FINAL SCORE:
F.G.Barnes.........4
AFC Maidstone......1


AFC played appalingly, and didn't deserve to get anything out of the game. Pilcher shouted out "We're gonna win 5-0" at kick-off; not only jinxing the game but also displaying the complacency that was evident throughout the side. To begin with, there wasn't much difference between the two teams. Epps missed a good chance, Ryan had a goal disallowed and F.G.Barnes shot over from distance. They took the lead after 7 minutes. A long-ball from their defence found a player on the left. He took his past Cleisham with his left hand before curling it past Cope. The Stones players couldn't believe it as the ref allowed the goal to stand. From then on, AFC stopped playing. F.G.Barnes cut out anything that AFC threw at them and only some good challenges from Ward, Cleisham and Pilcher stopped F.G.Barnes increasing their lead. Half-time: 1-0 to F.G.Barnes.
F.G.Barnes haven't had a good season, especially defencively, but their keeper made good saves and looked a different player from the one that flapped and fumbled his way through the last meeting between these teams. F.G.Barnes managed to increase their lead early in the first half. With an F.G.Barnes frontman 1-on-2 with Pilcher and Cope, Pilcher slipped on a wet surface which allowed the F.G.Barnes a wide space to shoot past Cope from distance. They played more good football and went 3-0 up as poor marking allowed a player to smash home from the edge of the D. AFC did manage a consolation. A short pass from Sam found brother Ryan who's weak punt went under the keepers hand. All hopes of an unlikely come-back were thwarted when they went 4-1 up straight after, with a shot being smashed into the roof of the net after lax marking again. Pilcher re-entered the field of play and had a good chance from wide of the right, but dragged his shot wide. The whistle went and a dejected AFC Maidstone left the field after being outplayed by a poor, poor team. The only real moment of entertainment from AFC was an audacious free-kick from Cleisham, whereby he flicked it over his head but it led to nothing.


TEAM: Cope; S.Charman (Pilcher 11), Cleisham, Epps (Ward 6); R.Charman.

SCORERS: R.Charman 18


Manager comments:
"We'd been looking forward to this game for weeks, and expected to just turn up and win. We couldn't believe what was happening. The ref helped them out a bit, and if that goal was rightly disallowed then it would have been 0-0 at half-time and there probably would have been a different outcome. This is an embarrassment, a disgrace to the players who have performed well up until now and we deserved to lose. This was the worst we've played all season and our complacency lost it for us. This result has ruined our season, and only a small miracle will stop us finishing bottom. To say we are disappointed at the moment is an under-statement."