.

Fortunately for the Hawks, the striker's spot-kick rebounded back off the foot of the post.

The Hawks made the most of their escape by taking charge before the interval, the movement of Tommy Wright and Iaciofano causing the visitors lots of problems.

On 29 minutes Iaciofano tucked in a Wright cross at the far post and then six minutes later clinically finished a superb three-man move inside the area.

He missed the chance of a hat-trick on the stroke of half-time, sending a point-blank header over the top.

After the break Maidstone were the better side and, though they left it late, fully deserved their share of the points.

'I didn't feel that we were professional enough,' said Doswell.

'It was clear to me that Maidstone had the edge in fitness in the second half.

'Sometimes in football you have to suck it up.

'We will spend the next couple of days licking our wounds before getting ready to go again.'

The Hawks are in home action again on Wednesday against Chatham Town in the FA Cup.

Chatham warmed up for the tie by romping to a 5-1 Southern Counties East League win at Beckenham.

Striker Jack Evans - top scorer last season with 26 goals - took his seasonal tally to 10 in eight games with a brace.

It was Chatham’s sixth win in seven league games and hoisted the second placed team’s goal tally to 33.

Hawks: Worner, Read, Straker, Diarra, Magri, Clifford, Iaciofano (Ajakaiye 84), Widdrington, Gomis, Wright, Deacon (Sinclair 67).