On 21 September 2025, Maidstone United KYL U14 hosted Fisher Piranhas U14 at The Gallagher Stadium in a league fixture that kicked off at 12:30pm. The home side delivered a commanding performance to secure a 6-2 victory over their visitors in a 70-minute contest played 11 aside.
Maidstone United lined up in a 4-2-1-3 formation, deploying Michael Mannerings in goal. The defensive line consisted of Blake Vince at right back, Liam Rich and Eddie Ambrose as central defenders, and Max Carney on the left. In midfield, Tosan Okomi and Bernie Farley operated as the two central midfielders, with Rylee Rodgers playing just ahead of them in an attacking midfield role. The front three featured Zane Clements on the right, Zaph Kouassi as the central striker, and Sawyer Booth on the left. The substitutes available were Tank Evans, Tommy Monaghan, and Danny Lowe. Bertie Hayward and Harrison Smith showed their support from the technical area as they continue their recovery from injury, with Cruz Robinson also in attendance to support.
From the outset, Maidstone showed defensive solidity and aggression. Within two minutes, Tosan Okomi made an early block to thwart a Fisher Piranhas attack. This defensive resilience was quickly followed by a flurry of interventions in the fourth minute, with Rylee Rodgers executing a crucial tackle, Okomi again winning a tackle, and Booth intercepting possession, signalling Maidstone’s intent to dominate.
The breakthrough came swiftly in the fourth minute when Max Carney delivered a corner that found Sawyer Booth, who finished from close range with his right foot to give Maidstone the lead. The home side’s defenders continued to assert themselves, with Liam Rich winning a vital header in the fifth minute and Eddie Ambrose making a timely tackle a minute later.
Maidstone’s attacking play was fluid, highlighted by a slide rule pass from Booth in the seventh minute, quickly followed by a long pass from Kouassi. This combination paid dividends moments later as Kouassi set up Zane Clements, who expertly finished with his left foot in the eighth minute to double the lead.
Attempts to extend the advantage continued, with Bernie Farley firing wide but providing a clever flick pass in the ninth minute, and Kouassi also shooting wide shortly after. In the twelfth minute, Okomi’s slide rule pass maintained the pressure on Fisher’s defence.
Defensively, Ambrose blocked a shot in the thirteenth minute, and Okomi cleared danger soon after. Liam Rich’s tackle in the fifteenth minute further disrupted the visitors’ rhythm. The home side’s dominance was rewarded again in the eighteenth minute when Booth scored his second goal, this time assisted by Bernie Farley, finishing close range with his right foot.
The game saw early substitutions in the 21st minute as Tank Evans replaced Farley and Tommy Monaghan came on for Booth, signalling Maidstone’s intent to maintain energy and control. Kouassi’s shot was saved in the 24th minute, but Okomi’s defensive header helped keep the visitors at bay. Okomi then delivered a long pass in the 25th minute, setting the stage for another goal.
In the 30th minute, Kouassi struck a long-range effort with his right foot, finding the net to extend Maidstone’s lead. Max Carney’s high attempt in the 31st minute was a near miss. Fisher Piranhas pulled one back in the 33rd minute, reducing the deficit before the half-time whistle at 35 minutes.
The second half began with Maidstone’s goalkeeper Mannerings clearing danger in the 36th minute, and Blake Vince blocking an effort a minute later. Max Carney’s high shot in the 38th minute and Kouassi’s wide attempt in the 40th minute showed Maidstone’s continued attacking threat. Substitutions followed with Bernie Farley returning for Zane Clements at 40 minutes, and Sawyer Booth re-entering for Max Carney at 41 minutes.
Kouassi had another shot saved in the 42nd minute, but Farley’s slide rule pass created chances in quick succession. Liam Rich cleared danger in the 43rd minute, and Farley’s subsequent slide rule pass led to a further opportunity. Kouassi’s shot was again saved at this time. Okomi intercepted in the 44th minute, and Monaghan’s long pass created a chance moments later. Kouassi’s slide rule pass in the 45th minute and Booth’s wide attempt rounded off a period of sustained pressure.
Bernie Farley’s slide rule pass in the 46th minute and Rylee Rodgers’ long pass in the 47th minute both created clear chances, culminating in Booth scoring his third goal of the match from a close-range cross by Rodgers. Maidstone’s attacking momentum was relentless.
Attempts from Okomi and Farley were high in the 48th and 49th minutes respectively, but Fisher Piranhas managed to score again in the 51st minute, keeping the contest alive. Liam Rich’s tackle in the 52nd minute and Danny Lowe’s introduction for Blake Vince in the 54th minute reinforced Maidstone’s defensive efforts. Tommy Monaghan cleared danger in the 55th minute, and Liam Rich’s long pass in the 57th minute set up further attacking opportunities.
Sawyer Booth’s shot was saved in the 57th minute, while Ambrose’s headed clearance in the 58th minute and Rodgers’ blocked effort in the 59th minute prevented Fisher from gaining a foothold. Mannerings made a crucial catch in the 60th minute to deny the visitors.
Substitutions continued with Zane Clements replacing Kouassi and Max Carney returning for Okomi in the 62nd minute. Max Carney’s shot was saved in the 64th minute, and Ambrose’s long pass in the 65th minute helped maintain Maidstone’s attacking rhythm. Booth and Rodgers had shots saved in the 65th and 67th minutes respectively.
Bernie Farley sealed the scoring in the 67th minute with a close-range finish inside the box, rounding off a dominant display from Maidstone United KYL U14.
Throughout the match, Maidstone’s defensive discipline and attacking verve were evident, with Tosan Okomi’s tireless work in midfield earning him the player of the match accolade. The home side’s 4-2-1-3 formation allowed them to control the midfield and exploit the flanks effectively, resulting in a comprehensive 6-2 victory over Fisher Piranhas U14.
