Maidstone United KYL U14 Triumph 3-1 Over Cray Wanderers U14

On 25 January 2026, Maidstone United KYL U14 hosted Cray Wanderers U14 at The Gallagher Stadium in a keenly contested league fixture kicking off at 12:30pm. The home side emerged victorious with a 3-1 scoreline after 70 minutes of competitive football, showcasing resilience and attacking verve to overturn an early deficit.

Maidstone United lined up in a 4-1-2-3 formation, deploying Harvey Rostron in goal. The defensive line consisted of Liam Rich at right back, central defenders Captain Eddie Ambrose and Danny Lowe, and Tommy Monaghan on the left. Tosan Okomi operated as the holding central midfielder, shielding the defence and linking play. Ahead of him, Bernie Farley took up the right attacking midfield role while Bertie Hayward occupied the left attacking midfield position. The front three featured Rylee Rodgers on the right wing, Zane Clements as the central striker, and Sawyer Booth on the left wing. The substitutes available were Harrison Smith, Zaph Kouassi, Tank Evans, Max Carney, and Blake Vince.

From the outset, Maidstone showed intent with Bernie Farley testing the opposition goalkeeper in the second minute, though his effort was comfortably saved. The defence was immediately called into action, with Eddie Ambrose and Liam Rich clearing danger promptly. Rich then demonstrated his vision with a slide rule pass in the third minute, setting the tone for Maidstone’s attacking approach. Danny Lowe’s headed clearance shortly after further quelled Cray Wanderers’ early pressure.

Tommy Monaghan and Harvey Rostron combined well in the fourth minute, with Monaghan clearing and Rostron confidently catching the ball to maintain control. Liam Rich continued to influence proceedings with a long pass to stretch the play, while Bernie Farley’s long pass and subsequent headed clearance highlighted his dual role in attack and defence. Rylee Rodgers and Tosan Okomi also contributed defensively with headers and tackles, ensuring Maidstone remained solid at the back.

Rich’s slide rule pass in the sixth minute found Rodgers, who responded with a long pass to keep the momentum going. Rostron’s clearance in the seventh minute was crucial as Maidstone absorbed pressure, with Farley and Rich intercepting and clearing threats. Ambrose’s timely clearance and Rich’s long pass in the eighth minute helped maintain Maidstone’s composure, while Monaghan’s interception and Rich’s headed clearance kept the defensive line intact.

Rodgers continued to orchestrate attacks with a slide rule pass in the ninth minute, and Lowe’s clearance in the tenth minute prevented Cray Wanderers from capitalising. Ambrose’s headed clearance in the eleventh minute was vital in denying a clear chance. Lowe then provided a slide rule pass in the twelfth minute, demonstrating his ability to contribute offensively as well as defensively. Rich’s tackles and interceptions between the thirteenth and sixteenth minutes further frustrated the visitors.

Despite Maidstone’s control, Cray Wanderers struck first in the seventeenth minute, taking a 1-0 lead. Undeterred, Maidstone responded swiftly with Bernie Farley delivering a long pass in the eighteenth minute, followed by Okomi’s slide rule pass and Rodgers’ long pass, all combining to build pressure. Bertie Hayward’s wide attempt and Monaghan’s tackle in the nineteenth minute showed Maidstone’s attacking intent and defensive diligence.

Sawyer Booth’s flick in the twentieth minute and Lowe’s tackles and clearances kept Maidstone in the ascendancy. Hayward’s headed clearance and high attempt in the early twenties maintained Maidstone’s attacking threat, while Rodgers’ clearance and slide rule pass in the twenty-fifth minute kept the team moving forward. Ambrose’s clearance in the twenty-sixth minute was followed by a flurry of substitutions: Harrison Smith replaced Hayward, Zaph Kouassi came on for Booth, and Blake Vince replaced Farley between the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh minutes.

Rodgers continued to impress with a slide rule pass in the twenty-seventh minute, and Rich’s long pass in the twenty-eighth minute sustained Maidstone’s attacking rhythm. Farley and Rich’s interceptions and headers in the twenty-ninth minute, alongside Ambrose and Monaghan’s defensive blocks and clearances, ensured Maidstone’s defensive solidity. Zane Clements then created a chance with a slide rule pass in the thirty-first minute, which Rodgers expertly converted with a long-range strike using his right foot, assisted by Clements’ long pass, to level the score at 1-1.

