Maidstone Explode Into Life While Tooting Implode

Maidstone United 3 – 0 Tooting & Mitcham                                            Saturday 9^th March
Attendance: 1,851

A quick fire double on the hour mark swiftly followed by a red card to Mitcham’s Nathan Koo-Boothe, rounded off by a deserved Steve Watt goal, stretched Maidstone’s unbeaten run to eight games and kept them six point clear or Dulwich.

The deadlock was broken on 57 minutes after an Alex Flisher free-kick found Steve Watt in space only for his header to crash against the crossbar, but fortunately Ian Draycott was on hand to grab the rebound six yards out.

Just a minute later and it was two for the home side after a brilliant team move. The returning Shaun Welford lay off Draycott to shoot but caught everyone by surprise when he dipped a shoulder to cut a pass through Mitcham’s defence finding Alex Flisher on the run to slot home at the ‘keepers near post.

As the restart began however when the linesman adjudged Koo-Boothe to use abusive language towards him and, after a while discussing, sent the centre-back off to leave the away team even more deflated.

Their third was as simple as they come with Flisher taking a long throw finding Steve Watt rising above the rest to head home the third and final goal to kill off their opponents.

The game didn’t start how manager Jay Saunders had hoped though with his team “lacking in the final third,” he said, “whether our final ball, or shot, or pass just wasn’t there.”

The home side definitely had a game plan to exploit the 4-3-3 formation they had deployed and use the wings but in the first half there wasn’t much to shout about as neither side was able to get a rhythm in their passing going.

The second half began in a completely different fashion to the first with the game opening up massively and in the opening ten minutes each side had more shots on goal than the entire first half.

Anthony Joseph for Tooting & Mitcham up against Tommy Osborne was an interesting battle that went on throughout the match with Joseph looking the away sides main threat going forward but Osborne held his own all the way through.

As Maidstone grew with confidence it showed in the way they were playing and got their just rewards from two goals in the space of two minutes on the hour mark and the away side down to ten men.

The third goal arrived on the 66^th minute and after that it was joyous for the home fans and on 70 minutes was treated to, arguably, the best move of the season.

Osborne switched the play from right to left to find Stuart King who then executed a trick pass back to Tom Mills, Mills then passed onto the running Flisher who back heeled for King in the penalty box but unfortunately for everyone watching he sliced it wide.

That move alone brought a standing ovation from the crowd and an appreciation of the way their team played this afternoon.

After the game manager Jay Saunders was staying coy on his chances of the title as yet against Dulwich giving respect to other teams he is yet to play, but he did talk about his continuous change in formations over the season.

“I know a lot of teams that have come up here and said ‘oh i thought you’d play 4-4-2’,” he said, “I’ve got a good squad and it gives me options.”

He may need a few more of them surprises to keep off the title charge from Dulwich, but with players such as Alex Brown and Michael Phillips returning next week, and others almost back, he will most likely have something left for the title fight.

"There's Only One Team In Romford!"

Grays Athletic 3-2 Romford                                                                   Wednesday 2^nd January 2013

Attendance: 262
Referee: Mr E. Kaye.

The derby in Romford did not disappoint which included a penalty, a sending off and a stoppage time winner, the latter of which came from defender Junior Baker to move Grays Athletic up to second.

The home side flew out the blocks from the start and by the 9^th minute had took the lead after the lively Jared Small whipped in a tempting cross which evaded Chris Clark in goal to find the oncoming Joao Carlos to score his 10^th of the season.

Grays Athletic didn’t rest on the laurels and a minute later were awarded a free-kick 30 yards out which didn’t put Harry Agombar off from shooting, and shoot he did and a wicked deflection off the wall which may go down as an own goal took it past the helpless goalkeeper to make it 2-0.

The home side took their foot off the gas a little bit after the two quick fire goals but 10 minutes later left-back Danny Bunce produced a magical run weaving in and out of four Romford players like they weren’t even there only to hit a tame shot straight at Chris Clark.

Romford didn’t get going until the 27^th minute when midfielder Michael Sammut struck a hopeful shot from 20 yards only to see it bounce off the post.

