Match Reports

On an afternoon of glorious April sunshine, the Mavericks and Montpelier Villa cancelled each other out in a somewhat untidy affair, and the match ended all square at 1-1.

Both goals came in the first half. Jesse Burbridge opened the scoring for the visitors in the 19th minute, slotting the ball home into the bottom corner, past the outstretched hands of Mavericks’ goalkeeper Naythan Bryson.

Captain Dean Sherwood equalised in the 32nd minute from a free-kick at the far end. Villa’s goalkeeper Sonny Lucas may have got his fingertips on the ball but was unable to prevent the ball from sailing into the top corner. Dean has now scored 10 league goals this season, including five in the last four matches, mostly from dead-ball situations.

The second half ebbed and flowed with neither side able to create any meaningful goal-scoring opportunities. The visitors’ attempts were woeful, and for their part the Mavericks were unable to capitalise, and the match petered out, not with a bang but a whimper.

Mavericks: Bryson, J.Younger, SaCastro, Sherwood, A.Younger, Webber, Kingston, McGill, Hills, Hunt, Appleton.

Subs used: Nicholls, Puddephatt, Sparkes.

Att: 95

Keith. 

On an afternoon of high drama both on and off the pitch, the Mavericks earned a 2-2 draw against local rivals Wick in quite memorable fashion. The thunderous clouds, driving rain and hailstones eventually gave way to a clear blue sky, underneath which the players provided excellent entertainment for the sizeable crowd.

The Mavericks got off to the best possible start when Marcus Puddephatt fired home in the 1st minute, and the first 20 minutes belonged to the Mavericks.

Wick fought back and Joshua Irish equalised in the 26th minute, converting a low cross from the right at the clubhouse end. The visitors almost took the lead a few minutes later but Mavericks goalkeeper Naythan Bryson saved acrobatically from Harry Williams, tipping the ball over the crossbar.

Irish did however put Wick 2-1 ahead in the 50th minute with a low strike across the face of goal into the far corner, and suddenly the Mavericks were staring defeat in the face.

But in the 75th minute, following a corner, the ball bobbled around in the six yard box before Alex Webber got the final touch and crashed the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

In a dramatic finale, the Mavericks were awarded a penalty and captain Dean Sherwood took responsibility, placing the ball carefully on the spot. He would probably be the first to admit it wasn't the best struck penalty, and allowed Keelan Belcher to make a comfortable save, diving to his right.

Mavericks: Bryson, J.Younger, SaCastro, Sherwood, A.Younger, Webber, Kingston, McGill, Harding, Puddephatt, Appleton.

Subs used: Sparkes, Nicholls, Hanley. 

Att: 133

Keith. 

The Mavericks fought back from a goal down at the interval to take a 2-1 lead in the second half, only to see Selsey get a late equaliser on 90+5 minutes. 

It was a disappointing end to the match but overall the Mavericks can be pleased with their night's work. Selsey are a tough side to beat at home, so to return home with a 2-2 draw should be viewed as a positive result. 

Harry Fox gave Selsey the lead in the 40th minute, but two goals midway through the second half from Danny Kingston and Luis SaCastro edged the Mavericks in front. 

The killer goal was a Thomas Blamire header deep into stoppage time. 

Congratulations to Mavericks captain Dean Sherwood who made his 150th appearance for the club.

Att: 90

Keith. 

The Mavericks were off to a flyer when, after just 20 seconds, Marcus Puddephatt outsmarted a defender and set up Dan Hills, who crashed the ball into the net. 

Captain Dean Sherwood made it 2-0 from the penalty spot in the 20th minute, and the Mavericks were coasting. Drew McGill however was sin-binned on 35 minutes and his absence was greatly missed in the run-up to the interval. Kieron Joseph pulled a goal back for the home side and at half-time the Mavericks lead was cut to 2-1. 

Alfold pressed for an equaliser in the second half but a combination of poor finishing and excellent defending kept them at bay. Puddephatt put the game to bed in the 85th minute, rounding the keeper and slotting home with aplomb.

Att. 81

Keith. 

