Catch up with all the latest news and match reports from Maidstone Hockey Club

MAIDSTONE HOCKEY CLUB REPORTS

Saturday 8th October 2011
Men’s 1s

Venue: Away v Purley
Result: Lost 6-0
Scorers: N/A
Man of the Match: Will Ostler

Poor Maidstone hit for six

Maidstone 1st XI got soundly drubbed in their second Southern Premier Division 2 match of the season.

Maidstone started well and for a time were controlling the game, moving the ball smoothly around the defence. However Purley kept numbers behind the ball making it hard for Maidstone to break them down. Usually good on the counter Maidstone showed inexperience when faced with having to try and force the attack through a crowd of players. Conversely Purley were content to sit back, absorb the pressure and then move with pace on the break. They executed a well practiced counter after just 10 minutes which resulted in them going 1-0 up. This affected Maidstone more than it should have who were picked off a further 3 times in the half to go into the break 4-0 down.

Maidstone tried to relax after in the second half and rediscover the passing and movement which had yielded 10 goals in the last 3 games. Again they started much better and put some real pressure on the Purley D but still the final finish was missing. At the other end Purley kept up the pressure and were able to add 2 more to their tally. Though Maidstone were poor Purley played good hockey and delivered a well thought out game plan.

Maidstone have much work to do before they play their next league match away against Lewes on 15th October.

Men’s 2’s
Venue: Home v Sevenoaks 2nd XI
Result: Won 2-1
Scorers: Mitchell 2
Man of the Match: Mark Christmas

Maidstone entertained a hard-working Sevenoaks side but a slow start saw Maidstone go 1-nil down in the first 10 minutes after some sloppy play from the defence allowed Sevenoaks a scrambled goal. Both sides enjoyed plenty of possession in the middle of the park and Maidstone created a couple of clear cut chances but failed to capitalise.

The second half continued for much in the same vein, both sides sharing the possession and territory but neither looking as if they could break through the opposition defence. Maidstone showed some ill discipline picking up a few cards and it looked like they could not find a way through the Sevenoaks defence but their perseverance paid off when Ollie Mitchell scored after being the the first to react from a short corner which was initially saved by the Oaks goalkeeper.

Suddenly Sevenoaks lost their shape and within two minutes they found themselves behind, Andy Smith broke down the right from the middle of the park squaring the ball across the goal for Ollie Mitchell to sweep home and with only a few minutes left in the game there was no time for Sevenoaks to respond.

Man of the Match went to Mark Christmas for a solid job in the Maidstone defence but Maidstone will feel lucky with this result and must pick up their efforts for the local derby match against Sutton Valence next week.
Men’s 3s

Venue: Away v Deal 1st XI
Score: Lost 6-0
Player of the match: Jack Slattery/Richard Chilcott

A rough Deal

With several players not available this week Maidstone 3rds fielded a much changed side from last week for their visit to Deal. Maidstone started brightly with some good midfield play from Jack Slattery and Tom Starling, but went 1 down when, against the run of play, a short corner deflected onto a foot on the line and the subsequent Flick was converted. This marked a step change in Deal and soon Maidstone were again on the back foot. Deal’s second came from a short corner and despite some great defensive work from Andy Moody a third was scored before the break.
Despite the score Maidstone continued to work hard and press forward. Richard Chillcott’s swap to midfield looked to be paying dividends as Maidstone were awarded several penalty corners, and but for some outstanding saves from the Deal keeper should have scored. As Maidstone pressed forward, Deal exploited the gaps and scored a further 2 breakaway goals, adding a 6th in the last few minutes to make a scoreline that did not reflect the game.

Men’s 4s

Venue: Home v Sevenoaks Acorns
Score:  Lost 7-2
Scorers: Mike Metcalfe, Matt Evans
Player of the match: James Beacon

Too little too late

Both sides started well with an even balance of possession but Sevenoaks unfortunately broke the deadlock after 15 minutes. Maidstone dropped their heads and consequently went off at half time 4-0 down.
As after the half time team talk last week, Maidstone then played with much more determination and hunger, putting more pressure on their opposition as a result. Even so,Sevenoaks scored twice more to put the score at 6-0.Mike Metcalfe scored off a shot from Mark Biddolph and Matt Evans too from Mike Metcalfe’s shot on a short corner bringing the score to 6-2 but sadly the visitors put another goal away to make the final score 7-2.
Despite the scoreline, Man of the Match today was James Beacon;Will Bentley and Rob Clarkson also had a good game as did most of the side in the second half with some positives to take forward to the next game.

