Maidstone United 1 Angels Blues 2

Our Over-60’s Blues team took on Maidstone in what was a “dead rubber” as far as the League is concerned. The Angels are already in the finals and the hosts cannot qualify. But this didn’t stop the intense local rivalry coming to the fore.

The Angels had a much changed team but still commanded almost total possession in the first five minutes. The Stones defence was resolute but finally a crossfield pass found Craig Knowles on the right wing and his powerful shot put the Angels 1-0 up.

This fired up Maidstone who then moved into a gear which brought with it some challenging tactics which left most of the Blues with a “calling card” and just before half-time Gary Roden was manhandled to the ground in the penalty area. An unsighted ref, who otherwise had a good game, was forced to give an encroachment penalty allowing Maidstone to equalise just before half time.

The second half continued in a spiky fashion but the Angels marshalled their defence well and with a couple of minutes to go a long pass from our reliable, but reluctant sub, Graham Smith, returning from illness, found Martin Brindley coming in from the left to rifle a low shot into the net at the near post. 

A deflated Maidstone were then left with only pride to fight for but the Angels held on to win.

This ends the League segment of the season with the Angels finishing second having recorded 11 wins, two draws and two losses (both of those to the long unbeaten, national champions Bexley). It’s been a great season so far and we look forward to the Finals knowing we will meet two of the country’s finest teams on that day.

Report from Glyn Hollands