FINAL SCORE:
T.M.C...........4
AFC Maidstone...2


Not a bad performance by any means, but the loss of Cleisham was a huge blow. The team got a great start, however, when a penalty was awarded in the 3rd minute. Ryan stepped back to let Epps take it, but his effort was weak and went straigt to the keeper. Ryan scored just a minute later, running on to a loose ball to smack it into the roof of the net. Pilcher came on and was presented with a great chance to score his first ever goal, but he took it with his rarely-used left foot and the effort was weak. Spencer also had a great chance to improve the scoreline, with the keeper stranded he tried a shot but it went just over. The equaliser came soon after, with lax marking allowing a T.M.C. player to score from a left-wing position. Wardy had two chances which went well wide, but the team stuck together to keep the scoreline respectable. Half-time: 1-1.
The team again were defensively strong despite being without the huge physical presence of Cleisham (who hit 2 goals last week). Everyone was doing their bit and Sam was doing well a position usually taken by Cleisham. T.M.C. took the lead with a goal that will make at least three players cringe. With Sam and Pilcher looking at each other deciding who was going to close him down, the T.M.C player struck a shot from near the half-way line that fooled a bemused Cope who watched it sail into the top corner. Cope set up Ryan for a quite superb equaliser. Ryan received the ball just inside his own half. He dummied one player, darted past another and slotted the ball past a bemused keeper with the outside of his left foot. A deserved equaliser. AFC chose to sit back as they always do, and were doing reasonably well but for a few poor clearances. T.M.C. took the lead again with a goal that didn't look too threatening, but Cope forgot he could use his hands and so lunged at the ball with his feet. It went into the bottom corner, leaving Cope with egg on his face. He did, however, managea smile amongst the jeers from the sidelines. The lead was increased near the end, with Pilcher's outstretched left foot just failing to block an incoming shot from the left. Cope made ammendments for his earlier mistake, with a superb save. His diverted the ball towards the net, but he recovered well to stop the ball one-handedly on the line. Pilcher tried to increase the lead. When played through by a delicious pass from Ward, he waited too long and the chance was gone. He tried to go on a mazy run but was immediately tackled. Ryan was frustrated by some great defending, Sam also had a good chance and Ward managed some shots from distance. Another defeat; the fitness showed but the defensive frailties still stand out like a sore thumb.


TEAM: Cope; Epps (Spencer 7), S.Charman (Pilcher 6), Ward; R.Charman.

SCORERS: R.Charman 4, 16
(Epps m/pen 3)

Manager comments:
"I was quite pleased with the way we played. Cope had a bit of a nightmare but can only be blamed for the 3rd goal, where he was either being stupid or trying to show off - he succeeded only in the latter. He did make a stunning late save in the latter part of the game that had even the opposition clapping. The fitness is showing because we always had someone supporting Ryan which we haven't been doing in other matches this season. Epps' penalty was the worst I've seen at this level, but he made up for it by doing what he does best - harassing the oppostion. Credit to everyone, but the 3rd goal showed a lack of communication. Ryan and Ward were practically faultless, although the rest of played well but made some mistakes that proved fatal. We will improve and I'm confident that by this stage of next season we'll be winning games like this."