MAIDSTONE HOCKEY CLUB – MATCH REPORTS
Saturday 15th October 2011
Men’s 1s
Away v Lewis
Score: 1-4  (Will Hutchins)
Maidstone 1st XI suffered a second successive defeat against Lewes in their third Southern Premier Division 2 match of the season.
Maidstone looked jaded as they started poorly and were soon on the back foot against a highly organised and hard working Lewes side that attacked in numbers and defended high. Lewes soon manufactured some goal scoring opportunities but were met with stout resistance from the two Maidstone Full Backs and keeper Darren Marchant. However Maidstone were again overrun in the midfield and struggled to maintain possession in the Lewes half. Despite this Maidstone did show some good yet isolated attacking play. Ricard Escribano proved a handful for the Lewes defence on a few occasions and Maidstone were disappointed not to score from a well won short corner which sailed past the far post just begging for a touch. The pressure from Lewes eventually told and a Maidstone error led to a scrambled goal to take the home side into the break 1-0 up.
Maidstone came out fighting in the second half and though they didn’t outplay Lewes they certainly matched them for most of the half. Maidstone upped the work rate and were able to throw numbers forward in attack, trying to get the equaliser. Lewes though showed what a good team they are and were able to take advantage of the extra space in the Maidstone half to score three goals in ten minutes with some impressive counter plays. Maidstone maintained their pride and intent and were rewarded with a consolation goal from a superbly struck Will Hutchins short corner.
Maidstone play at home against High Wycombe on 22nd October where they will look to extend their unbeaten home form.
Ladies 1s
Home v Oxford Hawks
Score: 1 – 5  (Cara Jones)
Uncharacteristic Maidstone
Maidstone went into this match feeling confident after a string of positive performances.
Oxford Hawks young and sprightly team started the stronger side, however, taking the ball from the push back straight into Maidstone’s D. They continued with high intensity, pressing and pinning Maidstone back, making it hard for the defence to release the ball.
Maidstone on the other hand were little nervy, and struggled to create the tempo of the previous weeks. Oxford registered on the scoreboard first with cleverly deflected goal after 17 minutes.
The Hawks goal almost kick-started Maidstone into gear, with the home team beginning to pick up the ball pace and find their familiar attacking style. A goal quickly followed after a simple yet well worked short corner, put away by Cara Brogan-Jones 5 minutes from half time.
Having got themselves back into the game, Maidstone went into half time feeling confident and expecting to leave the field with three points. Oxford continued their attacking and fast paced hockey, however, continuously giving Maidstone no time on the ball, and always seeming to have another player to overlap on the attack and they were on the scoresheet again just 3 minutes into the second half. The visitors’ third then followed just 4 minutes later as Maidstone were caught on the break.
Although Maidstone never really clicked into shape, they continued to fight to get themselves back into  the match. Penalty corners ensued, which the team were unable to put away, and Maidstone were again caught on the break with just 10 minutes to go, with a further Hawks goal putting the nail in the coffin 2 minutes from the final whistle.
The match ended 5-1, with Maidstone disappointed with their uncharacteristic performance.  There is no doubt amongst the players, however, that the team will bounce back next week, and this disappointment will only spur them on to train and work even harder.
Ladies 2s
Away v Brom/Becks 3s
Score:  W  1-0  (Lesley Price)
Fortunate Win
The game began with Maidstone a bit sluggish whilst BB were ready from the off set. Maidstone looked good going forward but were unable to put one away. They were caught off guard at the back with a few breaks. Luckily man of the match Sam Lambert made some great saves in goal, which kept the 2s in the game. The second half was unsettled as Brom Becks put on the pressure, however Mel O’Neil made some game saving tackles. A turn over ball gave Jen Duggan the chance to give a slip past the defence to Lesley Price, who put it away for a 1-0 win to the relief of Maidstone.

Men’s 2s
Home v Sutton Valence 2s
W  4-3  (Mark Rimmer [4], Adam Barlow)
Great Defence
Both teams came into this local derby having made solid starts to the season despite not having played their best hockey and it was Maidstone that started the brightest controlling the first quarter of play and picking up an early goal from Mark Rimmer who intercepted a lazy pass on the top of the D from the Valence defence and beating the keeper in the one-on-one that followed.

Sutton Valence fought back but found themselves going two down when Andy Smith hit the ball from a free hit outside the 25 yard line to a diving Rimmer on the Valence far post.