Minutes later the woodwork came to the rescue for Grays Athletic again after right winger Lewis Francis hit a wonder strike with the outside of his right foot only for it to smash against the crossbar and Nick Reynolds failed to keep his header down from the follow up with the goal at his mercy.

The first half finished scrappy from both sides with Grays Athletic looking settled at 2-0 and Romford unable to find a way through a resolute defence led by the commanding Junior Baker.

The Romford manager clearly gave his players a clear telling off at half-time as they came out controlling the midfield and challenging the home sides defence straight away with a lot of free-kicks being awarded to Romford.

Lewis Francis was the man responsible for taking free-kicks for Romford and after three in just eight minutes he managed to cross in a peach that found Romford captain Paul Clayton with plenty of space to place his header into the back of the net to bring the away side straight back into the game with an hour played.

Eight minutes later and Romford had completed the comeback after a dubious penalty decision was given after substitute Kurt Smith was allegedly brought down by Kamurasi. Francis took the resulting penalty but the Grays goalkeeper saved it but was unable to prevent the follow up from Ben Jones levelling the score.

Grays Athletic were shell-shocked Romford deserved to be back in the game as the home side sat back too much but on the 75^th minute Joao Carlos ran past two players to then drill a shot/cross towards the back post and Jeff Hammond was inches away from putting Grays back infront.

Jeff Hammond was involved minutes later but for all the wrong reasons. A reckless challenge led to him getting his second yellow and he went off for an early bath.

Romford started to push higher up the pitch now with the extra man but meant they left gaps at the back and inevitably a winner was going to come and it was Junior Baker that grabbed the headlines after he gambled on a Joe Sweeney low cross to stab home from two yards out to send the home fans into raptures.

Grays Athletic managed to move up to second with that win, extending their unbeaten run to nine games now and keep up the hunt on league leaders Maldon & Tiptree.

Teams
Grays Athletic: Kamurasi, Pope, Bunce, Baker*, Kirby, Hall (Sweeney 76), Beaney, Small (J. West 61), Carlos (Marshall 85), Agombar, Hammond (Sent off 82).
Subs not used: Lalite, D. West

Romford: Clark, Salmon, Dicks, Clayton, Payne, Sammut, Richardson, Francis, Woodward (Smith 68), Reynolds, Jones (Hunt 80).
Subs not used: Hilton, Ngos, Oates

A Happy New Year for Maidstone United

Maidstone United 2-1 Sittingbourne                                                            Tuesday 1^st January 2013

Attendance: 2,291
Referee: Mr P. Kelly.

Maidstone United kick-off the New Year with a comfortable 2-1 win over and with that go back to the top of the Ryman League South.

Ian Draycott opened the scoring after 10 minutes after Shaun Welford did well to salvage a low cross along the six yard line where the oncoming Draycott couldn’t miss and slotted home to set the home side on their way.

Draycott grabbed the second after Sittingbourne were caught light at the back. Shaun Welford flicked onto Gillingham loanee Alex Brown who whipped in an inch perfect cross to find the number 10 at the back post.

Sittingbourne were being out played all over the park and were not able to string five passes together without a Maidstone player breathing down their necks to get the ball back.

But with all of Maidstone’s dominance they were unable to add to their lead before the break although a couple of shots from the impressive Alex Brown, playing out of position on the right wing, forced some great saves from Adam Molloy. The closest to a third came from Shaun Welford who saw the ‘keeper of his line and attempted a lofted shot only to see it crash against the top of the crossbar.

Maidstone started the second half as they did the first by keeping the ball in the away sides half and forcing Sittingbourne into mistakes and four minutes into the half Alex Brown almost provided a goal to saver after hitting a sweet left foot shot 20 yards out only for Adam Molloy to prevent him once more.

It wasn’t until the 56^th minute that Sittingbourne really tested the Maidstone defence, and should have scored with it. Joe Taylor found the ball at his feet eight yards out and, although he beat the keeper, Gavin Greenfield was back on the line to make an incredible clearance to keep his sides two goal deficit.

Sittingbourne were finally looking dangerous and could have made Maidstone to pay for not building on their two goals scored in the first half. A low cross into the box by Tom Loynes fooled Maidstone’s back-line and suddenly three attackers were free in the box but Tommy Osborne managed to rush back to make sure he got there ahead of a Sittingbourne player.

