MAIDSTONE UTD 1-0 RAMSGATE
Geering Challenge Cup Round One 23/9/07

In the first round of the Geerings Cup, the under 13s came up against fellow league opponents Ramsgate. The Stones were victorious with a 1-0 win in a very hard fought game.

In the first half Jordan Sharp was the much busier of the two goalkeepers pulling off a couple of great saves as the Ramsgate boys piled on the pressure with some good passing football which the young Stones found hard to handle.

The second half was much more even as the boys finally started to play some good football themselves and began to peg Ramsgate back. At this stage the game had extra time written all over it. In the last few minutes of the game we won a corner which was delivered in to the back post by Taylor and was powerfully headed into the back of the net by team captain Nathan. After the goal the young Stones just saw the game out to the final whistle.

A much better second half performance from all the boys but we still need to improve a lot technically. However this puts the young Stones into the second round of the cup and it makes it three wins out of four for the side now. The whole team played well and I am very proud of all the team.

Team: Jordan Sharp, Joel Attwood, Alex Smith, Mitchel Worsley, Harry Clapp, Nathan Hunter, Alex Cox, Taylor Sutton, Billy Price, Levi Austin, Johann-C-Bryan. Subs: Harry Mill, Tommy Rand, Rhys Lambert, Sam Head.

 

DOVER ATHLETIC 2-3 MAIDSTONE UTD
Kent Youth League 16/9/07

We arrived at Dover full of confidence, the boys bounced back from last week's defeat to win 3-2 on a huge pitch that would have suited the first team.

The game started with us going 1-0 up with a goal from Johann Bryan, which unfortunately was followed by a quick equalizer from Dover after a lapse moment in our defence. We were under some pressure for a period of time where Jordan Sharp made a couple of great saves. At half time the score was 1-1.

In the second half the young Stones started to play better football and kept the ball on the ground more. This resulted in Johann scoring his second of the game.

Dover however kept up the pressure and Jordan once again made a great one –on –one save but unfortunately the ball rebounded back to the centre forward who scored Dover second.

After this the young Stones showed some great football throughout the team with Joel and Harry Mills making some good runs on the right and Harry Clapp and Levi on the left, Nathan, Billy, Alex and Taylor working hard in midfield. Mitchel Worsley started his first match for the Stones this week and didn’t disappoint working hard for the defence.

The game was exciting with both teams taking shots at the goal, the tension was almost too much but the young Stones showed great composure and team spirit and their fitness eventually won them the game due to a great ball played in by Taylor through to Harry Mills who struck the ball in the dying seconds to give us the 3 points and a well deserved win.

All the boys always give me 100% commitment and I’m pleased with the way the team are progressing a big thank you to Tommy , a new signing, for his efforts over the last two matches.

It is Ramsgate in the cup at home next week. Good luck to all the boys and coaches.

 

BEARSTED 0-2 MAIDSTONE UTD
Kent Youth League 2/9/07

Our first ever game in the Kent League was away to local team Bearsted, the game was well contested from the off with the young Stones having the best of the first 15-20 minutes and the Bearsted team seemed to find it hard to get out of there own half, with shots on goal coming from Alex Cox, Harry Mills, and Johann Bryan, with our whole team working hard behind them. Both Harry and Alex where working well and Bearsted found it difficult to handle them down the wings.

We decided to bring on Levi Austin from the bench, Levi has not trained or played all summer due to a toe operation, he made an immediate impact he picked up a ball from Nathan Hunter, then beat a player and crossed the ball into the box at pace, only for Johann to hit on the volley and bring a great save from the keeper. Bearsted then started to play some good football and Jordan had to make a couple of saves himself. Nearing half time the ball was played out to the left back Harry Clapp, then into Taylor Sutton out to the right wing where it was picked up by Levi who hit a great strike into the top corner clear of the keeper 1-0 to the Stones. Not long after the half time whistle was blown.

In the second half Bearsted came on stronger, but we more than held our own with the defence and midfield working together to keep them out, Nathan unfortunately picking up a yellow card in the process but we kept going with more shots from Johann it was only a matter of time before we got a second, it came with about 10 minutes to go with a ball played from Alex Smith to Joel Attwood which found it's way to the Bearsted defender who made a little mistake with it, which Johann kindly accepted and was on in a flash with just the keeper to beat it was in the net 2-0. We decided to keep hold of the ball and see out the game but with a few heavy tackles going in it was not long before the cards came out again, unfortunately for young Alex Cox it was a straight Red and off he went, he had been getting a bit of stick the whole game and kicked out in front of the referee and that was that, a minute later the ref blew for full time.

Team: Jordan Sharp, Joel Attwood, Alex Smith, Sam Head, Harry Clapp, Nathan Hunter, Harry Mills, Taylor Sutton, Billy Price, Alex Cox, Johann-C-Bryan. Sub: Levi Austin.