Lurshay strike seals safety
Hockey
Maidstone ladies’ 1sts clinched East League Premier Division safety with a 1-0 win at Wapping in the old Olympic Stadium on Saturday.
They passed the ball at speed, making their opponents work hard, although Wapping went close from a penalty corner which was deflected away by man-of-the-match keeper Bridgette Allen.
Maidstone settled and began pushing forward, creating opportunities through Louise Fox in the left channel, with Charlotte Whehelan causing problems.
Annabelle Rowe went close with a strike from the top of
PWD L F A Ps Tun Wells....... 19 15 1 3 74 36 46 Folkestone ..... 20 13 3 4 69 34 42 Old Bordens ... 20 12 4 4 71 31 40 Maidstone...... 18 12 1 5 59 33 37 Eastbourne .... 21 9 2 10 52 51 29 Burnt Ash....... 20 7 6 7 47 55 27 S’oaks 2 ........ 19 8 2 9 64 54 26 Gore Court ..... 18 7 4 7 73 59 25 Worthing ........ 19 6 3 10 41 67 21 Ashford .......... 19 4 5 10 47 52 17 Crawley ......... 19 4 2 13 28 95 14 Holcombe 2 ... 20 1 3 16 26 84 6 Results: Eastbourne 1 Tunbridge Wells 3, Folkestone 2 Old Bordenians 1, Gore Court 5 Burnt Ash 5, Holcombe 2nds 1 Maidstone 3, Sevenoaks 2nds 5 Crawley 0, Worthing 3 Ashford 2. Fixtures: Burnt Ash v Ashford, Crawley v Holcombe 2nds, Folkestone v Worthing, Maidstone v Eastbourne, Old Bordenians v Sevenoaks 2nds, Tunbridge Wells v Gore Court. Brighton 2...... 20 15 4 1 64 22 49 Sutton Val ...... 18 12 3 3 61 29 39 Old Willis ....... 20 13 0 7 53 37 39 Cant Pilgrm .... 20 10 4 6 55 36 34 K Alleyns........ 19 9 6 4 48 32 33 Sth Saxons .... 21 10 1 10 65 62 31 BBHC ............. 21 6 4 11 59 72 22 Gill Anchs ...... 19 6 3 10 36 49 21 Crowboro ....... 19 5 3 11 39 60 18 Horsham 2 ..... 19 4 5 10 31 55 17 Mid-Sussex ... 19 5 2 12 34 63 17 New Beccs .... 19 3 3 13 37 65 12 Results: BBHC 4 Canterbury Pilgrims 7, Brighton & Hove 2nds 2 Mid-Sussex 1, Gillingham Anchorians 3 Old Williamsonians 0, New Beccehamians 7 Crowborough 3, South Saxons 3 Horsham 2nds 1, Sutton Valence 1 Kings & Alleyns 2. Fixtures: Brighton & Hove 2nds v New Beccehamians, Canterbury Pilgrims v Gillingham Anchorians, Horsham 2nds v Crowborough, Kings & Alleyns v South Saxons, Mid-Sussex v BBHC, Old the D before Katie Gibbons won a short corner which was fired goalwards by Catherine Broadbent and finished by Steph Lurshay at the left post.
Whelehan was then awarded a penalty flick, only for the umpire to change their mind.
Maidstone stuck to their task in the second half, defending and breaking as a team, with Emma Worsfield winning many midfield clashes.
They won a string of short corners but couldn’t score a second, while Allen made an excellent late clearance at the other end.