As the game petered out it was proving to be a frustrating day for Alex Brown as he just couldn’t get on the score-sheet. Just before the 90 minute mark he weaved in and out of several Sittingbourne defenders like they weren’t there, looked to have done it all, but a determined Adam Molley did not want to concede against the Gillingham loanee.

Sittingbourne did manage to get a consolation goal with the last kick of the game after the ball pin-balled around Maidstone United’s box it fell to the feet of Nick Treadwell six yards out and made no mistake of the finish.

Speaking after the game Maidstone manager Jay Saunders was keen to single out Alex Brown’s performance. “I thought he was superb today,” he said, “I asked him to play a little out of position and he deserved a goal today.”

Alex Brown’s loan from Gillingham is soon at an end but Jay Saunders added some positive news for Maidstone fans, “I’d like to [lengthen his loan],” he said, “Browny’s keen to extend it so it’s just a case of speaking with Gillingham

With the win today and results elsewhere going their way Maidstone returned to the top of the table and with an attendance over 2,000 the home crowd will be happy with their sides start to 2013.

Teams:
Maidstone United: Ibrahim, Osborne, Mills, Greenfield, Andrews, T.Olorunda, Brown, Phillips, Welford (A. Olorunda 83), Draycott (King 88), Whitely (Woolery 79)
Subs not used: Booth, Lye

Sittingbourne: Molley, Cooper, Ulph (John 62), Davis, Gray, Girt, Taylor, Bedford (Pettit 80), Coyne (Gonnella 60), Treadwell, Loynes
Subs not used: Hogg, Winnett

"We're Going To Wembley!"

FA Trophy First Round

Maidstone United 2-0 Salisbury City                                                          Attendance: 1,365

Maidstone United caused the biggest upset of the FA Trophy first round by knocking out last year’s semi-finalist’s Salisbury City, another scalp in their impressive form at The Gallagher Stadium.

It was a wet and miserable afternoon for spectators but the new stadium still brought in an impressive 1,365, just 300 under the average home game this year, but today the odds were stacked against them with Salisbury City fielding a whole host of players with vast experience in the football league.

But the first ten minutes it was neck and neck with both teams having fairly good chances to take an early lead only for lame shooting and the slippery surface getting the better of the forwards.

Impressing for Maidstone were both wingers, Alex Flisher and Warren Whitely, and it was them two combining that created the home side’s first real threat in the half. Flisher was facing the corner flag and looked to be going nowhere, until he cheekily back heeled it into the path of Whitely who, with a few step-over’s, went past one defender to the by-line where he drilled a low cross in only for James Clarke to clear ahead of Welford ready to pounce.

The game started to swing more into Maidstone United’s favour as the half progressed with the ball camped in Salisbury’s half the home side were starting to find gaps in the Salisbury defence.

It was Whitely again who found space down the right teasing the defenders with some more step-over’s which then opened space for himself to shoot at goal, only to shoot horribly over the bar.

Salisbury did have their chances though and on the half hour mark, the ex AFC Wimbledon midfielder, Ricky Wellard hit an absolute rocket from 20 yards out taking a slight deflection on its way to goal which rattled the crossbar.

But that proved the be Salisbury’s last chance of the half as five minutes later Flisher took one of his trademarks long throws where Ade Olorunda battled to win the flick on which found Nick Humphrey on the run to nod past the helpless Will Puddy and put the host’s 1-0 up.

The home fans were in raptures still celebrating by the time the second goal came. Three minutes before the end of the half Flisher picked up the ball 20 yards out and with one touch out of his feet hit a belter into the top left corner which then led to fans chanting, “we’re going to Wembley!”

The first half drew to a close and Maidstone were good measure for their lead and displaying why they are the only team representing the Ryman League South still in the competition.

There were slight worries at half-time if Maidstone had worked too hard in the first half and Salisbury were going to come out a changed team, and they did make one change bringing off Elliot Frear for their ever-present Daniel Fitchett, his first game of the season that he hasn’t started.

