On Saturday the Ladies 1s faced Ashford 1s away. During preseason the two teams faced eachother resulting in Maidstone coming out victorious and winning 2-1. However, Maidstone were sure Ashford would be upping their antics much like themselves.

Maidstone started strong, they began pressing at ‘75’ - stepping off the press slightly, allowing Ashford to make mistakes and pushing for long passes to be made allowing opportunities for interceptions and turning over in the middle of the pitch. Subsequently this worked well and Maidstone mainly dominated and had the upper hand. Stephanie Lurshay, Lizzie Ashford and Emma Worsfold dominated the mid regions and turned the ball over many times as asked of them.

Around half way through the first half, a short corner was won by Maidstone. The push out took a left turn and Gabriella trapped the ball unexpectedly on the top of the D. Gabs thought on her feet and decided to slap the ball toward goal. Lesley Price, standing infront of the goalkeeper, managed to deflect the ball into the air and the ball landed into the goal - this was no luck just pure skill. The score laid at 1-0 and it remained this way throughout the first half with play not changing particularly.

The ladies being one goal up is a rarity and it was very refreshing for the Maidstone side. Expectedly, during the second half, Ashford cranked up the heat and applied a full press cutting out the Maidstone middle men in midfield.
A few aerials were demonstrated by Izzie Ramiro & Co and Alicia Grassom and Becca Jarvis did their best to manoeuvre the ball up the right and the left of the pitch, however there was still little options going forward. Ashford, on more than a few hand fulls of occasions, turned over the ball at the top of the Maidstone defending D and attacked towards goal. Player of the match went to a well deserved Keren who in goal saved Maidstone numerous of times with some brilliant saves. Most of the second half was play created but Ashford never the less Maidstone kept their form, defended strong and cracked on. A long and hard thirty-five minutes passed and Ashford did not manage to score; therefore much to Ashfords’ despair, Maidstone left with a clean sheet and took home three points winning 1-0.

This Saturday the Ladies 1s play at home and face Old Williamsonians who last week lost their top spot in the league after losing to Canterbury 2s. Old Wills now lay level with Maidstone, Saturday awaits to decide which team goes above the other.