WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT
By Charlie Bradford…
Maidstone United Women 3
(Maidstone’s number 11 – 14, Maidstone’s number 8 – 76, Maidstone’s number 9 – 77)
Cray Wanderers Women 2
(Rivers 13, Bone 51)
Pre-Season Friendly
Sunday 31st August 2025, 3:15 PM @ The Gallagher Stadium
After a bright start to pre-season, Cray Wanderers’ Women’s side came into today’s final pre-season friendly having shipped sixteen goals in their past two games, both of which at home, and so they were looking to regather themselves and some form ahead of what is sure to be another tough and exciting season which starts next week…
For now though their attention was focused on opponents Maidstone United – a side who will play in the same league as Cray Wanderers Women next season – the South East Counties Women’s Football League Premier Division.
Last season Cray finished third and Maidstone fourth so today would be a tough battle for the Wands and a test perhaps of their promotion ambitions.
You may have seen in the build up to today’s game that the women were down to play Espom & Ewell Women today but that got cancelled yesterday so we thank Maidstone United for hosting us in a fixture arranged at the last minute.
It was a game that ebbed and flowed with Maidstone having the first chance when their number 11 went to lob Cray goalkeeper Jess Cox but saw her effort caught.
Cray then had a good spell of chances – Olivia Gregory having a free kick find the roof of the net, and Millie Main clearing the bar with an attempted lob before having another effort well saved for a corner.
Eventually Cray took the lead in the 13th minute when a ball across the box from the right saw Ellie Rivers have a simple task of tapping the ball home at the far left post.
Maidstone however equalised just a minute later – their number 11 heading a cross from the right back to where it came from and into the bottom right hand corner.
Both teams then seemed to manage half chances for the remainder of the first half with Maidstone’s best chance being their number 9 rounding Jess Cox before seeing her effort cleared from in front of the line by Emily Symonds before Cray’s Millie Main struck down the throat of Maidstone’s goalkeeper.
HT: 1-1.
Cray needed just six minutes of the second half to take the lead in the game once again when an initial effort hit the left post but Maddie Bone was on hand for a tap in to an unguarded net.
Maidstone however responded and, after their number 9 cut off the right but saw her shot caught by Jess Cox, they equalised in the 76th minute when a ball over the top was ran onto by their number 8 who superbly lobbed Jess Cox from 20 yards via the inside of the left post.
Barely a minute later Maidstone scored again when Cray were guilty of overplaying and were punished when Maidstone’s number 9 placed a shot into the top right corner via the finger tips of Jess Cox.
Maidstone could have added to that scoreline when their number 23 dragged a shot past the right post but they just about shaded a tightly fought contest that will stand both sides in good stead for the league campaign ahead.
FT: 3-2.
