Won 1-0
Scorers: Tony Jones
MoM: Corporal Jones
DoD: Geordie Hayward for falling asleep whilst on the bench according to an umpire
After a break of 6 weeks some rusty, creaking, stiff old Friars roared into action minus stalwart Tom Parkin who has just had a nipper (or at least his partner has) and within 2 minutes were a goal up courtesy of a quickly taken sideline ball hit hard into the D from Geordie Hayward, which glanced off a Maidstone stick for Skipper Corporal Tony Jones to neatly place the ball in the net. And that was it on the scoring front despite the opposition’s efforts to pierce the Friars defence. However with Towering Trigger in goal and 2 heavy units in Alex Ricketts and Geoff Philpott it was always going to be uphill for the visitors with all three Friars having excellent games. And so it proved as a Maidstone forward who would not have disgraced the heavyweight category himself ran full pelt into each of these 2 Friars with each pair crumpling onto the astro – quite a spectacle from afar. Still no injuries.
A further effort before half time saw Jones hit a post and in his 80th year (true) it was felt that he had earned his MoM as it could be his last before hanging up his stick. He’s also got his over 80 England trial this week and every little encouragement helps. The vice skipper Brian Hurlow not to be outdone by the Boss had a good game whilst John Boy Aikin for once failed to trouble the scorers though the umpires were somewhat interested in his post Christmas lethargic tackles. Mike Barton playing in midfield featured well.
Indeed thanks to the umpires Phil and Kevin for officiating in a generous manner to keep the game flowing. Onto a top of the table clash at New Beccs away this coming Saturday.