Maidstone 3-4 Eastbourne

Visiting Eastbourne had had a mixed array of results prior to meeting the Men’s 1s in their sixth league outing of the season. Preparations for both sides were interrupted due to a horror injury in the closing moments in the Men’s 2s fixture. All at Maidstone wish the Gore Court player a speedy recovery.

Despite a delayed start, Maidstone started particularly well in wet conditions, finding an opening goal within the first five minutes. Rob Clarkson stumbled to the floor while unconventionally maneuvering the ball to Will Day. Receiving the ball facing goal outside the D on the left hand side of the pitch, Day squared up two Eastbourne defenders and beat them comfortably. From a tight angle, Day struck at gaol taking the keeper by surprise. 1-0.

The Maidstone lead was short-lived however. Eastbourne’s first penalty corner of the game was converted with a strong drag into the bottom right corner that left Phil Skillen and the supporting post-man limited chance.

As was a theme throughout the game; any stalemates, whereby the sides found themselves drawing, were noy long in length. Only moments after equalising, Eastbourne moved well down their left hand side and broke into the D. A well struck reverse found itself hitting the backboard despite efforts on the goal-line to scrummage it clear.

At half time the score sat at 2-1. Maidstone were aware that they had not been at their free-flowing best. Will Day’s D entry and goal was one of their few opportunities in the game.

As in the first half, Maidstone met the whistle to commence the half with a goal soon after. In the opening play of the half Maidstone passed the ball well down the left-hand side of the pitch and earned themselves a short corner. After an initial drag at goal and a few scrappy efforts, the ball fell to the stick of Rob Lamb who scored his third goal of the season and his second in as many games. 2-2.

Maidstone’s ball retention and finesse in the final third was much improved in the second half. In turn, this saw the winning of a number of penalty corners. With Chris Howson’s wand not finding the success it had in fixtures previous, he passed the baton on to the ever-capable hands and wrists of Cameron Knight. With his first drag at goal in the game, Cam dragged with precision into the bottom left corner. Maidstone led 3-2.

Maidstone’s lead was held for the majority of the second half. Despite half chances, the Men’s 1s were never able to double their lead. Entering the last ten minutes of the game, their fortunes changed. The visitors, who had been under pressure for much of the half, counter-attacked with force and charged men forward. Breaking into the D from said counter-attack, Eastbourne had a number of options who found themselves untracked. A swift pass across the goal allowed them to finish into an empty net. 3-3.

Albeit cliched, with five minutes to go, this fixture was anyone’s for the taking – and both sides were willing to push for three points rather than settle for a singular. Eastbourne’s right back ran well at players throughout the second half – he was integral in the winning of a short corner as umpires raised their arms to single just two minutes remained. Having converted from a short corner already, the castles of Eastbourne were confident. Another nice routine and they made Maidstone pay by scoring a fourth.

Maidstone’s first loss in five, but the nature of it was particularly souring. A strong set of minds will have to face Ashford next week to stand up, be counted and resume winning habits next week. Despite the loss, Maidstone remain in fourth with twelve points from six.