This was an excellent game of football between the two best sides in the division, and on the night Roffey emerged as deserving winners, albeit with a touch of good fortune along the way.

It was clear from the outset that both teams were intent on playing attacking football, making for an exciting 90 minutes for the sizeable crowd of 115 who had turned out on a chilly February night.

There were chances galore at both ends but both goalkeepers - Naythan Bryson of the Mavericks and Claudio Boakye of Roffey - made a series of fine saves.

George Cousins was denied by Bryson in the first half, and Dan Hills missed a sitter after the interval, poking the ball wide when it looked easier to score.

Roffey took the lead in the 40th minute with a controversial penalty when Andrew Younger was adjudged to have brought down Devon Fender. From the touchline it looked as though Younger had played the ball, but the referee thought otherwise. Roffey captain Ricardo Fernandes scored from the spot, although Bryson was unlucky. He managed to get a hand on the ball and pushed it onto the post, but the ball rolled over the line.

Fender made it 2-0 in the 55th minute, firing across the face of goal into the bottom corner, and in the 90th minute Cousins completed the scoring from close range.

The Mavericks had lost but certainly gave the visitors a run for their money. Dean Sherwood was magnificent in midfield, and Luis SaCastro hardly put a foot wrong all night.

Mavericks: Bryson, J.Younger, SaCastro, Sherwood, A.Younger, Webber, Kingston, Simpson, Hills, Hunt, Appleton.

Subs used : Puddephatt, DeVall, Nicholls, Harding.

Keith. 

The Mavericks ground out a 1-0 victory over a stubborn Alfold side on a chilly overcast afternoon at Lyons Way. In truth, the game was nothing much to write home about, but the main objective was to obtain three points, and that was achieved.

The Mavericks defenders were outstanding. Andrew Younger, Alex Webber and Luis SaCastro snuffed out most of Alfold’s attempts at goal, whilst goalkeeper Mac Scott, making his first appearance of the season, kept a clean sheet and made a series of fine saves. In the 11th minute he saved well from Jammal John, and in the second half he made a brilliant point-blank save from Karim Elmellas.

Captain Dean Sherwood and Drew McGill controlled the midfield, and Dan Hills had another excellent match without getting on the score-sheet.

Liam Appleton scored the only goal, drilling the ball low and hard into the net in the 24th minute.

The Mavericks would have felt more comfortable with the cushion of a second goal, and SaCastro almost obliged late in the game with a dazzling run from midfield.

Mavericks: Scott, J.Younger, SaCastro, Sherwood, A.Younger, Webber, Puddephatt, McGill, Hills, Hunt, Appleton.

Subs used: Simpson, Hanley, Sparkes 

Att: 76

Keith. 

The Mavericks ended the year with a convincing win over Chessington & Hook United, on a breezy afternoon at Lyons Way. It was another excellent team performance from a settled and assured side who dominated proceedings for most of the match.

The visitors started brightly. In the 7th minute, David Gabor’s well flighted effort was tipped over the crossbar by Naythan Bryson in the Mavericks’ goal. But the Mavericks were soon surging forward and took the lead on 15 minutes when a fierce strike from Brad Hunt flew into the net. Chessington goalkeeper Andrew Osei managed to get his fingertips on the ball, but it had been struck with such power he had little chance of preventing a goal.

Dan Hills made it 2-0 in the 40th minute, slotting home from close range. There may have been a hint of offside. Certainly Osei thought so, and argued with both the referee and linesman on the touchline for a full two minutes. It was all to no avail and the goal stood.

The Mavericks continued to outplay the visitors in the second half. In defence, Alex Webber was outstanding, winning everything that came his way, although it may seem unfair to single out one player after such a cohesive team effort.

Mavericks: Bryson, J.Younger, SaCastro, Sherwood, A.Younger, Webber, Kingston, Nicholls, Hills, Hunt, Appleton.

Subs used: Thoms, Harding, Simpson, D.Nagle 

Att: 105

Keith. 

The Mavericks cruised to their biggest win in four years by sweeping aside lowly East Preston 6-1 at Lashmar Road. The weather, as they say in Scotland, was “dreich”, dull, overcast and drizzling with fine rain - none of which bothered Dan Hills who scored a magnificent hat-trick.

