Maidstone POFC 1 : JP8 FC 6
A Wet And Windy Night For H4H
JP8 were honoured to take part in this game raising funds for Help 4 Heroes.
Help For Heroes provides lifelong support to Service Personnel and Military Veterans with injuries, illnesses and wounds sustained while serving in the British Armed Forces
MATCH REPORT
Starting XI – Sam, Liam, Brandon, Lee U, Courtney, Abbey, Andre, Ozzy, Reece, Ryan and Owen
Subs – Shane, Scott, Lee H, Billy and Ben.
We all know that professional footballers struggle on a cold windy night, so how did JP8 FC battle the elements and a well organised opposing team ?
Well it was a slow start, It seemed the cold was getting to the boys, as they struggled to get any sort of grip on the game.
However, as the game grew, JP8 were creating chances and getting shots away but fortunately for the opposition, the team had a few too many drinks before the game and couldn’t hit a barn door.
Chance after chance, the keeper seemed to always have an answer (or the fence did for some of the shots). It just didn’t look like it was going to be JP8’s day.
POFC were also trying to create their own luck by rushing into JP8s half and playing the back over the top into space, however, the back line were always able to clear up.
The boys continued to knock on the door, however, the POFC keeper was determined to frustrate them for as long as possible. Until, Ozzy was able to beat the right back and whip the ball in back post for Ryan to comfortably slot it through the keepers legs.
Maidstone POFC 0 : JP8 FC 1
POFC didn’t change their game plan following the goal, they kept trying to explode into the JP8 half and did exactly that to win a free kick just over the halfway line .
POFC threw plenty of men into the box that caused problems, JP8 seemed to get confused who was marking who, and struggled to clear their lines and it was slotted home from close range,
Maidstone POFC 1 : JP8 FC 1
The boys went into halftime in a position they’ve never been in before, and although they dominated the game, The Gaffer was warming up the hair dryer.
A minutes silence for the fallen.
Second Half
The Gaffer decided he had seen enough, and decides to make five subs at half time:
- Shane (ON) Liam (OFF)
- Scott (ON) Courtney (OFF)
- Lee H (ON) Owen (OFF)
- Billy (ON) Brandon (OFF),
- Ben (ON) Abbey (OFF)
From kick off, JP8 asserted their dominance and were trying to get an early goal to set the scene for the half. The subs made an instant impact with quick football and runs in behind.
Lee H and Reece decided to do their best Chuckle Brothers impression with some "to me to you" passing to get in behind the defence, where Reece was able to sit the keeper down and slot it him into an empty net with his left foot.
Maidstone POFC 1 : JP8 FC 2
Ten minutes later, JP8 won a corner where Brandon decided to test the keeper and tried to whip it in front post, however, the keeper matched the cross with an equally impressive save off the line and POFC were able to clear for another corner. Rumour has it, Brandon is still screaming at the ref it went in.
Although Brandon tried to go for the front post again, however, our very own Lee Harris beat everyone in the box to head home (for our readers at home, Lee struggles to reach the top shelf in the kitchen cupboards, we were just as shocked as the other team).
Maidstone POFC 1 : JP8 FC 3
JP8 went 4-1 up minutes later with Reece channelling his inner Lebron James leaping over their CB to get on the end of Liam’s cross.
Maidstone POFC 1 : JP8 FC 4
However, they didn’t stop there. Ben Mac was able to play a ball over the top of the defence into Lee H path and he was able to smash it into the roof of the net to make it 5-1. A debut assist from Ben.
Maidstone POFC 1 : JP8 FC 5 :
With minutes remaining, Reece was able to find enough space in the box to slot the ball into the bottom corner. Left foot, header, right foot, the perfect hattrick.
Maidstone POFC 1 : JP8 FC 6 :
A proper game of two halves, and top marks to the Gaffer for his substitutions.
A huge thank you to our hosts Maidstone POFC for a great game, and we look forward to the return fixture in March 2023.