Monaghan’s slide rule pass in the thirty-second minute set up Danny Lowe, who scored from close range inside the box with a right-footed finish following a free kick assist from Monaghan. Rostron’s crucial dive at the feet of an opponent in the thirty-third minute preserved Maidstone’s lead. Zaph Kouassi’s flick in the thirty-fourth minute added to the attacking impetus before the half-time whistle blew at the thirty-fifth minute mark.

The second half saw Harrison Smith make a strong tackle in the thirty-sixth minute, with Lowe clearing danger in the thirty-seventh. Rodgers’ slide rule pass in the thirty-eighth minute and Monaghan’s clearance maintained Maidstone’s control, despite Farley’s high attempt. Kouassi’s flick and Rostron’s clearance in the late thirties, combined with interceptions by Okomi and Monaghan’s tackle, kept Maidstone’s defensive shape intact.

At the fortieth minute, further substitutions were made with Tank Evans replacing Rich, Max Carney coming on for Monaghan, and Blake Vince entering for Farley. Vince immediately made an impact with a headed clearance. Tank Evans’ long pass in the forty-first minute and Ambrose’s clearance in the forty-second minute helped maintain Maidstone’s momentum. Rodgers’ interception and long pass in the early forties kept the attack flowing, although Lowe’s high attempt in the forty-fourth minute went over the bar.

Tank Evans intercepted in the forty-sixth minute, but Kouassi received a yellow card for a bad tackle in the same minute. Ambrose’s interception and Harrison Smith’s slide rule pass in the late forties kept Maidstone’s rhythm, with Zane Clements and Okomi contributing flicks and slide rule passes to sustain pressure. Clements was replaced by Sawyer Booth in the fiftieth minute, who quickly made a long pass to continue the attacking threat.

Max Carney’s interceptions in the early fifties, alongside Tank Evans and Harrison Smith’s defensive work, ensured Maidstone remained solid. Kouassi’s flick in the fifty-third minute and Carney’s interception in the fifty-fourth minute kept the team in control. Rostron’s long pass in the fifty-fifth minute and his catch in the fifty-seventh minute demonstrated his command in goal.

In the fifty-eighth minute, Sawyer Booth assisted Zaph Kouassi, who scored a close-range backheel finish with his right foot to extend Maidstone’s lead to 3-1. Ambrose’s slide rule pass shortly after kept the attacking momentum alive. Tank Evans’ slide rule pass in the sixty-first minute was followed by substitutions: Liam Rich returned to the field replacing Okomi, and Bertie Hayward came on for Rodgers.

Carney blocked a chance in the sixty-second minute, and Rich’s slide rule pass in the sixty-third minute continued to create opportunities. Kouassi intercepted in the sixty-fourth minute, with Rostron catching the ball to maintain control. Kouassi’s wide attempt in the same minute was a rare miss. Rich’s long passes in the mid-sixties, combined with Harrison Smith’s flicks, kept Maidstone’s attacks fluid.

Hayward’s interception in the sixty-seventh minute and Rostron’s catch maintained defensive stability. Vince cleared danger in the sixty-eighth minute before Ambrose was replaced by Farley in the sixty-ninth. Rich’s interception in the seventieth minute and Farley’s slide rule pass kept Maidstone pushing forward. Tank Evans and Farley’s interceptions and clearances, alongside Lowe and Rostron’s clearances in the final moments, ensured the lead was protected.

Blake Vince’s long pass and Harrison Smith’s slide rule pass in the closing stages kept Maidstone United on the front foot until the final whistle. Danny Lowe’s all-round performance, combining defensive resilience and crucial goal-scoring, earned him the player of the match accolade.

Maidstone United KYL U14’s 3-1 victory over Cray Wanderers U14 at The Gallagher Stadium was a fine display of tactical discipline, attacking flair, and defensive solidity, securing valuable league points on home soil.