But the home side started where the left off and almost completed a carbon-copy of their first goal only with Shaun Welford taking Nick Humphreys place, but an awkward half-volley went wide.

It was getting very tense in the latter stages of the second half and it was getting frantic at the back for Maidstone with Salisbury finding space now and they couldn’t have come any closer when Fitchett rounded Mitten to shoot at an empty net only for birthday boy Tom Mills to run back towards his goal and intercept a certain goal.

The impressive Tim Olorunda copied his team-mates efforts moments later this time with a header off the line showing the home sides resilience.

Maidstone had weathered the storm and the last 10 minutes, as nervy as they were, the home side were coping much better with any attack from Salisbury and were able to hold up play more with Maidstone actually finishing how they had gone out all game, with the ball camped in Salisbury’s half and in the dying second Whitely could have added a deserved goal with a shot/cross that almost caught Puddy off-guard but he managed to scramble back and prevent the scoreline flattering Maidstone United.

After the game Maidstone United manager, Jay Saunders, revealed he has the upmost confidence in his team whoever he faces, “On our day we can give a lot of teams a good game,” he said.

Also with a huge win against a team two leagues above Maidstone Jay spoke about his ambitions for the club. “The main priority is getting out of the Ryman South,” he said, “I’m sure everyone at the club wants to get back in the league some day and AFC Wimbledon have proved it can be done.”

For now Maidstone can savour their sweet victory and Monday they find out their opponents in the second round, one thing is for sure that no team, after this result, wants to face Maidstone United at The Gallagher Stadium.

Maidstone United: Mitten, Mills, Osborne, Humphrey, Ward (Greenfield 17), Olorunda, Whitely, Phillips, Welford*, Olorunda (Bewick 82), Flisher (Woolery 85)Subs Not Used: Booth, Ibrahim

Salisbury City: Puddy, Udoji, Hart*, Clarke, Matthews, Wellard, Lewis, Sinclair, Frear (Fitchett 45), McPhee, White (Ademano 68)Subs Not Used: Scott, Baggridge, Clark

*Captains

Hurst by Name, Hurst by Nature

AFC Wimbledon 0-4 Southend United                                                         Attendance: 3753

A goal just before half-time by Gavin Tomlin left AFC Wimbledon deflated going into the break after a solid first half performance and Southend took full advantage of silly mistakes through Ryan Cresswell, a second from Gavin Tomlin and substitute Barry Corr rounding off the rout.

Although Kevan Hurst never got on the score sheet, unlike his obvious name-sake, Sir Geoff Hurst, he did provide assists for all four of Southend’s goals from a sublime flick to put Tomlin through for his first to three perfectly executed dead balls from which his team-mates happily obliged.

However AFC Wimbledon didn’t look like they were going to crumble to a 4-0 thrashing from the off when early on the ball was camped in Southend’s half with The Dons playing some decent football along the ground.

On eight minutes the impressive Jake Reeves found himself with a lot of space 25 yards out and was encouraged to shoot, and he didn’t disappoint with a cracking effort that skimmed the top of the crossbar.

Five minutes later and there big shouts for a penalty for Wimbledon for a handball against Ryan Cresswell but referee Bond waved away protests.

But for all the pressure the Southend United defence seemed to cope well with any phase of play that entered the final third and Paul Smith was never really tested with Jack Midson dropping deeper throughout the half to try and get involved in some play when he would have been better sticking in the box with Byron Harrison perhaps.

Then out of the blue on the 43^rd minute Kevan Hurst puts through Gavin Tomlin with a delicate little dink that caught the Wimbledon defence off-guard and with one touch away from the chasing Yado Mambo hits a thunderous shot across the helpless Neil Sullivan and leaving the home fans, and some away fans, stunned.

Wimbledon have been hampered with a massive injury list this season and top-scorer could well be another one added to that list as manager Neal Ardley took him off at half-time and in his replace young Charlie Strutton.

A goal before half-time knocks any teams’ confidence, but when you’re near the bottom and things aren’t going for you then it’s bound to open the floodgates.

