FINAL SCORE:
Real 30...........9
AFC Maidstone...0


A classy Real 30 showed exactly why they are unbeaten, as they over-powered a stunned AFC. The team knew it wasn't going to be easy, but they could never have anticipated this. They were outplayed from start to finish. The first goal for Real 30 was as clinical as it was inevitable, a good finish after poor makring. The fluent passing against an out-of-practice AFC defence was too much. Cope made some good saves and escaped on one occasion when the ball hit the post and rebounded off his buttocks - but he recovered in time. He couldn't be blamed for any of the goals in the first half. The defence tried its best, with everyone (especially Epps, Ward and Pilcher) making some keys tackles. Pilcher had two shots, one which hit Cleisham and another going wide. Ryan saw a good shot saved, and Ward was unlucky from distance. 5-0 to Real 30 at half-time.
The half-time change of Spencer for Ryan paid off immediately - for Real 30. Spencer got his body behind a shot to try and pass it back to Cope, but it hit his body at a bad angle and Pilcher could only watch in despair as another clinical finish made it 6. Cleisham pushed forward as much as possible, but was thrawted by a mean defence. Another unlcuky moment for Spencer, as he helped deflect a powerufl shot past Cope. Ryan had chances at the other end, two of which were well saved. A lack of communication led to several possible AFC attacks not happening, and the defence was continuously cut into shreads. The last goal followed with minutes left, another great finish after a passing move. A sad day for the Stones who returned to the bottom of the league for the first time since last season.


TEAM: Cope; Ward (Pilcher 8), Cleisham, S.Charman (Epps 6); R.Charman (Spencer 13).

SCORERS:


Manager comments:
"We were completely outplayed. We are out of practice after the 2-week break but we lost to a great team. They scored nine superb goals and we were no match for them. They are a cut-above and we now have a job climbing back up the table. We don't want to finish bottom but there are things that have cost us dear - i.e. Funk Soul Brothers leaving and being replaced by no-hopers (allowing F.G.Barnes to win), the ref giving a penalty that shouldn't have been against the Jaffers; hitting the post and crossbar against N.B.T; giving away a last minute equaliser vs GAP. Its moments like those we'll look back on. We can still get ourselves out of trouble and if we finish bottom then its not through lack of effort. But, hopefully, it won't come to that."