Maidstone Ladies 4s faced a tough challenge at home against a well-organized Marden 5s side. The game kicked off with Maidstone in possession, but it quickly became clear that the opposition was a formidable team. Despite the early pressure from Marden, Maidstone showed determination and grit, fending off several attacking attempts while making a few offensive breaks of their own.

However, Marden's relentless pressure eventually paid off. After a hard-fought battle in defence, Marden managed to break through and slip the ball past Maidstone's defenders. Despite the valiant efforts of both the backline and goalkeeper Michelle Smith, the ball just rolled into the net, giving Marden a 1-0 lead.

The game resumed with high intensity as Maidstone tried to recover. However, a swift counter-attack from Marden led to a second goal, leaving the home side 2-0 down. Refusing to be discouraged, Maidstone rallied with renewed energy. A promising break saw Nicky Bourne receive the ball just outside the attacking D, where she calmly fed it to Michelle Garrett. In one fluid motion, Garrett launched a quick shot into the goal, giving Maidstone a well-deserved point and lifting the spirits of the team.

Half-time arrived with the score at 2-1 in Marden's favor, and both teams took a brief two-minute rest before getting back into the action. Unfortunately, as the second half progressed, Maidstone began to lose some steam. Marden capitalized on this, finding the back of the net once more to make it 3-1.

Maidstone's defensive line fought hard to keep the ball out of the D, but a series of stick tackles led to a penalty flick being awarded to Marden. Goalkeeper Michelle Smith, who had been exceptional throughout the match, gave it her all but narrowly missed the save, as the flick resulted in a fourth goal for the visitors.

With the rain starting to pour down, both teams struggled to maintain pace. Maidstone managed a few late breaks, but fatigue had clearly set in. In the dying moments of the match, Marden slipped one final goal past the Maidstone defence, sealing the game with a 5-1 victory.

Despite the scoreline, Maidstone’s resilience and team spirit were clear throughout the match. Michelle Smith earned player of the match honors with 8.5 of the 14 votes, having made several crucial saves that kept her side in the game. Ella Deschamps also received recognition for her defensive work, securing 3.5 votes. Captain Louisa Robinson earned her first vote of the season, putting in a solid shift in midfield despite her natural position as a defender. New juniors Olivia and Sasha also received half a vote each for their contributions.

While the result wasn't in Maidstone's favor, every player gave their all, and the team looks forward to bouncing back in their upcoming fixtures. Here's hoping for a few wins in the near future!