Fleet celebrated a win in the first Kent derby of our National League South season as Ronny Nelson added his name to the long list of goalscorers in 2025/26 with the crucial winner.
After a goalless first-half, Nelson got his head to a set-piece and Fleet kept things tight and professional to maintain the unbeaten home record.
After the long trip to Grimsby, Josh Wright recalled Kwesi Appiah, and also brought back Lennon Peake, Finlay Barnes and Dominic Samuel.
It was a good start from the hosts as former Stones man Charlie Seaman looked to carry on from where he left off at the weekend with the first shot of the game which drifted wide. There were penalty claims in the 10th minute when Samuel went over after trying to get goal side of Lexus Beeden but the referee was not moved.
Samuel linked up with Appiah but his through ball was on the heavy side and the Fleet skipper was unable to get on the end of that one. Nelson then came close from a set piece but his headed effort bounced wide.
Ben Chapman tried his luck from distance but that went the same way as Fleet kept Maidstone in check for the first 25 minutes.
Lennon Peake came the closest of the red shirts with an attempt from just beyond the edge of the area which clipped the inside of the woodwork and rebounded into empty space, while Barnes wasn’t far off from his second of the season but couldn’t quite connect with the ball to get any power on a shot.
The first-half livened up again when Seaman delivered a ball in from a corner, forcing goalkeeper Nathan Harness to punch that one clear and the Stones stopper also got down to Barnes’ effort.
Maidstone came out after the break with slightly more purpose and a free kick from John Gilbert flashed inches wide with Gio Bellagambi stretching for it.
But the breakthrough went Fleet’s way on 59 minutes. Lennon Peake’s corner delivery was precise into the middle of the box and Nelson rose above TJ Bramble to head the ball home for his first Fleet goal.
The home side were careful not to let Maidstone back into it and Josh Wright only needed his substitutes in the last quarter-hour. The Stones threw on a couple more forward options but didn’t really threaten Bellagambi.
There were some strong runs into the box from Seaman and Chapman who both got good shots away but it was the Nelson goal that proved the difference to keep the Fleet on an upward curve.
EUFC: Bellagambi, Seaman, Chapman, Nelson, Olagunju, Hessenthaler, Kennedy, Peake (Coker 83), Barnes (Manktelow 74), Appiah, Samuel (Coley 74). Subs: Passley, Cosgrave, Domi, Cousins
MUFC: Harness, Sesay, Hamblin, Beeden, Fowler (Agbontohoma 83), Bramble, Corne (Kurtaran 80), Tanga (Lucan 63), Gilbert, Papadopoulos (Court 79), Moore (Kargbo 63). Subs not used: Golding, Holden.
Attendance: 1,765 (404 away)
Photos: ©EUFC/Ed Miller
