Early goal sets tone
It took only three minutes for Maidstone ladies to strike in a 5-2 win over Norwich City in the East Premier Division on Saturday.
Lesley Price was the scorer, finishing a rebound off the keeper, then nice play down the left saw the ball worked to Susie Rowe, whose reverse stick effort flew past the keeper.
Norwich replied but Maidstone led 3-1 at half-time with more good link-up leading to a goal for player-of-the-match Lizzie McClintock.
Emily Bush was found free at the back post to increase the lead and it was soon five with McClintock on target with a straight hit from the top of the D. An unmarked Norwich player scored the visitors’ second. Maidstone ladies’ 2nds knew they were in for a hard match away to a Gore Court side who’d won all their games in the Kent Premier Division.
The opening 15-20 minutes were even before Court broke the deadlock with a strike that Niamh O’Reilly could do nothing about and they doubled the lead before half-time. Maidstone started the second half well and thought they had pulled a goal back when Vic O’Reilly finished a scramble in the D but Court protested and it was ruled out.
The game began to slip away as Court scored two well-taken goals and they struck again for a 5-0 victory. Player-of-the-match was Amanda Gates.
Maidstone ladies’ 3rds beat Gillingham Anchorians 3-2 in Kent Division 3. They were frustrated several times by the goalkeeper before Katie Walsh scored but it was 1-1 at half-time. Maidstone continued to work hard in the second half and Madeleine Jarvis restored the lead with a perfect strike from the top of the D following Ella Collie’s short corner.
A third followed when Ellie Doherty took up a good position in the D and set up Collie on the post, with Anchorians pulling one back. Player-of-the-match Olivia Reeves showed determination and energy.
The ladies’ 4ths were delighted to achieve their first win of the season, beating Faversham 4-2 in Kent Division 5.
Twice Maidstone were pegged back in the first half but led 3-2 at half-time thanks to captain Nicky Bourne, Tracy Murphy-Bellchambers and Louisa Coffey’s first goal of the campaign.
The second half saw numerous chances for Maidstone and their determination was rewarded when Teresea Griffiths finished at the left post. Claudia Allsworth-Clarke and newcomer Holly Sherwood shared the player-of-the-match award.