The big effort at Wapping had taken its toll as Maidstone lost Williamsonians v Sutton Valence. F’stone 2 ....... 21 15 2 4 64 42 47 Marden Rus ... 19 13 3 3 70 29 42 Burnt Ash 2.... 19 12 3 4 59 38 39 Blackhth 2 ..... 20 10 2 8 45 39 32 Uni of Kent ..... 19 7 4 8 61 66 25 Cant 4............ 19 8 1 10 52 60 25 Cliftonville ...... 19 6 5 8 56 55 23 Cant 3............ 18 7 1 10 49 55 22 Old Bords 2.... 19 7 0 12 42 51 21 Maidstone 2... 18 5 5 8 36 50 20 Hlcmbe 2a ..... 19 6 1 12 34 56 19 Ashford 2 ....... 20 4 3 13 45 72 15 Results: Ashford 2nds 3 Marden Russets 6, Burnt Ash 2nds 1 Folkestone 2nds 1, Canterbury 3rds 1 University of Kent 6, Cliftonville 3 Canterbury 4ths 1, Maidstone 2nds 2 Blackheath & OE 2nds 2, Old Bordenians 2nds 3 Holcombe 2a 0. Fixtures: Ashford 2nds v Burnt Ash 2nds, Blackheath & OE 2nds v Canterbury 3rds, Canterbury 4ths v Maidstone 2nds, Holcombe] 2a v Folkestone 2nds, Marden Russets v Cliftonville, University of Kent v Old Bordenians 2nds. Blackhth H ..... 21 15 4 2 66 27 49 W’sonians 3 ... 20 15 1 4 61 33 46 Cobdown ....... 20 11 5 4 65 39 38 T/Wells Vets ... 18 10 1 7 58 42 31 Maidstone 3... 18 9 2 7 56 42 29 O B’denian 4 .. 19 8 3 8 46 49 27 C’bury Griff .... 19 7 4 8 53 43 25 Holcmbe 4A ... 18 5 8 5 38 45 23 S’oaks Acrn ... 20 4 6 10 33 45 18 Cliftonville 2 ... 20 5 2 13 40 55 17 T/Wells M 4 ... 19 5 2 12 39 63 17 Brom/Bck 6 ... 20 3 0 17 28 100 9 Results: Cobdown 1 Maidstone 3rds 2, Holcombe 4ths A 0 Tunbridge Wells Vets 5, Blackheath and OEs Heathens 5 Cliftonville 2nds 0, Tunbridge Wells 4ths 0 Old Williamsonians 3rds 5, Canterbury Griffin 1 Sevenoaks Acorns 1, Old Bordenian 4ths 3 Bromley and Beckenham 6ths 2. Fixtures: Old Williamsonians 3rds v Canterbury Griffins, Cliftonville 2nds v Old Bordenian 4ths, Bromley and Beckenham 6ths v Tunbridge Wells Vets, 4-1 to National League-bound Bedford on Sunday.
Sloppy marking gifted the visitors the lead but Stones levelled with a superb shortcorner strike from Gibbons after good work by Whelehan and Jess Cremin.
Bedford regained the lead from a short corner and completed the scoring with two more goals before half-time.
Strong tackles and excellent distribution by captain and man-of-the-match Broadbent kept Maidstone competitive in the second half.
Maidstone men’s 1sts made hard work of their 3-1 victory at bottom side Holcombe. The Tunbridge Wells 4ths v Holcombe 4ths A, Maidstone 3rds v Blackheath and OEs Heathens, Sevenoaks Acorns v Cobdown. Bedford.......... 20 15 4 1 57 19 49 Ipswich .......... 21 13 5 3 52 21 44 Wapping ........ 21 12 4 5 59 37 40 St Albans 2 .... 20 12 3 5 47 26 39 N’wich Drag... 20 11 4 5 56 41 37 C’bridge Uni ... 21 9 6 6 39 31 30 Maidstone...... 21 7 6 8 33 36 27 Old Loughts ... 21 6 3 12 25 35 21 Wisbech Tn .... 21 5 3 13 34 58 18 Holcmbe 1A ... 20 5 3 12 29 65 18 Brom/Becks ... 21 3 6 12 39 60 15 Norwich City .. 21 1 3 17 17 58 6 Results: Wapping 0 Maidstone 1, Holcombe 1A 0 Ipswich 3, Wisbech Town 2 Cambridge Uni 2, Brom & Becks 2 Bedford 2, Norwich City 0 Norwich Dragons 3, Old Loughts 2 St Albans 2nds 0. Fixtures: St Albans 2nds v Wapping, Ipswich v Wisbech Town, Maidstone v Holcombe 1A, Cambridge Uni v Brom & Becks, Bedford v Norwich City, Norwich Dragons v Old Loughts 1. Sevenoaks 3 .. 