Blueharts 4 - Maidstone 8

Maidstone got back to their winning ways this Saturday with an excellent team performance away to Blueharts. Coming back from a disappointing set of results last weekend, and a player down due to Lesley Price suffering a head injury in last Saturdays game, Maidstone gained a well deserved 3 points, winning 8-4.

A strong start saw Maidstone go ahead early on when Claire Weddle, slotted the ball past the keeper on the right post. Some strong passing in the midfield found Katie Gibbons on the left baseline who dribbled past their defence to push the ball past the keeper from close range. Some skilful play by Lizzie McClintock won a short corner for Maidstone and McClintock was rewarded with a stroke from the top which she fired past the keeper for Maidstone’s third.
Maidstone lost possession in the middle of the pitch and Blueharts punished them to gain one back. However, Maidstone were quick to respond when Claire Weddle stole the ball from their defence and it fell nicely to Katie Gibbons who took the opportunity to make it 4-1. Maidstone couldn’t hold on to this lead for long as Blueharts came back with a goal just before the half time whistle.

Despite some strong play from Maidstone, some mistakes in the 2nd half cost them and Blueharts capitalised to take 2 more goals from open play, bringing the teams level. Lizzie McClintock and Louise Fox battled hard in the midfield to win the ball back and find forward Claire Weddle who played a well timed past to Katie Gibbons. Gibbons took a strike from the top of the D to give Maidstone the lead once more and get her hat trick. Claire Weddle added to this lead shortly after when she fired the ball into the left corner from a tricky wide position. Player of the match Katie Gibbons dribbled past the last defender to find herself one on one with the keeper, she is taken down but the ball lands nicely for Louise Cassey who calmly slots it in. There was no slowing down for this team and some great play by Catherine Broadbent on the baseline produced a lovely pass to Laura Jackson on the p spot who took her opportunity and Maidstone’s 8th goal.