From then on Valence began to control possession and territory earning themselves several short corners from which they pulled one back. Valence continued to attacked the Maidstone goal but found their shots going wide or being saved by Mike Smith in the Maidstone goal, however a third goal against the run of play from man of the match Adam Barlow gave Maidstone a two goal cushion going into half-time.

To say that Sutton Valence dominated the second half was an understatement they pummelled the Maidstone goal with wave upon wave of attacks, Mike Smith did his best keep the two goal lead but Valence overpowered the Maidstone defence to pull one back. The momentum remained with Valence, their passing and moving was too much for Maidstone who were chasing shadows. A fine Valence goal in the last five minutes spurred them on further as they looked for all three points but Maidstone’s only attack of the half resulted to a short corner which Rimmer duly deflected into the back of the net to seal an undeserved victory.

Maidstone’s next game will be away against Gore Court.
Men’s  3s
Away v Sevenoaks  5s
Score:  L 2-5  (Jack Slattery, Ross Thompson)
A Bright Start
Maidstone 3’s started brightly in this their 3rd league match of the season.  Some excellent positional play and decisive passing saw them dominate the opening exchanges.  Maidstone should have gone ahead early in the match when Matt Evans found himself 1 on 1 with the keeper, only an athletic stop prevented Maidstone opening their account.  The inevitable goal came shortly after, a series of passes between Evans and Ross Thompson circumvented the Sevenoaks keeper and Thompson was able to slip the ball home.  Maidstone continued to dominate and create chances but they were fruitless. Tom Starling was thwarted by the post and then lady luck as the rebound ricocheted to safety off the back of the unsighted Sevenoaks goalkeeper.  Sevenoaks could consider themselves lucky to end the half only one goal down.  The second half saw a restructured Sevenoaks formation take control of the game.  2 quick counter attack goals put the initiative back with the home side and they began to enjoy more freedom on the pitch, a further 2 goals revitalised Maidstone and they hit back as Jack Slattery got a stick onto a a fierce drive across the keeper from Richard Chilcott and the ball flew into the Oaks goal.  Maidstone continued to press but were unable to make inroads into the Sevenoaks defence.  The final sucker punch came when the home side were able to add a fifth in the dying seconds from a short corner.
Maidstone entertain Burnt Ash at home this weekend and can take solace from the fact that despite the loss, they turned in a solid team performance and can feel aggrieved to have lost the game by such a large margin.
Men’s 4s
Home v Brom/Becks
Score:  L  1-3  (Mike Metcalfe)
Strong Oppo
With a changed formation Maidstone determined to improve on last week and started well enough but still let in two early goals.  A much better team performance from the home team led to Man of the Match Steve Harley powering a cross into Bromley& Beckenham’s D which Mike Metcalfe put away. The visitors scored again just before half time to bring the score to 1-3.
After another rousing talk at half time Maidstone continued to deliver a much improved performance with good man to man marking denying the opposition too much of the play. Maidstone’s defence stayed solid and the centre battled on which brought the final score against a much stronger side to a very creditable  1-3.

Men’s 5s
Away v  Deal 2s
Score:  L  2-4  (Simon Wood [2])
Ringer
Maidstone started this game with some fluent passing, and with Daniel Bairstow making some well timed runs along the right wing, setting up Simon Wood, it looked ominous for the home defence. However, a classic breakaway allowed Deal to take the lead, with a well taken strike. Maidstone continued to press, and when Simon Wood was taken out by the Deal keeper, he got up and converted the subsequent flick. The pivotal point of the game came as Deal brought on one of their 1st XI players, who started to control the midfield, but Maidstone kept to their game plan and a through ball from Mick Emery, was superbly converted by Simon Wood. The lead did not last long as Deal’s 1st XI player then almost individually cut through a tiring Maidstone defence, to score a hat-trick, to give Deal the win.

Men’s Vets
Away v Folkestone 5s
Score:  L 2-4  (Andy Parkes, Nigel Swaffer)
Lost Chances
Despite having most of the play for the first 20 minutes, Maidstone turned round 1-0 down when Folkestone scored virtually from their first attack. A positive start to the second half, with guest Bateman coming into play saw Parkes strike home   a short corner.  Maidstone could have gone ahead if   the penalty stroke had been  converted, which might have made matters different with Maidstone in the ascendancy. As it happened Folkestone struck 3 further goals before Swaffer diverted past the keeper a quickly taken free hit from Parkes.