20 19 0 1 89 16 57 K Alleyns........ 20 13 2 5 68 34 41 M Russets...... 20 13 1 6 53 42 40 F’stone O 2 .... 21 10 4 7 44 38 34 O Bordenian ... 20 10 2 8 35 27 32 Sevenoaks 4 .. 20 9 3 8 45 37 30 BBHC ............. 20 9 2 9 40 61 29 O W’sonians .. 20 8 2 10 41 54 26 Cliftonville ...... 21 8 1 12 33 42 25 Canterbury 3 .. 20 6 3 11 38 52 20 Gravesend ..... 20 2 4 14 29 72 10 Meopham ...... 20 1 2 17 18 58 5 Results: Saturday: Old Bordenian 1 Gravesend 1, Marden Russets 4 Meopham 3, Canterbury 3rds 1 Sevenoaks 4ths 0, Sevenoaks 3rds 5 Folkestone Optimist 2nds 0, Kings Alleyns 4 Cliftonville 1, Old Williamsonians 4 BBHC 1. Sunday,: Old Bordenian 1 Sevenoaks 4ths 1, Old Williamsonians 3 Canterbury 3rds 3. Fixtures: Old Bordenian v Sevenoaks 3rds, Meopham v Canterbury 3rds, Cliftonville v Old Williamsonians, Gravesend v Kings Alleyns, Sevenoaks 4ths v Folkestone Optimist 2nds, BBHC v Marden Russets. Cliftonville 2 ... 21 19 0 2 82 16 57 W’sonians 2 ... 21 14 3 4 49 27 45 Sevenoaks 6 .. 19 11 6 2 53 29 39 Cobdown ....... 21 11 4 6 35 24 37 Uni of Kent ..... 20 9 2 9 38 40 29 N Becce 2 ...... 20 8 4 8 43 36 28 F’stone O 3 .... 20 8 2 10 30 26 26 G’ham Anc 2 .. 20 7 3 10 27 33 24 Brom/Bck 5 ... 20 6 3 11 26 50 21 Tun Wells 4.... 20 4 4 12 31 49 16 Dartford 2 ...... 20 4 1 15 14 61 13 O B’denian 2 .. 20 3 2 15 23 60 11 Results: University of Kent 2 New Beccehamian 2nds 1, Sevenoaks 6ths 3 Old Bordenian 2nds 1, Gillingham Anchorians 2nds 1 Old Williamsonians 2nds 4, Cobdown 4 Dartford 2nds 0, Bromley and Beckenham 5ths 1 Tunbridge Wells 4ths 1, Folkestone Optimist 3rds 1 Cliftonville 2nds 2. Fixtures: Tunbridge Wells 4ths v University of Kent, Folkestone Optimist 3rds v Sevenoaks 6ths, Dartford 2nds v Gillinahm Anchorians 2nds, Cliftonville 2nds v Cobdown, Old Williamsonians 2nds v Bromley and Beckenham 5ths, New Beccehamian 2nds v Old Bordenian 2nds. visitors struggled to find their rhythm, gave the ball away cheaply and even missed two penalty strokes.
Joe Broadbent broke the deadlock for a Stones side chasing second place in South League Regional Kent/Sussex 1 but Holcs levelled from a penalty corner.
Maidstone began to create more chances and took the points with goals from Brendan Baker and John Stiff.
Man-of-the-match James Christmas was solid in midfield, denying Holcs further chances.
The ladies’ 4ths drew their topof-the-table clash with Herne Bay in Kent Division 5.
A rare break caught the defence by surprise as Bay led at half-time.
Maidstone created several chances and equalised when Nicky Coomansingh tidied up a deflection from Nicky Bourne’s short-corner strike.
Youngster Helena Scott showed skill, determination and confidence, earning the player-of-the-match award.
The men’s 5ths lost 6-1 at Kent Division 3 champions Gravesham & Wellcome.
Their squad included six under-14 boys, including manof-the-match Cameron Brown, Dylan Collie, Sam James and Zac Streeter, who all impressed.
Mick Emery pulled a goal back at the start of the second half but the hosts extended their lead with a series of soft goals.