Monday 12th December - U15 Fletcher Trophy

On a very wet and windy night Gravesham played against Maidstone in their second group match. Like most of their matches Gravesham started brightly and put Maidstone under pressure in the first 20 minutes. With key Defender Baldwin injured and target man Kurslo absent Gravesham fielded three U14s players Francis, Loft and Stewart. They did not look out of place at this level and gained good experience and played well. With Mazzone, Campbell and Lovell dictating the midfield early on and outperforming Maidstone Academy players, Gravesham should have taken more advantage. Despite a few shorts from Lovell both on and off target and some dangerous corners from Stewart, Maidstone opened the scoring from a break away. Gravesham then responded well with top scorer Campbell being alert in the box to equalise. At 1-1 Gravesham had a great chance to take the lead when Mazzone's cross found Lovell but he headed wide. Almost immediately and on the stroke of half time a cross-shot was not defended well and Maidstone retook the lead to make the score 2-1 at half-time. In the second half Gravesham produced a lack lustre performance and conceded four soft goals with the weather conditions worsening. Wilson continued to give his usual 110% with Murphy and Bhatti also working hard to foil a very strong and good Maidstone team without any luck.

Lovell was the man of the match as he was lively, kept the ball, and threatened the Maidstone goal on three or four occasions.

Early season high standards have dropped in the last two games particularly in both second half's against Canterbury and Maidstone. Gravesham should look forward to their remaining games. Targets are: be confident and show their undoubted ability; improve their decision making and work rate off the ball.