Folkestone Optimists 3-3 Maidstone

The hosts' social media team previewed their fixtures against the Stones as 'feisty but thoroughly enjoyable' - this weekend's outing was no different. Despite a run of five without a win, the Optimists greeted Maidstone sitting pretty at third in the table - albeit their hopes of promotion to the promised land of the Prem are no more.

It was Folkestone who started the better of the two sides. When holding the ball at the back the home side would bypass the front 6 of the MHC press by throwing numbers high and beyond, opting to chuck the ball willingly and frequently. It was through this that Folkestone scored their opener. Exploiting their overload having bypassed the press, goggled-Clifford scored with his first effort on the reverse - something of which he has a reputation for (with reason) in South East Division 1 East. Despite offering a hand, Phil Skillen was unable to prevent net rippling.

The lead was shortlived thanks to Chris Howson's dogged running along the baseline which earned MHC their first short of the day. Evidently pumped from his efforts, Howson confidently declared it to be '1-1' when the Stones gathered for short corner routine planning. He declared he was to drag at goal, and did just that. His venomous drag, albeit not right in the corner couldn't be stopped by the home side's keeper. 1-1.

Following the equaliser Dean Wheeler bellowed out 'half-court until further notice.' This is how Maidstone remained for the remainder of the fixture - and correctly so, it was the best possible response to FOHC's attempts to overload.

Maidstone took their first of two leads in the game following a goal of the season contender from Will Day. Tom Elstone took a short corner from the inside left and swept hard towards Cam Knight who expertly deflected down to third man and into the D. The ball in was slightly lifted but controlled expertly by Will Day who had back to goal. Keeping the ball in the air, Day ushered it onto his reverse and half-volleyed a stunner on the reverse. Truthfully, it is a goal that is difficult to put into writing and so we hope the footage captured by the camera behind the posts is forwarded MHC's way for produce and posting.

With five minutes remaining in the half, Folkestone earned a perhaps fortuitous equaliser. An FOHC ran direct into the D from a sideline ball and reversed towards goal to score. Disputes were mainly offered by Tom Elstone and Mark Christmas who both suggested that the Optimists forward had fouled in his dribbling efforts toward goal - this fell on deaf ears and so it was 2-2 at the break.

The electric back-and-forth hockey remained in the second half. Both keepers were tested at stages and remained resolute. This was until a fine link-up between Will Day and Rob Clarkson saw the latter sweep well into the FOHC goal. Day did his usual baseline shift before ushering the ball on to a perfectly positioned Clarkson who swept home. 3-2.

With around ten minutes to play, a rather bizarre circumstance which will live long in MHC folklore occurred. A routine substitution was ordered by Dean Wheeler, Clarkson to replace Howson. As is standard when substituting, Clarkson called to Howson 'two minutes.' Unfortunately for the Stones, Clarkson opted to step onto the FOHC turf prior to Howson exiting. For a matter of seconds, the Stones were blessed with 12 players on the pitch. Although this ineffective misdemeanour may not have been spotted by the umpires, Folkestone's coaching staff were alert enough to snitch on the boys in blue and yellow. As a result, the Stones were then punished for their error having 10 players on the pitch for five.

It was during this period of a man advantage that FOHC capitalised scoring from a well taken short corner that was drag flicked strongly. 3-3.

The final stages of the game saw Maidstone have a man advantage thanks to some naivety on the part of an Optimist midfielder who, it should be noted, should likely have had minutes off the field at many other moments in the fixture. Despite this, the Stones couldn't quite muster a fourth and game-deciding goal.

3-3 was how it finished - both sides will, naturally, reflect on missed opportunities. However, in fairness, a sharing of the points is likely a fair result. MHC shall host Gore Court next weekend. As is customary, it need be mentioned that the Stones will be looking to continue their perfect home record in 2024.