Leaders see off challenge

Maidstone

Maidstone men’s 1sts beat Folkestone 5- 4 in a top-of-the-table clash last Saturday.

Victory sent them three points clear in Kent/ Sussex Regional 1, with the visitors dropping two places to fourth.

Folkestone were ahead inside 10 minutes but Maidstone played their way into the game and Jonny Berneth levelled at the back post.

They continued to play well and went 4-1 up with goals from Joe Martin, Waqas Dastagir and Kenny Stibbles but Folkestone replied before half-time.

Maidstone restored their threegoal lead when a shot from playercoach Richard Turner hit the bar and fell for Andy Turner.

Folkestone didn’t give up, converting a penalty corner and also a penalty stroke to leave Maidstone holding on. Maidstone: Burrows, Baker, Leatherbarrow, Berneth, Emery, Morrison, Ostler, Marks, Stiff, Dastagir, Martin, Stibbles, A Turner, Broadbent, R Turner.

The ladies’ 1sts lost 4-3 at home to a Wapping side who are second in the East League Premier Division.

Maidstone led inside two minutes when Annabelle Rowe’s ball into the circle was deflected home by Lesley Price.

Wapping then scored twice but Maidstone fought back with some of their best hockey and went 3-2 up with a Jess Cremin double.

But they couldn’t hold on, with Wapping scoring two late goals from short corners. Vikki Taylor was player-of-the-match.

A last-minute winner at Meopham sent Maidstone ladies’ 4ths top of Kent Division 5. They piled on the pressure in a goalless first half before taking the lead when Nicky Bourne’s reverse-stick shot was turned in by Claire Hogan.

Meopham equalised but Maidstone took the points when youngster Katy Woodham drove up the pitch and set up Bourne, whose strike was turned in by Wendy Carter on the final whistle. Woodham was named player-ofthe-match.

Maidstone men’s 5ths kept their first clean sheet in Kent Division 3, beating Canterbury Friars 3- 0. The visitors started strongly, with a deflected cross hitting the bar.

That spurred Maidstone into action and they took control with goals from Zach Quinn and Sam James.

Toby Allsworth and Alastair Allsworth were busy in defence in the second half as Canterbury pushed on. There was no way through and Maidstone added a third through Jeremy Swaffer, the ladies’ 1sts coach, who was making a guest appearance.

Sutton Valence 1sts are four points clear in Kent/ Sussex Regional 2 after winning 7-1 at Crowborough, with goals from Aidan Sleeman (2), Ricky O’Neill, James Stanford, Will Clapp, Kevin Kirkham and Andrew Turnill. Sutton Val ....... 8 7 1 0 32 11 22 Old Williams.... 8 6 0 2 26 12 18 Brighton 2....... 8 5 2 1 24 12 17 Kings Alleyns .. 8 3 4 1 21 15 13 Cant Pilgrims .. 8 3 2 3 22 17 11 Crowboro ........ 8 3 2 3 16 22 11 Horsham 2 ...... 8 2 3 3 15 21 9 BBHC .............. 8 2 2 4 20 29 8 Gill Anchs ....... 8 2 1 5 16 21 7 Mid-Sussex .... 8 2 1 5 12 29 7 Sth Saxons ..... 7 2 0 5 14 22 6 New Beccs ..... 7 0 2 5 13 20 2 Results: Canterbury Pilgrims 6 Mid-Sussex 1, Crowborough 1 Sutton Valence 7, Horsham 2nds 1 Gillingham Anchorians 3, Kings & Alleyns 5 BBHC 2, Old Williamsonians 2 Brighton & Hove 2nds 3. Fixtures: BBHC v Old Williamsonians, Brighton & Hove 2nds v Canterbury Pilgrims, Gillingham Anchorians v Kings & Alleyns, New Beccehamians v MidSussex, South Saxons v Crowborough, Sutton Valence v Horsham 2nds. Marden Russ .. 8 7 1 0 33 11 22 Burnt Ash 2..... 7 6 0 1 28 11 18 Blackheath 2 .. 8 5 0 3 20 15 15 Folkestone 2 ... 8 5 0 3 23 26 15 Uni of Kent ...... 8 3 2 3 26 24 11 Canterbury 3 ... 8 3 1 4 23 23 10 Holcombe 2a .. 8 3 1 4 16 25 10 Old Borden 2... 8 3 0 5 19 21 9 Maidstone 2.... 8 2 2 4 16 25 8 Ashford 2 ........ 8 2 1 5 15 26 7 Canterbury 4 ... 7 2 0 5 25 30 6 Cliftonville ....... 8 1 2 5 23 30 5 Results: Blackheath & OE 2nds 5 Ashford 2nds 0, Canterbury 4ths 2 Marden Russets 4, Folkestone 2nds 5 Canterbury 3rds 3, Holcombe 2a 2 Maidstone 2nds 1, Old Bordenians 2nds 2 Burnt Ash 2nds 3, Univ of Kent 4 Cliftonville 4. Fixtures: Ashford 2nds v Canterbury 4ths, Burnt Ash 2nds v Marden Russets, Canterbury 3rds v Holcombe 2a, Cliftonville v Blackheath & OE 2nds, Maidstone 2nds v Univ of Kent, Old Bordenians 2nds v Folkestone 2nds. T Wells Vets .... 8 7 0 1 37 16 21 Old Willis 3 ..... 8 6 0 2 25 12 18 Blackhth Hthn . 8 5 1 2 16 16 16 Maidstone 3.... 8 5 0 3 32 20 15 Cobdown ........ 7 4 1 2 25 16 13 Holcombe 4A .. 8 3 3 2 23 21 12 Tun Wells 4 .... 8 4 0 4 24 25 12 Cant Griffins.... 8 2 1 5 13 16 7 Cliftonville 2 .... 8 2 1 5 18 23 7 Old Borden 4... 8 2 0 6 15 29 6 BromBeck 6 .... 7 2 0 5 10 38 6 S’oaks Acorn .. 8 1 1 6 10 16 4 Results: Old Bordenian 4ths 3 Holcombe 4As 4, Cliftonville 2nds 2