FINAL SCORE:
Elite F.C.........3
AFC Maidstone...0


THIS MONTHS REPORT WRITTEN BY STAND-IN MANAGER ADRIAN COPE

A five minute flop was the story of this game. A lot of expectation to play well did not quite go to plan. AFC Maidstone were under pressure right from the kick off. Good passing play by Elite lead to the first goal after two minutes. A crossfield ball which was then squared across the face of the dee spilt the defence leaving their winger on the left to control and slot the ball into the far corner past a helpless Cope. The second came immediately after. Confusion in AFC Maidstone's defence from the kick off meant Elite's striker found himself one on one with Cope who dived the right way but was unable to prevent the second goal. On five minutes came the third goal. Elite's defender came charging down the left wing, as AFC Maidstone lost the ball too easily up front, with only Robin left against three of their players their was only going to one result, 0-3. The rest of the first half went past without any major events, Ward with the only opputunity to get one back ducked inside Elite's defence only to put his strike straight down the keeper's throat. Half time 0-3. The second half produced a few pieces of entertainment, Epps striking inches wide with the keeper well beaten. Cope made a flying dive to his left to tip the ball onto the crossbar from a venomous shot. Another save soon after edged the ball onto the past with his finger tips. AFC Maidstone's defence had vastly tightened up forcing Elite to attempt many long shots. The attackers of Ward and on his debut Paul Stevens had more joy, a couple of passages of play gave Elite's defence cause for concern. Ward with another chance forced the keeper to lunge out with his left leg, the ball agonisingly rebounding between his legs but never going through to goal. Spencer shot over the bar from distance, as did Tom Sarrick on his debut as a replacement for the absent Charman. The match finished with a 3-0 loss, the performance lacking without the cutting edge of Ryan Charman up front and the solidarity of his brother Sam in midfield. The manager's absence was also duly noticed.


TEAM: Cope; Spencer (Sarrick 7), Epps; Cleisham; Ward (Stevens 14).

SCORERS:

Pilcher's comments:
"I 'had' to go to the Millennium Dome today and hear that this was yet another game disrupted by a lapse. Wardy put his hand up and took blame for two of the goals, but we all have off-days - I have more then most! Stevens and Sarrick I were told were impressive on their debuts, but the result is a little disappointing. I didn't want to cancel as it could lead to fixture congestion later on, but we had some key players missing and it looks like 3 points lost."