That confidence knock definitely showed just two minutes into the half when Yado Mambo played what looked a routine head back to the keeper only for it to fall short and, if it weren’t for a quick reaction from Neil Sullivan to read the danger, Britt Assombalonga could have made the day a whole lot worse.

But it wasn’t until the 62^nd minute when Southend got their second. Hurst whipped in a corner that found Ryan Cresswell at the back post who jumped highest and nodded down into the ground to make it 2-0.

Southend really should have had more on the night and no chance was more blatant than when Hurst was through one-on-one with a player either side of him but chose to shoot himself, which proved to be the wrong decision with a very tame shot not even lifting off the ground into Sullivan’s grateful arms.

But moments later, on the 69^th minute, he redeemed himself, proving he may not have the strikers finish but is able to play the ball for strikers to finish. Hurst curled in a free-kick from the edge of the 18-yard box to find Gavin Tomlin on the run with no marker to nod home his second of the game and made it 3-0.

Substitute Barry Corr was able to get on the score sheet on the 90^th minute with Hurst collecting four assists for the game. Hurst played in another corner that bounced to Corr’s feet that had time to swivel and strike a powerful shot to finish Wimbledon off.

The result meant Wimbledon sit perilously close to the relegation zone whilst, in contrast, Southend United are on the verge of the play-off places.

Wimbledon: Sullivan, Osano, Fenlon (Johnson 73), Mambo, Antwi, Long (Djilali 68), Francomb, Meades, Reeves, Midson, Harrison (Strutton 45).

Unused Subs: McNaughton, Jaimez-Ruiz, Harris, Merrifield

Southend United: Smith, Clohessy, Cresswell, Phillips, Barker (Prosser 73), Mkandawire, Timlin, Hurst, Laird, Assombalonga (Corr 70), Tomlin

Unused Subs: Eastwood, Bentley, Martin, Spicer, Woodyard

The football we never take notice of

I admit I probably should have published this blog before the match report and that was the plan before the game, but if you read through the main points in the match report you will understand I just had to write that first! In this blog I just want to give a brief word for women's football.

"Women can't play football, they belong in the kitchen!" is phrase used far too often when hearing women's football is on T.V, but something amazing happened this summer in the Olympics for Team GB when a women's side who struggle to bring in crowds in excess of 5,000 managed a (post-war) record attendance for a British women's football game when they beat Brazil 1-0.

You think that changed the perception on women's football? In an ideal world yes, but unfortunately not. Maybe participation has risen and that's something I wouldn't know but I was shocked when kick off approached at the Underhill stadium today between Barnet and Aston Villa ladies and a mere 52 fans came to watch what proved to be an incredible match (See last post for match report)

I couldn't fit in everything i wanted to say in the match report as the game had everything, but I wanted to actually give a word on the standard of football.

Tackles were flying in and i saw no prima-donna rolling around trying to get the opposition player booked. Some last ditch challenges from both defences; some slick passing through the midfield; and some great runs made by the forwards showed class all over the pitch. Now I'm not trying to say that this team can rival the Men's Barnet side (what with Edgar Davids tearing up the Underhill turf just days before the women step onto it) but it's a good enough standard to attract more than a few dozen people.

There's just no advertisement for the game. Go on to a big club website and a minute section on the ladies team is very hard to find let alone finding out Barnet have a ladies side. At the local bar I asked 5 locals if they knew the ladies team were playing... they all answered with no with two saying they didn't even know they had a ladies team!

Now I know it was Super Sunday and after a Saturday of watching their local team they're going to want to sit in the pub with a pint and watch the games, but even when I said the game was only £3 entry(and FREE for season ticket holders) they still refused. But this is something I see easily solvable.

A simple advertisement in the men's programme would not go a miss, maybe the local putting up signs of fixture lists for the women's team. Who knows because from what I've experienced there is nothing to help them out other than the few weeks of fame Britain's women football got at the Olympics.

Moan and groan over but I would definitely recommend finding out if any Ladies games are playing near you, plenty play in London, its cheap as chips so plenty of money for a half-time pint and full-time celebrations.

