Maidstone 2-3 Old Williamsonians

The hosting of Old Wills for the conclusion of the 23/24 season marked the second season running whereby Maidstone have played local-rivals and the league winners for the final fixture of the year.

With Gore Court losing on their travels in Ramsgate, it was known prior to pushback that fourth had been secured by the Stones. Impressively, that result marked Cliftonville’s third win on the bounce – all of which have come against top half opposition.
MHC’s first half display was perhaps their best of the year. It was not a case of going toe-to-toe against top of the league, it was a case of outsmarting them for thirty-five minutes. As you’d expect, the Stones had to soak up pressure for considerable stages of the half. Nonetheless, they remained resolute at the back.

When with the ball, MHC enjoyed cute interchanges down both flanks. It was down the left flank that Maidstone created their first scoring opportunity of the game; a short corner. A Chris Howson flick was saved by the OW’s keeper, but the resulting sideline was taken quickly and ushered towards Ben Stott who juggled his way along the baseline before forwarding a pass across the metaphorical six-yard box. With nobody managing to finish the initial cross it was later bashed away by Chris Howson who picked up on the loose ball that had been re-forwarded by Rob Clarkson on the right hand side of the post.

The 1-0 lead was doubled within five minutes. Again good play down the left hand side of the pitch led to the winning of a short corner. Another Howson flick was fired into the paws of the GK – however, this time round, the ball was placed back towards the path of Howson. In an attempt to replicate the up-right reverse of Will Day at Folkestone, Howson neglected technique and jabbed the ball towards goal. Despite, on appearance, this up-right reverse attempt being particularly agricultural, it did prove effective as it bamboozled the Willies defender on the line – so much so that he conceded a flick as he kicked the ball three times in order to prevent it crossing the line.
The winning of a P-Flick set a rather poignant scene. In the first encounter between OW’s and the Stones, Howson had been outfoxed when P-flicking by OW’s Shrubsole (the chap in net) twice. When settling the ball on the spot, Shrubsole remarked of his surprise that Howson had been the man chosen to step up and offer at goal. Such comments proved futile to MHC’s on-field skipper. Unfazed he flicked into the top left – the goal marking his twentieth of the season, a splendid return.

Two Maidstone goals without response is how things stood at the ending of the first half.

MHC continued to play good hockey in the second half but the quality of OW’s came to the forefront. The Rochester side had lost just two games in the last 24 months of league hockey – their second half display was an illustration of their knack for getting results.
Their first of three comeback goals involved a nice 1-2 exchanged between players on OW’s right wing before a ball put across to be finished with comfort. Their second and third were the consequence of strong drag-flicking from short corners. The three goals scored in the second half is not a full reflection, however, of the balance of the sides in the half. Maidstone did reman creative and had chances of their own. Simply, they fell short.

Despite the result, spirits remained high following the game. Immediately an eagerness developed for the 24/25 season where there will be intention to improve on the season just played.