Maidstone United (A) - 17th March 2024

By David Hansen

Margate Women travel to the Gallagher Stadium to take on Maidstone United in the SECWFL Premier Division, with a win potentially taking us back into 4th place!

Maidstone come into this game in 8th place in the division. They have lost their last 2 games and shipping 14 goals in the process whilst scoring none. Starting with a 5-0 loss against XL Academy at the Gallagher, then most recently a 9-0 loss against Tunbridge Wells Foresters at St Gregory’s Catholic School. Their last win came against us at Hartsdown Park, where they ran out 2-1 victors that day.

In Margate’s last two fixtures it’s been all about the cups. Unfortunately, a 2-0 loss away at Cray Wanderers meant we bowed out of this year’s Kent FA Women’s Plate. However, most recently, the ‘Gate booked their place in the final of the SECWFL Cup against Tonbridge Angels. This comes after a convincing victory against Parkwood Rangers at Hartsdown Park 4-1.

Manager Steph Meek had her say ahead of the game:

“We haven’t shied away from the fact there was a slight blip in performance at the start of the year, having lost 5 consecutive fixtures. Since taking control of the team in Feb 2023 we had never lost more than 1 fixture at a time and so this was an unusual turn of form.

“We’ve regained some consistency over mid-February and early March and although we could see the improvements creeping in over the last 3 or so fixtures it wasn’t until last Sunday that we saw the click we had been waiting for, everything just seemed to settle again, and the team went back to playing as slick and technically as they used to, but in the new formation and with a new drive and ethos.

“We’ve extended training sessions, offered bespoke support to individuals and we’ve upped the media game once more and I hope that this support with aid in improving mindset and on pitch performances.

“There’s a real buzz again after last week’s performance, the team know how worthy they are of a place in the final, and I think that the result showed them just how capable they are. We will all take that into Sunday’s performance and look to dominate once more.”

For Sunday’s game we have highlighted Maidstone United’s Anya Carroll as a potential danger. You may think her 6 goals this season isn’t anything special. However, she has obtained these goals in 6 starts for the club this season and 3 substitute appearances, as well as earning a player of the match performance on the way. This makes her the obvious threat for Sunday for the Stones.

For Margate we have picked Paige Godden this week. Paige is a striker who can sometimes go under the radar through a match, but her hold up play and clinical finishing, at times has earned the team many points this season. Paige is currently the 7th top scorer in the division with a nice 11 goals in 14 starts. Paige was on the scoresheet last time out against Parkwood Rangers scoring a well poked shot from outside the box high into the goal assisted by Esmee Kew-Stroud.

Margate v Maidstone Untied – Last 5 results:

•Margate Women 1-2 Maidstone United – SECWFL Premier Division - (11/02/24)

Goal(s): Abbie Luby

•Margate Women 6-0 Maidstone United – Womens FA Cup - (10/09/23)

Goal(s): Holly Enright x2, Paige Godden, Esmee Kew-Stroud, Rebecca Niblett

•Margate Ladies 2-5 Maidstone United – Spring Round Robin - (09/05/21)

Goal(s): Wiktoria Bukowska, Lacey Spriggs

•Maidstone United 2-3 Margate Ladies – Division 1 East - (18/10/20)

Goal(s): Kara Richardson x2, Nicole Adams

•Maidstone United 4-1 Margate Ladies – Division 1 East - (29/09/19)

Goal(s): Kara Richardson

Admission:

Adults - £2

Under 16s – FREE

STADIUM ADDRESS:

JAMES WHATMAN WAY

MAIDSTONE

ME14 1LQ

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