Following the postponement of their Eastbourne fixture, the Stones opened 2025 with a trip to Polo Farm.

The fixture was goalless at half-time and, to onlookers, it was likely evident that neither side had played competitive hockey for almost a month. That said. MHC likely had the better of the chances and possession without any penetration.

Chris Howson scored an opener in the early stages of the second half following a fraca in the D of which saw the ball ping-pong about before the Stones' leading scorer jabbed home. The lead was shortlived as Canterbury scored on the counter to equalise.

The goal of the day came through Will Day who reinstated the Stones' lead as he deflected on his reverse from a strong strike at target from skipper, Jim Christmas. Day admitted he knew little of the goal but his cute touch pinged satisfyingly off of the far post as it nestled beyond an outstretched BBL. Again the home side responded quickly - an aerial managed to create a Pilgrims overload in the last third, a deflected push across the D saw a Canterbury forward willingly strike home on the volley.

Discipline became a burden to Maidstone's efforts to take three points. Elstone did two minutes in the sinbin for querying a decision, he was then joined by Will Day who did the same. When back to eleven, it was these two who linked well in the lead-up to MHC's third. Elstone swept towards Day at the top of the Pilgrims' D, Day trickily shifted beyond a few Cantebury defenders before putting it onto a plate for Rob Clarkson to push home from a couple of yards.

The final stages were nervy for the away side as they garnered two more cards. Howson got a yellow for some stick tackles in the middle. Will Day offered some advice to umpires again and he obtained his second card of the game. The final play of the game saw the Pilgrims earn a short corner where heroics were needed to rescue MHC. A strong drag flick was thrown towards the right post, only for Mark Christmas to pull it off of the line with conviction.

Relief as the full-time whistle was blown. The Stones escaped with three points in a fixture they dominated but allowed complacency to offer the hosts a route back in on many an occasion.