The FA Women's Super League is on in the summer months which gives you a great year of football, but for now here are links for the respective leagues:

Women's Premier League National Division - http://fulltime.thefa.com/ListPublicFixture.do?divisionseason=570707413&league=872938

Women's Premier League North Division - http://fulltime.thefa.com/ListPublicFixture.do?divisionseason=356824605&league=872938

Womens Premier League South Division - http://fulltime.thefa.com/ListPublicFixture.do?divisionseason=576717736&league=872938

There are too much leagues to advertise but please do check them out

Temperatures reach boiling point for Barnet

Barnet Ladies 0 - 2 Aston Villa Ladies

Barnet Ladies hosted Aston Villa at Underhill today and what was a tame first half soon erupted into a explosive affair that boiled over and saw some unsightly scenes for the home crowd.

A goal from Dani Petrovic and a penalty from Katie Wilkinson was enough to give Aston Villa the three points and push even closer to the promotion places in the FA Women's Premier League National Division.

But the win for Aston Villa was cast in the shadow of the last 15 minutes when a huge fight broke out after Barnet captain Danielle Murphy reacted badly to a challenge on her and although it wasn't much shock that Danielle Murphy was shown a straight red, there was some confusion over why Gemma Rudman was shown a straight red as well. As for Aston Villa the fact that only one of their players walked away with a yellow card proved a little unjustified.

That set the tempo for the final 10 minutes and Mark Sennett, the referee, was obviously struggling to control it and after what seemed a routine tactical block from Abbie Prosser was deemed more cynical by Sennett and pulled out a second yellow much to the bemusement of everyone.

The game started off a little tame with Barnet opting to change sides and start playing downhill, an advantage that is unusual to see on a League Two standard pitch. But Barnet were taking advantage of the slope and saw most of the possession in the first half.

Mark Sennett had a love affair with his whistle far too often in the first half opting to blow up on the softest of tackles, which started to grate on both sets of players, but none more so than the Barnet captain Danielle Murphy and eventually she saw yellow on 38 minutes after one too many moans.

"You three are killing the game!" ranted the Aston Villa coach just before half-time and that summed up the half with neither sides able to get any momentum going to really trouble either keeper, but Barnet were definitely the happier team going into the break.

But now Aston Villa were playing downhill and were taking full advantage of the slope in their favour with a few darting runs into the box by the impressive Emma Follis and Kelly Clarke.

On the 55th minute Aston Villa got their breakthrough finally when Dani Petrovic rose highest at the back post after a great delivery into the box from Folis to put the visitors ahead and 1-0 up.

Three minutes later it was the Follis and Clarke combination again that troubled Barnets defence when Aston Villa's number 11 managed to run with the ball past Jess Trimnell and find space and spotted the run of Follis with a beautiful low cross only for Alex Keown to get back just in time to stop a certain goal, something the Barnet left-back did all game.

Unfortunately the desperate defending from Barnet proved to be their catalyst on the 64th minute as Leanne Reidy brought down Clarke in the box and the referee had no choice to award a penalty, which was sublimely finished by, Aston Villa's number 9, Katie Wilkinson.

Barnet did have a few sniffs at goal with substitutes Chontele Lawrence and Holly Sandow impressing but were not clinical enough when they got the chance.

The game turned hostile on the 70th minute when a 50/50 challenge between Alex Keown of Barnet and Katie Wilkinson left Keown far worse off with screams that silenced the stands and players on the pitch. Tears could be heard from the left-back as she knew it was very bad and after five minutes of treatment on the field the stretcher was called and her right calf was bandaged up suggesting either an Achilles injury that will hopefully end up looking worse than it was.

Soon after that the game turned into a tough battling contest and eventually the challenges got out of hand with a tackle on Danielle Murphy stirring up a huge coming together which ended up with Danielle Murphy and Gemma Rudman being sent off, and Aston Villa being let off with a solitary yellow card.

As the game drew to a close Abbie Prosser was shown a very harsh second yellow card and even though Barnet were down to just 7 outfield players Aston Villa couldn't add to the lead and the referee decided against adding much time on probably for the best interest of the game.

Aston Villa did deserve the three points on the day as they were much more clinical infront of goal and made better use of the ball in the final third. Barnet however will have a week to get their heads back together and prepare for a tough test against Manchester City without potentially four first team starters.