Maidstone 3-2 Ashford

Following the Men's 1s heaviest defeat of the season at the hands of Eastbourne, all in the squad had aspirations of providing Dean Wheeler and the MHC faithful a performance and result. Spurred by the L1's first win of the season, MHC took to the field against an Ashford side who they had blown a lead and dominant performance against earlier in the season.

The opening affairs were controlled by the Stones, which would be expected by a neutral given home form and league position. Nonetheless, a breakthrough neglected the hosts and Ashford began to build themselves into the fixture following a cagey 10. When with the ball the visitors played some nice stuff but lacked the penetrative edge needed to breakdown an MHC defence spurred by the return of Matthew Emery (this time proper).

An opener in the fixture was created by the aforementioned defender. Emery's crash-ball was not clearly collected by AHC, Rob Clarkson tackled the mistrap and so the ball into the path of William Day. A man truly in form, Day shifted onto his reverse and finished cooly from P-spot territory.

The lead was then doubled following enigmatic link-up. Innocuously floating into the D from left back, Tom Elstone led towards the 25 demanding the ball from Mark Christmas who duly obliged. Using the pace of Christmas' push, with back to goal Elstone deflected the ball first time and round the corner onto Rob Clarkson - he collected the ball just a few yards out the D. Despite Elstone's best requests for the ball to be returned, Clarkson opted to shoot from the top of the D with venom. The sounds of a sweetly struck ball was followed by the rippling top left corner - a thunderbolt of a strike. 2-0.

The score remained at 2-0 into half-time thanks to some efficient work by Phil Skillen in the Stones goal. It was discussed by those in the defensive ranks that the cracks that had appeared were in need of address.

Having made his first team debut just last week Cam Crampton earned himself his first M1's goal. Fine work down the right hand side created a chance for MHC to offer at goal from nothing. Howson collected the ball following Collie's initial work - some would suggest his shot was destined for goal, but Crampton was there to ensure the backboard was heard across the whole of Tovil as he slammed home from the goal-line. A tasteful 'shhh' in celebration was provided by Cam - be that at the visitors or solely Howson remains unclear.

Despite controlling the game for the best part of 60 minutes, MHC needed to offer some excitement in the fixture - this was provided by the provision of short corners to the opposition. With ten minutes to go, Ashford scored their first. With five minutes to go, Ashford scored their second. However, the prospect of a 3-goal comeback was ended by the superb nuisance that is Will Day. Day likely had 70% of the ball for the final five minutes - every time he received it, he ran strongly to the right hand corner before teasing with the Ashford backline as they jabbed and probed for the Sentinel. His hold-up work in the corner was integral to ensuring Maidstone made it five from five for the year in Tovil. Folkestone (3rd) await next week.