Hills it was who opened the scoring in the 13th minute, showing great determination to beat EP goalkeeper Josh Harwood from close range. The Mavericks were awarded a penalty in the 32nd minute, and captain Dean Sherwood stepped up and crashed the ball into the roof of the net.

The home side pulled a goal back shortly after the interval when Nahum Green hit a screamer from the right wing into the far corner of Naythan Bryson’s net, but Hills scored his second goal on 58 minutes, rounding off a fluent passing move, to put the Mavericks 3-1 ahead.

EP then squandered a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit when Kris Harding blazed a 73rd minute penalty miles over the crossbar. It was almost comical.

Hills completed his hat-trick in the 77th minute, gleefully smashing the ball home from a corner, and in the 81st minute Liam Appleton made it 5-1 with a superb goal, racing down the left flank before planting the ball firmly into the bottom corner.

Substitute Sean Culley, making his first appearance since the opening day of the season, completed the rout in stoppage time, calmly slotting home for goal number six.

Mavericks: Bryson, J. Younger, Sa Castro, Sherwood, A.Younger, Webber, Kingston, Nicholls, Hills, Hunt, Appleton. 

Subs used: McGill, Simpson, Culley, Thoms. 

Att: 65

Keith. 

After two successive defeats the Mavericks returned to winning ways with a well deserved 2-0 win over their Surrey opponents. It was a chilly old night at Lyons Way but the two teams provided excellent entertainment for the 64 hardy souls who turned up.

Godalming looked to be the stronger side early on, pegging the Mavericks back in their own half of the field at the clubhouse end. The defence however, weathered the storm and thereafter the the two sides were fairly equally matched.

The Mavericks took the lead in the 40th minute courtesy of a freak own-goal, when an almost comical mix-up between defender and goalkeeper saw the ball trickle over the goal-line. Dan Hills was in attendance to make sure the ball was goal-bound, but would be the first to admit his boot was nowhere near the ball.

It was 2-0 in the 70th minute. A Dean Sherwood corner was headed home by Alex Webber for his second goal of the season.

Godalming had their chances but a combination of mediocre finishing and competent goalkeeping by Naythan Bryson kept them out, and at the final whistle the Mavericks could celebrate the three well-earned points. It is a pleasure to watch the Mavericks these days. Captain Dean Sherwood leads by example with his desire and commitment, and the other players have responded accordingly.

Mavericks: Bryson, J.Younger, Sa Castro, Sherwood, A.Younger, Webber, Kingston, Nicholls, Hills, Hunt, Appleton.

Subs used: Harding, Simpson, Puddephatt

Att: 64

Keith. 

A game that was heading for a goalless draw changed dramatically in the third minute of stoppage time when, from a corner at the clubhouse end, Arundel scored the solitary goal, robbing the Mavericks of what would have been a well deserved draw.

In modern football parlance, the Mavericks’ players and supporters were “gutted”.

On a bitterly cold afternoon, the two teams played some attractive football throughout, in a match that ebbed and flowed with chances at both ends. Neither side however, seemed able to breach the opposition's defence.

Liam Appleton came closest to opening the scoring in the 13th minute, but his goal-bound effort was headed off the line. At the other end, Mavericks goalkeeper Naythan Bryson made two good saves to deny Liam Brady and Jack Ratcliffe.

Captain Dean Sherwood and Alex Webber have made more appearances (18), than anyone else in a Mavericks’ shirt this season, and both were having an excellent match.

Arundel’s goal was scored by Charlie Robinson, who somehow managed to bundle the ball over the line to break the Mavericks’ hearts.

Mavericks: Bryson, Thoms, Sa Castro, Sherwood, A. Younger, Webber, Kingston, McGill, Hills, Hunt, Appleton.

Subs used: Harding, Barker, Simpson. 

Att: 83

Keith. 

After three weeks of inactivity because of Storm Ciaran and the deluge of rain that had accompanied it, the Mavericks met Forest Row at Lyons Way, and the two teams battled to an entertaining 1-1 draw.

