It was second from the top (Sevenoaks) playing second from the bottom (Maidstone) when the Ladies 4s returned to league action this week but the performance on pitch certainly did not reflect the huge gap on paper. Once again Maidstone started positively and it really was even end-to-end hockey for much of the first half. Every Maidstone player battled hard to gain, keep or re-gain possession which resulted in more frequent attacking than when the teams last played each other. The young trio of Claudia Allsworth-Clarke, Kate Smoker and Player of the Match Lucy Wilkinson, once again teamed up effectively in midfield supported by Kate Bowen and Michelle Garrett, to supply the forwards with opportunities. Tracy Murphy-Bellchambers was unlucky not to turn in a couple of powerful crosses from Nicky Bourne who also had her own on-target shots saved by the alert keeper. However, Sevenoaks were always dangerous on the fast break and Maidstone were guilty of being too polite, allowing them through to goal where they found success on three occasions and Maidstone frustratingly found themselves 3-0 down at half time.

The second half continued to be a battle up and down the pitch with further close chances for Maidstone and some sterling defensive work to keep Sevenoaks out. Eventually Murphy-Bellchambers got the reward she deserved and one of her blistering strikes flew in off a bewildered Sevenoaks defender. Maidstone came close at penalty corners but the Sevenoaks keeper was having a solid game. A lone run and a classy strike by a dangerous Sevenoaks forward gave the visitors one more to finish 4-1 up. Maidstone reflected on their improvements since their last meeting with Sevenoaks when they lost 1-7 and the fact that they had given the second-place team an end-to-end game that was far more even than the score suggests. Their increased chances in the attacking circle were promising, but the frustration at not quite being able to turn the chances into goals remains.