Maidstone United KYL U14 Fall To Bromley U14 At Gallagher Stadium

Maidstone United KYL U14 hosted Bromley U14 at The Gallagher Stadium on 4 January 2026, with kick-off at 12:30pm in a 70-minute cup tie played 11 aside. Bromley emerged victorious with a 4-0 win, leaving Maidstone to reflect on a tough afternoon against a clinical opposition.

Maidstone lined up in a 4-1-2-3 formation, deploying Ollie Higginson in goal. The defensive line consisted of Blake Vince at right back, Captain Eddie Ambrose and Danny Lowe as central defenders, and Tommy Monaghan on the left. Liam Rich operated as the lone holding midfielder, tasked with shielding the defence and distributing play. Ahead of him, Harrison Smith took up the right attacking midfield role, with Bertie Hayward on the left. The front three featured Zane Clements on the right wing, Zaph Kouassi leading the line as striker, and Sawyer Booth on the left. The substitutes available were Max Carney and Rylee Rodgers. Bernie Farley, Tosan Okomi, Harvey Rostron and Tank Evans were unavailable, so we look forward to welcoming them back at the next fixture. Cruz Robinson also joined the managers in the technical area to show his support.

From the outset, Maidstone’s defensive unit and goalkeeper Ollie Higginson were kept busy. Within two minutes, Higginson produced a remarkable point-blank reaction save to deny Bromley an early breakthrough. Simultaneously, Blake Vince demonstrated attacking intent with a precise slide rule pass, hinting at Maidstone’s desire to build from the back.

The early exchanges saw Maidstone’s midfield and defence working tirelessly to repel Bromley’s advances. Liam Rich was prominent in midfield, executing crucial tackles at the 4th and 9th minutes, while Zane Clements intercepted an opponent’s pass also at the 4th minute. Defensive clearances were frequent, with Danny Lowe and Blake Vince clearing danger repeatedly between the 5th and 16th minutes. Higginson’s command of his area was evident as he caught a cross at the 5th minute and made a full-stretch save at the 17th minute, showcasing his agility and alertness.

Despite Maidstone’s defensive efforts, Bromley struck first at the 8th minute, breaking the deadlock and putting Maidstone on the back foot. The home side continued to battle, with Liam Rich again making a series of defensive interventions including tackles, blocks, headers, and clearances between the 9th and 17th minutes. Eddie Ambrose also contributed with interceptions and headers, while Blake Vince and Danny Lowe remained steadfast in defence.

Bromley’s pressure intensified, and Maidstone’s defenders were forced into constant action. Blake Vince cleared a header at the 14th minute, and Danny Lowe made several clearances and tackles throughout the first half. Higginson’s reflexes were tested again at the 26th minute with another point-blank save, preventing further damage.

Maidstone’s attacking play showed glimpses of promise. Zaph Kouassi and Harrison Smith combined with slide rule passes at the 30th and 31st minutes, while Bertie Hayward delivered a long pass at the 33rd minute. However, Bromley doubled their lead at the 32nd minute, further denting Maidstone’s hopes.

As the first half drew to a close, Maidstone’s defence remained resolute. As the second half began, Tommy Monaghan made a crucial tackle preventing an immediate chance, and Higginson pulled off a full-stretch save shortly after. At the 37th minute, Maidstone made a double substitution, with Max Carney replacing Tommy Monaghan and Rylee Rodgers coming on for Bertie Hayward, signalling a tactical shift.

Danny Lowe continued to be a defensive rock, making multiple tackles, headers, and blocks between the 37th and 42nd minutes. Eddie Ambrose and Max Carney also contributed with interceptions and blocks, helping to stem the flow of Bromley attacks. Maidstone’s attacking efforts were limited, with Kouassi’s attempt going wide at the 45th minute.

The second half saw Maidstone striving to regain composure, with Danny Lowe initiating a long pass at the 46th minute and Max Carney and Rylee Rodgers linking up with key passes and interceptions in the following minutes. The midfield continued efforts to drive Maidstone into the final third with Harrison Smith and Sawyer Booth contributing with tackles and headers in the 47th minute. Despite these efforts, Bromley extended their lead with a third goal at the 52nd minute, despite another fine save from Higginson who dived at the feet of the attacker on a previous attempt.

Maidstone’s players continued to create chances and maintain possession, with Eddie Ambrose and Liam Rich providing slide rule and long passes between the 55th and 69th minutes. Rylee Rodgers, who had come on in the second half, showed promise with a slide rule pass and a committed tackle at the 61st minute.

Further substitutions saw Tommy Monaghan return to the field for Sawyer Booth at the 66th minute, and Bertie Hayward reintroduced for Zaph Kouassi at the 67th minute. However, Bromley sealed their dominance with a fourth goal at the 67th minute, effectively putting the game beyond Maidstone’s reach.

In the closing stages, Liam Rich continued to work hard, delivering a long pass at the 69th minute and winning a header at the 70th. Harrison Smith and Bertie Hayward also made interceptions late on, but Maidstone were unable to find a way back into the contest.

Ultimately, Bromley’s clinical finishing and sustained pressure proved decisive, while Maidstone’s defensive resilience and Higginson’s goalkeeping prevented an even heavier defeat. The home side will look to build on the positives, particularly the contributions of Rylee Rodgers who made an immediate impact with his energy and tenacity earning him the player of the match accolade, as they prepare for their next challenge.