Men’s 5s

Venue: Away v Sevenoaks 8ths
Score:  Draw 1-1
Scorers: Mick Emery
Player of the Match: Graham Clarkson

Frustrating Draw

Maidstone’s young side started this game with some fluent passing, and interplay. Debutant 13 year old’s Johnny Hill and Daniel Bairstow settled in quickly and looked as if they have been playing for years. An incisive attack from Luke Clarkson and Simon Emery gave Maidstone their first penalty corner, which was converted by skipper Mick Emery. Maidstone continued to dominate with their passing, and stretched the Sevenoaks keeper on several occasions, but failed to extend their lead. The second half started in similar vein, but the game turned following an outrageous umpiring decision that awarded Sevenoaks a penalty corner when their forward clearly make no attempt at playing the ball but pushed with both hands Maidstone’s Matt Emery out of the way. Subsequent discussions with the umpire only lead to cards for Mick and Matt Emery.
Sevenoaks made the extra man count and equalised halfway through the second half.
Maidstone’s man of the match, Graham Clarkson lead the way in restoring Maidstone’s discipline and ran his socks off trying to get the team focused on getting the elusive winner.

Mens 6ths

Venue: Away v Gore Court
Score: Win 4 – 0
Scorers: Phil Davidson 2, Duncan Beer 2
Player of the Match:  Phil Davidson

Maidstone Mens 6s put in another comprehensive performance to beat Gore Court 4-0 in Kent Division 4.  Man of the Match Phil Davidson opened the scoring with a mazy run from in his own half, playing a deft 1-2 with Jim Mendoza before burying the ball in the back of the net.  The second was scored by debutant Duncan Beer, following quick passing inside the D between Davidson and Mendoza, who put the ball across for Beer to slot away.

Maidstone kept their lead thanks to some impressive defensive work by the back line of Martin, Linstead, Jones, J Dann and Park, and some impressive keeping by Ryan Dann to keep the match at 2-0 at half time.

The second half began as the first, with Gore Court threatening in the middle of the park but with little penetration.  As their efforts continued to be thwarted by the defence and keeper, Davidson again broke out from his own half, dinking round the keeper and coolly sliding the ball over the line for his second.  Gore Court heads dropped and Maidstone pressed for another, with more intricate passing in the D resulting in Beer slotting away for his second to make it 4-0

Maidstone now sit top of Div 4, with local rivals Holcombe visiting next week

 

Ladies 1s
Away v Sevenoaks
Score: D 0 – 0
Maidstone Secure a Well Earned Point Against Local Rivals
Maidstone travelled to last season’s promotion contenders Sevenoaks this week, looking to consolidate on last week’s home win.
Having to wait until 5pm to play in our unfamiliar away kit did not distract the team’s focus, and Maidstone ensured a fast-paced game from the start, piling on the pressure straight from the home team’s pushback.
End to end hockey ensued, with neither team able to create any clear cut chances for the first 20 minutes or so, thanks to great defending at both ends. Maidstone won the midfield battle and saw plenty of the ball, but were unable to penetrate. Sevenoaks had the best of the chances before the break, however shortly before the break Maidstone were unlucky not to score when the home goalkeeper got an important touch keeping the scores level.
The match continued to entertain the large crowd in the second half, which saw the game open up even further. Maidstone’s excellent teamwork and work rate continued to keep the Sevenoaks attackers at bay, and keeper-Captain Jenny Vincent made some fine saves.
Both teams pushed for the win into the dying minutes, with neither side succeeding and having to share the points – a great result for Maidstone who now sit in 5th place in the Investec England Hockey League East Conference.

Ladies’ 2s

Venue: Home v  Ashford
Score:  Lost 2-1
Scorers: Carly Brinn
Beaten on the break

Maidstone found themselves down in the opening minutes when Ashford took advantage of an early break. Maidstone managed only once to crack Ashford’s well organised defence when Carly Brinn pounced on a loose ball in the circle.  Man of the match Melissa Hunter took control of the middle of the park and helped Maidstone offer continued attacking pressure but unfortunately Ashford twice broke through against the run of play to take their tally to three.