Chelmsford Ladies 2s 2 - Maidstone Ladies 1s 3

Maidstone started applying pressure from the outset- barely allowing the Chelmsford players any time on the ball.
The forward line of Lesley Price, Katie Gibbons and Emily Bush made darting runs into space for the Maidstone midfield unit to pass into with ease. The deadlock was broken early on- with Maidstone taking the lead after a well worked goal from midfield found Emily Bush at the back post to calmly slot the ball home.
There wasn’t long to wait for Maidstone’s second, where a near identical play once again found Bush for her brace.

Maidstone seemed to have lost their sense of pressing urgency, allowing Chelmsford to get back into the game. Their forwards were quick on the break and found themselves with opportunities in front of the Maidstone goal. A super save from Becky Ward saw the ball sailing over the Maidstone crossbar but she was once again called to action when Chelmsford’s 13 year old forward found the roof of the net, leaving the Maidstone defenders wondering quite how it happened.

Chelmsford were clearly keen to push for a second goal and had opportunities given to them from some loose marking by the Maidstone team- with Rachael Ferguson clearing a ball off the goal line after another quick Chelmsford break. They did however get their second goal before half-time, taking the score to 2 a piece.

After a team-lead team talk, Maidstone started the second half with real determination. Chelmsford, however, had different ideas and pressed the Maidstone team high and hard- getting some early possession in the Maidstone final quarter. Becky Ward and the defensive three of Hannah Durston, Grace Mansfield and Elle Scott were kept busy for the first 10 minutes of the second half.
A break into the Chelmsford half allowed Katie Gibbons to move clear of the defenders and be left one on one with the Chelmsford goalkeeper. Unfortunately, as had so many others in the game, Gibbons was unable to maintain her footing on the slippery pitch and slipped as she tried to go around the keeper. There was an instant decision of a short corner awarded but after umpire discussions the decision was withdrawn and the match resumed with a ‘bully’ with no arguments from the Maidstone team.

The call from the sideline was for patience- encouraging the Maidstone girls to keep hold of the ball, move it around and create the space they had been attacking into at the start of the first half.
This seemed to help them settle into the game again, moving the ball swiftly with composure. As the spaces opened, the Maidstone forwards once again made the runs to carve open the Chelmsford defence. Another well worked passing move allowed for Lou Cassey to fight her way through into the Chelmsford D and slot home for Maidstone’s third.

Maidstone’s re-discovered patience allowed them to keep hold of the ball for the dying minutes of the game and see out the final whistle with 3 points and 3 goals.

Next week they return home to face Canterbury 2A at midday.

MOM- Lizzie McClintock