FINAL SCORE:
The Blues...........2
AFC Maidstone...........4


AFC exacted revenge on The Blues for their 3 previous defeats (which includes the worst ever defeat, 11-0, and this seasons worst display). It was another unlikely twist in The Stones' rollercoaster season. After 10 games without a win, 9 games without a point, and after scoring just 1 goal in the last 6 games, this was crucial to confidence before next week's big game agaisnt F.G.Barnes.
They took a shock lead on 4 minutes, when Sam beat a crowd of players to the ball and punted it through the keepers legs. This lead should have been doubled a minute later, when a penalty was awarded for a blatant kick-out by the keeper. Ryan's penalty, however, went way over. The Blues attacked as they battle on to claim the last promotion spot. It took a good finish on 7 minutes to beat Cope. A lack of marking from Sam and Epps left one player free to make a pass, and Epps' man crept to the far post to curl a shot past Cope. They took the lead with a bizarre goal. Pilcher came out to make a challenge but missed. The ball flew towards Cope, but when it looked like he had it covered the ball swerved beyond his left hand and into the goal. The Blues also hit the crossbar. AFC also had chances. Ryan hit an early free-kick straight into the wall, Ward had a go from distance and Epps left his shot late on a couple of occasions. A 2-1 lead for The Blues at half-time.
AFC realised that this game was their for the taking. They pushed forward to try and grab an equaliser, and it came after 16 minutes. Pilcher's shot from the mid-point of the opposition half went a few yards above the upright. But it fell down perfectly for Ryan to slot it past the beaten keeper. And AFC weren't content with a point. The best goal of the season so far came on 18 minutes. Pilcher brought it out of defence, and passed to Ryan. Ryan let it run through his legs, and it came to Ward who slotted in a left-footer to claim his first of the season. The Blues pushed forward but Cope pulled off some magnificent saves, especially in the crucial period just after the goal. Two certain goals were denied by Cope, who recovered magnificantly twice to pull the ball back from the goal-line. AFC rode their luck but were getting away with it. With 3 minutes left, Ryan increased the lead with a right-foot shot that beat the keeper. An identical earlier chance went through the side-netting, but Ryan didn't waste it this time and scored his first right-footed goal for AFC. The last 3 minutes seemed like an hour, but the final whistle went and the sweet ambrosia of victory was tasted for the first time since early January.


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

SCORERS: S.Charman 4
R.Charman 16, 21
Ward 18
(R.Charman m/pen 5)


Manager comments:
"It has come as a shock. We looked on the F.G.Barnes game as the only win left this season, but we've stunned The Blues today. They're 4th or 5th so its a sweet victory. We are only below 9th placed F.G.Barnes on goal difference, so we have to beat them next week to make the season safe. We scored some great goals and we played magnificantly. Credit to everyone, we only had one sub today, but we held out well. Ward and Ryan both played the full 24 minutes, and it was a lovely goal scored by Ward. Its given us some breathing space and we can look forward to the remaining 3 games, which are all winnable."