Sunday 14th September 2008

Crockenhill 5 - 2 Maidstone United Rascals

Maidstone United Ladies, the club's newest team, played their first competitive match in the South Eastern Counties Women's League and despite losing 5-2, the team's management are very optimistic for the future.

Their opponents enjoyed an 11-1 victory last weekend and it took them 41 minutes to breakdown the Stones defence and score their first. Crockenhill were soon two up a substitute scored with her first move of the game, but there was still time for The Stones to pull a goal back before half time with a strike from Amy Nichols after 44 minutes.

In the second half Crockenhill's experience and fitness came into play and they went on to score another three to secure a 5-1 lead. The Stones didn't sit back though and when Natalie Larby was brought down inside the penalty area; she coolly converted the resulting kick.

Manager John Harvey was delighted with the performance: "All round the pitch the Stones had players who had worked so hard giving 100 per cent. Lisa Gilbert in goal pulled off some fantastic save and will be invaluable to us this season.

"Even though we lost it has been a very good learning curve for all the players and coaching staff and now we know what to expect. From here we can only move forward."

Player of the Match: Lisa Gilbert
Next match: Versus London Corinthians - Sunday 21 September, kick off 2pm at Mote Park, Maidstone.