Leaders march on at the top
Maidstone
Leaders Maidstone beat basement boys Holcombe 2nds 4-0 in Kent/Sussex Regional Division 1 at Armstrong Road on Saturday.
The newly-promoted side began the brighter but keeper Mark Burrows kept the visitors at bay and the game turned when Maidstone broke the deadlock. Brendan Baker drove to the baseline and crossed for Jimmy Christmas to turn in.
The hosts made life more difficult for the Rochester side with two more quick goals. First Jon Stiff and Joe Broadbent set up Joe Martin to fire in and soon after, Mike Smith slotted past the keeper to finish a quick counter-attack.
After the break, Maidstone only had Richard Turner’s solo goal to show for their dominance. Maidstone ladies
PWD L F A Ps Maidstone..... 10 8 1 1 35 15 25 Tun Wells...... 10 7 0 3 39 17 21 Old Bordens .. 10 6 1 3 32 18 19 Folkestone .... 10 5 3 2 36 22 18 Gore Court .... 10 5 1 4 50 33 16 Eastbourne ... 10 4 2 4 26 24 14 Sevenoaks 2 . 10 4 1 5 35 37 13 Burnt Ash...... 10 3 4 3 26 29 13 Worthing ....... 10 3 2 5 17 28 11 Crawley ........ 10 3 0 7 15 52 9 Ashford ......... 10 2 2 6 26 33 8 Holcombe 2 .. 10 1 1 8 14 43 4 Results: Ashford 1 Worthing 2, Burnt Ash 4 Gore Court 4, Crawley 5 Sevenoaks 2nds 6, Maidstone 4 Holcombe 2nds 0, Old Bordenians 5 Folkestone 1, Tunbridge Wells 5 Eastbourne 3. Fixtures: Ashford v Burnt Ash, Eastbourne v Maidstone, Gore Court v Tunbridge Wells, Holcombe 2nds v Crawley. Sevenoaks 2nds v Old Bordenians, Worthing v Folkestone. Sutton Val ..... 10 8 2 0 39 14 26 Old Williams.. 10 8 0 2 32 16 24 Brightn & H 2 10 7 2 1 32 14 23 Kings Alleyn .. 10 4 5 1 30 19 17 Cant Pilgrim .. 10 4 2 4 26 21 14 Sth Saxons ... 10 4 1 5 27 29 13 Crowboro ...... 10 3 3 4 23 30 12 Horsham 2 .... 10 2 4 4 17 27 10 BBHC ............ 10 2 2 6 24 37 8 Gill Anchs ..... 10 2 1 7 18 29 7 Mid-Sussex .. 10 2 1 7 16 37 7 New Beccs ... 10 1 3 6 18 29 6 Results: Canterbury Pilgrims 4 BBHC 1, Crowborough 2 New Beccehamians 2, Horsham 2nds 2 South Saxons 2, Kings & Alleyns 3 Sutton Valence 3, Mid-Sussex 2 Brighton & Hove 2nds 5, Old Williamsonians 2 Gillingham Anchorians 1. Fixtures: BBHC v Mid-Sussex, Crowborough v Horsham 2nds, Gillingham Anchorians v Canterbury Pilgrims, New Beccehamians v Brighton & Hove 2nds, South Saxons v Kings & Alleyns, Sutton Valence v Old Williamsonians. Marden Rus .. 10 8 2 0 41 13 26 Folkestone 2 . 10 7 0 3 35 31 21 Burnt Ash 2..... 9 6 1 2 32 21 19 Blackhth 2 .... 10 6 1 3 27 19 19 Uni of Kent .... 10 5 2 3 36 29 17 Holcmbe 2a .. 10 5 1 4 21 28 16 Canterbury 4 ... 9 4 0 5 30 32 12 Canterbury 3 . 10 3 1 6 27 31 10 O Borden 2 ... 10 3 0 7 23 27 9 Maidstone 2.. 10 2 2 6 19 33 8 Ashford 2 ...... 10 2 1 7 16 34 7 Cliftonville ..... 10 1 3 6 28 37 6 Results: Blackheath & OE 2nds 3 Maidstone 2nds 0, Canterbury 4ths 3 Cliftonville 1, Folkestone 2nds 8 Burnt Ash 2nds 2, Holcombe 2a 2 Old Bordenians 2nds 1, Marden Russets 6 Ashford 2nds 0, University of Kent 5 Canterbury 3rds 2. Fixtures: Burnt Ash 2nds v Ashford 2nds, Canterbury 3rds v Blackheath & OE 2nds, Cliftonville v Marden Russets, Folkestone 2nds v Holcombe 2a, Maidstone 2nds v Canterbury 4ths, Old Bordenians 2nds v University of Kent. T Wells Vets .. 10 7 1 2 40 20 22 Cobdown ...... 10 7 1 2 39 24 22 Old Willis 3 ... 10 7 1 2 31 16 22 Blackhth Hn .. 10 7 1 2 21 17 22 Maidstone 3.. 10 6 0 4 41 27 18 Holcmbe 4A .. 10 3 5 2 28 26 14 T Wells 4 M .. 10 4 0 6 28 33 12 Old Bord 4 .... 10 4 0 6 23 30 12 Cant Griffins.. 10 3 1 6 26 24 10 Cliftonville 2 .. 10 2 1 7 22 29 7 S’oaks Acrn .. 10 2 1 7 17 29 7 endured a torrid weekend in Norwich, competing in the East Region Indoor Hockey competition at the University of East Anglia.
