On 5th October 2025, Maidstone United KYL U14 welcomed Phoenix to Cornwallis Academy for a league home match kicking off at 12:00pm. The 11-a-side contest lasted 70 minutes plus injury time, with Maidstone United emphatically securing a 5-1 victory over their visitors.
Maidstone United lined up in a 4-1-2-3 formation, deploying Ollie Higginson in goal. The defensive line consisted of Blake Vince at right back, today’s Captain Liam Rich and Tommy Monaghan as central defenders, and Max Carney on the left. Sitting just ahead of the defence was Tosan Okomi as the holding central midfielder. Ahead of him, Bernie Farley occupied the right attacking midfield role while Harrison Smith took up the left attacking midfield position. The front three featured Rylee Rodgers on the right wing, Zaph Kouassi leading the line as striker, and Sawyer Booth on the left wing. Substitutes named for Maidstone were Eddie Ambrose, Zane Clements, Tank Evans, and Bertie Hayward.
The 4-1-2-3 setup promised a balanced approach with defensive solidity provided by the back four and Okomi’s shielding role, while the midfield duo of Farley and Smith were expected to link play and supply the front three with chances. Rodgers, Kouassi, and Booth were tasked with stretching the Phoenix defence and converting opportunities.
From the outset, Maidstone showed defensive resilience. Within two minutes, Liam Rich executed a crucial tackle to halt an early Phoenix threat. Both Bernie Farley and Blake Vince then cleared headers in quick succession in the 5th minute, demonstrating early aerial dominance. Zaph Kouassi also contributed defensively with a tackle at the 6th minute, immediately followed by Farley’s incisive slide rule pass that set up a chance for Sawyer Booth, whose shot was saved.
Maidstone took the lead in the 8th minute when Tosan Okomi unleashed a spectacular screamer from outside the box with his right foot, sending the ball flying past the keeper. The momentum continued as Rylee Rodgers and Harrison Smith combined with slide rule and long passes respectively in the 9th minute, maintaining pressure on Phoenix. Tommy Monaghan and Max Carney contributed defensively with a tackle and interception in the 10th and 11th minutes, while Ollie Higginson made a vital interception to keep the clean sheet intact.
Rich was again prominent with a tackle in the 12th minute and a long pass a minute later, which Okomi intercepted to regain possession. Bernie Farley’s attempt went high at 14 minutes, and Phoenix responded with a goal in the 15th minute, briefly halving the deficit. As the game re-started, Liam Rich quickly cleared danger and Harrison Smith’s long pass at 16 minutes and Okomi’s long pass at 17 minutes kept Maidstone on the front foot. Higginson’s save at 18 minutes preserved the lead.
A tactical change saw Eddie Ambrose replace Tommy Monaghan at 18 minutes due to an ongoing hamstring strain. Harrison Smith’s long pass at 20 minutes and Max Carney’s high attempt followed, with Higginson safely catching the ball. Blake Vince headed clear at 21 minutes, and Harrison Smith made a crucial tackle at 23 minutes. At 26 minutes, Zane Clements came on for Rylee Rodgers, and Max Carney cleared danger.
Zaph Kouassi’s pass at 27 minutes created a chance, though Sawyer Booth’s shot went wide at 28 minutes. Liam Rich headed clear at the same time. The pressure paid off in the 30th minute when Sawyer Booth scored from close range inside the box, assisted by Liam Rich who showed good intent to get on the end of a well delivered corner from Max Carney. Blake Vince cleared again at 31 minutes, and Zane Clements provided a slide rule pass at 33 minutes, with Max Carney’s flick creating another opportunity. Bernie Farley’s attempt went wide, and Liam Rich’s shot flew high at 34 minutes.
Half-time arrived at 35 minutes with Maidstone leading 2-1. Harrison Smith was replaced by Tank Evans at during the break.
Shortly after the break, Higginson made another critical full stretch save from a powerful shot keeping Phoenix at bay early on, while Zane Clements intercepted and Eddie Ambrose cleared. Bernie Farley’s shot was saved at 37 minutes, but moments later Zaph Kouassi scored inside the box from a pass by Farley, extending the lead. Farley continued to impress with a slide rule pass at the same minute. Max Carney headed clear at 39 minutes.
Kouassi’s shot was saved at 41 minutes, but he remained influential with a long pass at 42 minutes, supported by Blake Vince’s long pass. Liam Rich tackled at 43 minutes to thwart Phoenix, and Sawyer Booth was correctly flagged offside for a mistimed run at 44 minutes. Shortly after he was substituted by Rylee Rodgers.
Bernie Farley’s shot was saved at 47 minutes, with Blake Vince intercepting at 48 and Liam Rich clearing at 50 minutes. Eddie Ambrose intercepted and Higginson caught the ball at 51 minutes. Bernie Farley was replaced by Harrison Smith at 52 minutes, who then fired wide attempts at 53 and 54 minutes. Kouassi’s flick pass at 54 minutes created another chance. Tank Evans intercepted at 55 minutes, with Ambrose clearing again. Higginson produced another full stretch save at 56 minutes keeping the momentum.
Kouassi netted his second goal of the match inside the box at 58 minutes with a right-foot finish. Max Carney intercepted at 59 minutes, and Liam Rich blocked a clear chance at 61 minutes. Kouassi’s shot was saved at 62 minutes, alongside Harrison Smith’s saved and high attempts in the same minute. Bertie Hayward replaced Blake Vince at 63 minutes. Kouassi’s shot was saved again at 64 minutes, while Max Carney intercepted at 65 minutes. Sawyer Booth returned to the pitch for Rylee Rodgers at 65 minutes. Zane Clements made a tackle at 66 minutes, and Bernie Farley came back on for Kouassi at 68 minutes.
Harrison Smith’s high shot at 71 minutes was followed by a slide rule pass, with Tank Evans intercepting soon after. Bertie Hayward intercepted at 73 minutes, and Farley’s slide rule pass at 74 minutes created yet another chance. Booth’s high attempt followed, before Blake Vince re-entered the field for Max Carney at 74 minutes. Booth then scored a stunning screamer from outside the box with his right foot, assisted by Harrison Smith, sealing the emphatic 5-1 victory.
Liam Rich continued to defend resolutely with a tackle at 76 minutes, and Bertie Hayward cleared at 77 minutes to close out the match.
Maidstone United’s continued their unbeaten run with a commanding display, epitomised by the outstanding performance of striker Zaph Kouassi, who was deservedly named player of the match.
