FINAL SCORE:
Jaffers.........2
AFC Maidstone...1


After being totally outplayed in their last meeting just 5 weeks ago, many AFC players and fans were expecting a similar fate today. Playing a team in first who have lost just once and who were playing regular first Division football a few months ago, it was a shock to see AFC come very close and just miss out on a deserved point.
The original plan was too play very deep; this was evident in Pilcher playing himself in a 3-man defence. They soaked up the pressure and blocked everything. Pilcher hobbled off after 3 minutes, after having a very powerful shot hit him in his privates. Within a minute, AFC had won a penalty. The Jaffers keeper kicked it out. It looked like a free-kick as Jaffers began to build a wall, leading to confusion. Cleisham was to take the free-kick but it was, indeed, a penalty. He steeped up and it went just wide of the left-hand post. But 30 seconds after this miss, another penalty was awarded for a Jaffers player stepping in the area. This time Ryan was brought on, and he made no mistake in hitting the penalty to the keepers right. He had another opportunity to extend the lead, but the keeper made a stunning save. At the other end, Cope was busy. He prevented shot after shot and was frustrating the Jaffers. They piled on the pressure but the defensive combo of Pilcher, Cleisham and Cope was vital in maintaining the lead. Ward was also having a good game, having a moment of brilliance as he nutmegged a defender and ran past him. He had one very good chance but it was on his weaker right foot. Half-time: 1-0 to the Stones.
Second-half and the Stones confidence was rising. Ryan was being kept reasonably quiet but his lack of support from his team-mates left him isolated. Epps got forward when possible and made some key passes, but his refusal to shoot upset some sections of the crowd. It was going very well but in the 17th minute the Jaffers equalised. A Jaffers player struck from the edge of the area. Pilcher got a foot in to block the shot, but he helped to divert the shot through the despairing Cope's legs. It was unfair on AFC who had defended better then ever. Then an unfair penalty was awarded to the Jaffers in the 21st minute. Sam Charman was adjudged to have stepped in the area; this he undoubtedly did but after getting a shove from a Jaffers player. The Jaffers player made no mistake as Cope dived weakly the wrong way. Heads were held in high, but the Jaffers passed it round well for the last few minutes. Everyone was essential as they made superb blocks and clearances (or in Copes case, saves). Ryan had a good chance to score from the edge of the area but struck his shot high. Robin went on a superb run from defence and would have scored the goal of the season had he not been hacked down by a player he had just got past. The free-kick was taken by Ryan who hit it straight at Cleisham. A final-score of 2-1 but it was unfair on AFC who gave a commendable display against the league leaders.


TEAM: Cope; Spencer (Epps 9), Cleisham, Pilcher (S.Charman 3); Ward (R.Charman 4).

SCORERS: R.Charman 4
(Cleisham m/pen 4)

Manager comments:
"Yet again we threw the game away. I am mainly annoyed because the referee said after the game that it wasn't a penalty. However, had they been able to shoot on target then we'd have been dead and buried. We defended as a team but we really need to be fit enough to get someone forward to support Ryan. A good performance and we were unlucky. Heads shouldn't be down as this lot are Division 1 veterans and we gave them a shock today. Roll on next weeks cup game!"