Their first match saw them up against national league opposition Cambridge City where, in the first half, their opponents went 4-0 up before Maidstone pulled one back with Stephanie Lurshay crossing for Emma Worsfold to touch in but there were no further goals.
Norwich Dragons were next up and a thrilling match ended 6-5 to Maidstone.
Jess Cremin scored first before Worsfold set up Lurshay to slot home. Katie Gibbons made it 3-0 from a rebound, however the BromBeck 6 .. 10 2 0 8 12 53 6 Results: Cliftonville 2nds 1 Blackheath and OEs Heathens 2, Sevenoaks Acorns 2 Canterbury Griffins 10, Old Williamsonians 3rds 3 Tunbridge Wells 4ths 1, Maidstone 3rds 3 Cobdown 4, Bromley and Beckenham 6ths 0 Old Bordenian 4ths 6, Tunbridge Wells Vets 2 Holcombe 4As 2. Fixtures: Holcombe 4As v Tunbridge Wells 4ths, Canterbury Griffins v Old Williamsonians 3rds, Cobdown v Sevenoaks Acorns, Old Bordenian 4ths v Cliftonville 2nds, Tunbridge Wells Vets v Bromley and Beckenham 6ths, Blackheath and OEs Heathens v Maidstone 3rds. Bedford......... 11 10 0 1 35 12 30 Wapping ....... 11 7 2 2 33 16 23 Ipswich ......... 12 6 5 1 32 16 23 Norwich Drg . 11 7 2 2 35 21 23 St Albans 2 ... 11 7 2 2 27 14 23 Cambridge U . 12 6 2 4 26 14 20 Maidstone..... 11 3 4 4 16 16 13 Old Loughts .. 11 3 1 7 14 22 10 Holcmbe 1A .. 12 3 1 8 18 47 10 BromBecks ... 12 2 2 8 21 37 8 Wisbech Tn ... 12 2 1 9 14 29 7 Norwich Cty .. 12 1 2 9 9 36 5 Results: Holcombe 1A 4 Wisbech Town 1, Brom & Becks 1 Ipswich 3, Norwich City 1 Cambridge Uni 5. Fixtures: Old Loughts v Bedford, Wapping v Norwich Dragons, Maidstone v St Albans 2nds. Sevenoaks 3 . 11 10 0 1 44 5 30 F’stone Op 2 . 11 7 1 3 26 19 22 Marden Rus .. 11 7 0 4 28 26 21 K Alleyns....... 11 6 1 4 37 21 19 Old Bords...... 11 6 0 5 22 14 18 BBHC ............ 11 6 0 5 26 32 18 Cliftonville ..... 11 6 0 5 19 19 17 Sevenoaks 4 . 11 5 1 5 17 22 16 Old Williams.. 11 5 0 6 24 30 15 Canterbury 3 . 11 3 1 7 26 32 9 Gravesend .... 11 1 1 9 17 40 4 Meopham ..... 11 1 1 9 10 36 4 Results: Kings Alleyns 8 Gravesend 1, Old Williamsonians 4 Cliftonville2, Marden Russets 2 BBHC 1, Canterbury 3rds 4 Meopham 0, Sevenoaks 3rds 2 Old Bordenians 0, Folkestone Optimist 2nds 0 Sevenoaks 4ths 0. Fixtures: Marden Russets v Cliftonville, Canterbury 3rds v BBHC, Old Williamsonians v Gravesend, Folkestone Optimist 2nds v Meopham, Sevenoaks 4ths v Sevenoaks 3rds, Kings Alleyns v Old Bordenians. Sevenoaks 6 . 11 9 1 1 35 18 28 Cliftonville 2 .. 11 9 0 2 33 9 27 Old Willis 2 ... 10 7 2 1 27 12 23 Cobdown ...... 11 5 3 3 16 13 18 Uni of Kent ... 11 5 1 5 22 22 16 F’stone Op 3 . 11 5 0 6 20 14 15 New Becc 2 .. 11 4 2 5 25 16 14 Gill Anchs 2 .. 11 4 1 6 15 18 13 Dartford 2 ..... 12 4 1 7 13 32 13 Tun Wells 4... 11 3 1 7 23 30 10 BromBeck 5 .. 11 2 1 8 11 33 7 Old Bord 2 .... 