It was a game that could have gone either way with both teams having dominant spells, but ultimately a draw was probably a fair result.

Forest Row started the game well, with Matt Burroughs forcing a good save from Mavericks goalkeeper Kurt Jenner-Swain, diving low to his left. The Mavericks however, slowly began to take control. Dan Hills was having a fine first half, tracking back to steal the ball from Forest Row’s Alex Evans before laying the ball off to Liam Appleton. Hills had already come close to scoring with a header from a corner at the far end, and in the 34th minute he was presented with another opportunity. This time he headed home at the near post, and at the interval the Mavericks led 1-0.

The visitors started the second half in attacking mode, forcing Luis Sa Castro to make a well-timed goal-line clearance. But in the 55th minute Steve Major levelled the score at 1-1, and despite their best efforts the Mavericks had to settle for a draw. The Mavericks’ players looked disappointed at the final whistle, but they had fought hard all afternoon against a good side, and in truth, could hold their heads up high.

Mavericks: Jenner-Swain, J. Younger, Sa Castro, Sherwood, A. Younger, Webber, Kingston, Nicholls, Hills, Hunt, Appleton.

Subs used: Simpson, Thoms, Harding 

Att: 76

Keith. 

The Mavericks and Selsey provided the 82 spectators with an excellent game of football on a mild, dry evening at Lyons Way. The sheer pace of the game and skill levels exhibited by both teams was breathtaking at times, but at the final whistle the home side emerged as deserving winners. Every single Mavericks’ player worked tirelessly all night, and made telling contributions to the 3-0 victory. 

Taylor Harding opened the scoring in the 8th minute with a clinical finish at the clubhouse end, and the same player made it 2-0 from close range in the 12th minute.

Selsey weren’t done however, and as the half wore on they fought their way back into the game. There were some anxious moments but the Mavericks’ defence held out well. In the 44th minute Naythan Bryson saved well from an Evan Harris strike, and at the interval the Mavericks led 2-0.

The Mavericks needed another goal, and the excellent Liam Appleton duly obliged in the 65th minute, planting the ball firmly into the far corner to put the game to bed.

It had been a superb game of non-league football, played in the right spirit, and was a fine advert for the Southern Combination Football League.

Mavericks Bryson, McGill, J. Younger, Sherwood, A. Younger, Webber, Kingston, Sellick, Harding, Hunt, Appleton.

Subs used : Hanley, Sparkes, Nicholls

The Mavericks eased past a stubborn Billingshurst side on a beautiful Autumn afternoon at Lyons Way, scoring four good goals without reply, without ever looking to be in any real trouble.

Brad Hunt opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, crashing the ball home off the underside of the bar, although at this stage the visitors were very much in the game. Poor finishing however, and the Mavericks’ well organised defence kept the score at 1-0 until just before half-time.

The Mavericks then scored twice in stoppage time. Dan Hills steered the ball into the bottom far corner on 45+1 minutes and Alex Webber, with his first goal of the season, made it 3-0 on 45+4 minutes, getting the final touch as the ball flew across the face of goal from a free-kick.

Billingshurst were reduced to ten men in the 55th minute when Ollie Humphries was shown a second yellow card for a diabolical kick out at Hugo Blacklaw-Taylor. Danny Kingston capitalised on the man advantage by scoring the best goal of the match, waltzing his way through the defence before slotting the ball past Ollie Courtney in the Billingshurst goal in the 68th minute.

There was still time for Billingshurst substitute Jake Chadwick to be dismissed in front of the main stand. The red mist came down and he was shown a straight red card for violent conduct following an incident with Mavericks’ captain Dean Sherwood.

Mavericks: Bryson, Tsoungui, J. Younger, Sherwood, A. Younger, Webber, Kingston, Nicholls, Hills, Hunt, Blacklaw-Taylor. 

Subs used: Thoms, Hanley, Barker, Sparkes.

Keith. 

On a glorious, late summer's afternoon, the Mavericks returned from Oakwood with another well earned three points. The 1-0 victory moved the team up to third place in the league, two points behind Roffey and Dorking, but crucially, with a game in hand on both. Moreover, the Mavericks remained unbeaten with a record of won 4, drawn 2, lost 0.

