Late Home Fixture

Ladies 3's vs Ashford fixture, Maidstone had to reshuffle the team around a little this week as our amazing pair of captains had to play 2's along with a couple of other regular team members and then dash back to support on the side line in the pouring rain. We made it worth their while. This week, our team benefited from 3 brilliant replacements in Amber, Nicky and Eve from the 4's and 2 players doubling up, our all important goalie, Vicky and super speedy Bea in mid field.
Maidstone started strongly and were creating good chances made possible by full back, Jaime and Liv, pushing high up the wings to ensure the team played an attacking pressing game to keep the Ashford defences under constant pressure.
Nicky C and Katie controlled the middle, spreading play wide to Nikki, left and Amber down the right allowing both to rifle in some great crosses resulting in a combination of some very near misses and good saves from the Ashford keeper. 25 minutes in, Maidstone finally made the pressure count when Bea and Smithy combined perfectly on a short for Smithy to give us a very well deserved lead going into the second half.
Maidstone continued to apply the pressure and the young legs of Bea, Bethan and Amber were amazing with their outstanding runs going forward. Us older players were combining well too and there were some well executed passages of play all around the pitch resulting in the next goal, which was a bit of a scramble in front of the goal when the ever hard working Bethan, who was in the right place (getting to be the norm now) sent the ball over the line.
Ashford came back into the game a little and the back line of Vicky, Jaime, Smithy, Eve and Liv were excellent at picking the ball off the Ashford forwards and distributing back up the pitch to get us attacking again. Midfield, Nicki, Nicky , Amber and Katie were tremendous at driving forward along with Bea, subbing in to give important breathers when necessary. Bethan making all important intelligent runs creating chances.
A third goal was deservedly added when Smithy scored again from another short corner with pinpoint accuracy into the left corner.
Ashford managed to grab a consolation goal with 5 minutes to go but by then the whole Maidstone team, including Julie who was moving well this week working tirelessly up and down the pitch, and Vicky who had a hard 2's game, had all put in a superb performance to ensure the win.
Match report by Julie Davies