11 2 1 8 14 37 7 Results: University of Kent 5 Tunbridge Wells 4ths 0, Sevenoaks 6ths 2 Folkestone Optimist 3rds 1, Cobdown 0 Cliftonville 2nds 3, Gillingham Anchorians 2nds 0 Dartford 2nds 1, Bromley and Beckenham 5ths 0 Old Williamsonians 2nds 3, Old Bordenian 2nds 2 New Beccehamian 2nds 0. Fixtures: Cobdown v Folkestone Optimist 3rds, University of Kent v Old Williamsonians 2nds, Old Bordenian 2nds v Tunbridge Wells 4ths, Gillingham Anchorians 2nds v Cliftonville 2nds, New Beccehamian 2nds v Sevenoaks 6ths, Bromley and Beckenham 5ths v Dartford 2nds. Dragons scored on the counter attack.
Hannah Durston got on the scoresheet with a follow up from a short corner bringing the score to 4-1 but it was 4-3 at half-time.
Maidstone’s fifth came from Catherine Broadbent – only for Norwich to come back again, making it 5-4.
Lesley Price slotted home from a Rachael Ferguson dribble but Norwich scored again to set up a nervy finale.
National league Marden ladies managed to hang onto the lead against BBHC to go third in the Kent League, Premier Division.
The visitors came out strong from the outset and had the majority of the play but Marden twice punished them on the break – the first finished by Laura Hill on the far post and the second fired by Kerry Jacks into the corner.
BBHC were unable to break through Marden’s solid defence before half-time but continued their onslaught after the interval and converted a penalty corner after a scramble.
Marden spent the remaining 18 minutes relentlessly defending their lead. The 2nds suffered their West Herts were Maidstone’s final opponents on Saturday.
Having gone 3-0 down, Maidstone pulled back with two goals from a short corner flick by Cremin and a Durston finish but they couldn’t find a leveller, although they felt deprived of a short corner in the dying minutes
Sunday saw Maidstone take on Upminster, going down 4-2 with both Maidstone goals from Cremin penalty corners.
The final fixture was against Old Loughtonians, who third consecutive defeat against Holcombe 4ths and remain second in Division 4.
Russets bossed the opening 20 minutes but couldn’t convert any chances.
Holcs improved but half-time started strongly. Maidstone competed hard but failed to capitalise on chances created and despite Cremin finishing another penalty corner, the game finished 4-1 to Loughts.
The 4ths returned to winning ways with a 5-0 success at Dartford to stay second in Kent League, Division 5.
Nicky Bourne and player-ofthe-match Claire Hogan netted two goals each and Rachel Davies got the other in a fine team performance. arrived goalless and it took a poor clearance from Marden after a long ball to give the Rochester side the chance to open the scoring.
A frustrated Russets kept up the pressure but a lapse in concentration allowed Holcombe through and a poor kick from keeper Debs Whewell-Clarke gave them the chance to make it 2-0.
Sian Price pulled one back with a fine strike but they could not find the equaliser.