Burnt Ash 4-1 Maidstone

Maidstone arrived in Dartford with the intention of doing the double over their hosts. Last season MHC's best performance had been on their travels when playing Burnt Ash, Rob Clarkson starring with his first hat-trick for the club.

Fortunes were very different this time round, however.

Maidstone found themselves 4-0 down at half-time after a shambolic first half performance that left them no opportunity of coming back into the fixture. The home side's first goal came as a result of the Stones failing to clear the ball in their D not once, but twice. The second came not too long after the first; two or three Burnt Ash on-runners were not picked up and found themselves in space in the D, shot - goal. A third was added to Burnt Ash's tally midway-through the first half. This, in fairness, was their best worked goal. The home side worked the ball around the D before finding a free man who finished cutely. The horrors of the first half culminated with the giving away of a poor short corner on the cusp of half-time, Burnt Ash converted.

With the above mentioned, it should be noted that the Stones did have opportunity to reduce the Burnt Ash lead through chances from open play and short corner routines. However, such was the performance all over the pitch; Maidstone were deservedly 4-goals back at half time.

An improved second half performance was only an inevitability due to the first-half efforts. Maidstone scored in the first five minutes of the half through Will Day's strong running on the right - he found Howson who finished following a strong lead. This is very much a link-up and play that has become a trademark of recent weeks. Unfortunately, the pair of Day and Howson and all others on the pitch were unable to muster anything else to give the visitors a glimmer of hope. Maidstone were second best, the score reflective of this. Attention, therefore, turns to hosting Herne Bay this coming weekend - MHC's unblemished home record in 2024 at stake.