Mens 3s v Folkestone 4’s

The Men’s 3rd team were scheduled to play against Folkestone Optimist 4’s this weekend. The meeting against these sides was renowned for being a little feisty last season; with a total of 6 goals and 5 cards in the two meetings. By close of play this would increase to 12 and 9.

MHC started the day off well with Captain Waller and Striker Logan Black taking a 30 mile detour to Margate after missing out a digit in the Satnav.

Last years skipper Ian Lowe took the warm up and team talk with the rest of the team who were on time and in the right place, whilst Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb made their way south as quickly as possible.

Both sides started well, Folkestone were however quicker to break down Maidstone and scored a relatively average goal from open play. 1-0 to the home team. Against the run of play Maidstone win a short corner. Ash drags out to Waller, Waller fluffs the shot, Ash quickest to react and flicks into the side netting. Classic 3’s short corner routine. 1-1.

Only a few minutes remain in the first half and Folkestone are awarded a short corner by the umpires for a foot in the D, resulting drag flick clips LB Doug in the cheek and Maidstone go into the break 2-1 down feeling slightly aggrieved about a missed stick tackle prior to the foot which was loud enough to be heard in Margate.

The MHC ‘second half team’ weren’t down or out just yet and began to fight back against the 11 Folkestone men.

Striker Logan Black gets blown-up for a back stick challenge a few minutes into the 2nd half, and after disagreeing with the umpire and then actually demonstrating a back stick to hit the ball away, a green card quickly emerges from the umpires pocket. A stick tackle and a ball kick away sees one of the away team join Logan very shortly after. A minor formation shift required for both teams.

Waller decided to go on a one handed run, through the centre of the pitch and volley a pass towards Mark Bromley who somehow, and incredibly, connects shoulder height with the ball and flicks it on the reverse over the scrambling home keeper. Just wide, but Maidstone are switched on. Logan returns to the pitch.

Another poor decision leads to another turnover, quickly taken by Folkestone whilst Maidstone protest results in a shot from the right side of the D beating Keeper Al near post. 3-1. Maidstone are still fighting back, unfortunately this time it’s verbal rather than in game, on the pitch, and Waller is benched for 10 minutes by the same umpire, this time brandishing a yellow card.

With 10 men on the pitch, the home side capitalise and after a few well worked passes into the D and across the goal, an easy tap in makes it 4-1.

Mark Bromley with a momentary lapse in concentration appears to forget you can’t just push over an opposition player...not another one....green card. Ash Messenger decided he wanted to get in on the action and ‘trips’ and falls on the smallest player on the pitch. Umpire decided 6ft 4 Ash probably didn’t see him and MHC remain with 9 men on the pitch instead of 8.

The game ends 5-1, not the best game and some positives to take away for the 3’s. Special mentions to Little Ed for his debut in one of the tougher games and MOTM Angus for maintaining composure in a very heated game.

Maidstone now look ahead to their next match; a home game at 2:30pm against Gravesham and Wellcome 2’s where they look to register the first win of the season.