The only goal came in the second half when Liam Appleton volleyed home at the far post in the 58th minute. He has been a revelation thus far. It is early days, but he is already the clubs leading goal scorer with five goals in all competitions.

The only blemish of the afternoon was a yellow picked up by Dan Hills, but this should not detract from a fine all round team performance.

Mavericks: Jenner-Swain, J. Younger, Sa Castro, Sherwood, A.Younger, Webber, Nicholls, Kingston, Hunt, Hills, Appleton.

Subs used: Puddephatt, Sparkes. 

Att: 38

Keith. 

The Mavericks cruised to a 5-1 victory over East Preston on a pleasant afternoon at Lyons Way, and in doing so moved to top spot in Division One.

Captain Dean Sherwood opened the scoring in the 9th minute direct from a corner. It's not the first time he has achieved this feat, he did exactly the same thing last season in an RUR Cup match against AFC Varndeanians. The Mavericks won that game 1-0, but this time there would be four more goals!

Liam Appleton (28 mins) and Brad Hunt (33 mins) increased the lead to 3-0 before former Mavericks’ player Joe Patching pulled a goal back just before half-time.

Hunt scored his second goal in the 50th minute to restore the Mavericks’ three goal cushion, and Dan Hills, who has found his scoring touch this season, completed the rout in the 65th minute.

Mavericks: Jenner-Swain, A.Younger, Webber, Nicholls, Sa Castro, Sherwood, Kingston, J.Younger, Appleton, Hunt, Hills.

Subs: Barker, Ebling, Harding, Puddephatt, Thoms.

Att: 94

Keith. 

The Mavericks maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a magnificent 3-1 victory over Wick on a pleasant afternoon at Crabtree Park.

It was a solid team performance against a stubborn Wick side, with every member of the squad putting in a good shift. There were no weaknesses. The Mavericks showed more desire and commitment than their opponents, whose heads visibly dropped once they fell 2-0 behind.

With Sean Culley out injured, Dan Hills started for the Mavericks and made an immediate impact, scoring after just 4 minutes. A defensive blunder allowed Hills to take full advantage, expertly guiding the ball past the advancing Wick goalkeeper Keelan Belcher.

Brad Hunt made it 2-0 in the 36th minute, crashing the ball into the net at the far post, and the Mavericks were well on their way. Wick’s best chance of the half fell to former Worthing United man James Thurgar in the 45th minute, but his fine effort flew just over Ed Cooper’s crossbar.

Liam Appleton scored with a well-taken low shot in the 47th minute, and the Mavericks were almost home and dry.

George Bingham’s goal in the 81st minute was no more than a consolation for a deflated Wick side.

Mavericks: Cooper, DeVall, SaCastro, Sherwood, Webber, A.Younger, Kingston, Nicholls, Appleton, Hills, Hunt. Subs: Harding, Sparkes, McGill, Thoms.

Arundel and the Mavericks battled to an entertaining 0-0 draw on a mild evening at Mill Road. The two evenly matched sides both created chances but at the end of 90 minutes a draw was just about the right result.

Sean Culley and Callum Thoms had early attempts at goal but both players were off target.

The best chance of the first half fell to the home side. In the 40th minute Matt Storm fired across the face of goal only to see the ball strike the foot of the post. Ryan Quirke somehow contrived to miss the rebound, shooting wide when it looked easier to score.

In the 55th minute Culley came close to scoring for the Mavericks, but his excellent strike flew just over the crossbar. At this point in the game, the Mavericks were on top and it seemed only a matter of time before a goal would arrive. But Arundel were defending well and still looked dangerous on the break.

Ed Cooper however, starting in goal for the Mavericks, had a fine match. He dealt confidently with everything that came his way and deservedly kept a clean sheet.

Mavericks: Cooper, DeVall, Sa Castro, Sherwood, A. Younger, Webber, Kingston, Sellick, Thoms, Culley, Appleton. Subs: Hills, Ebling, Sparkes, Puddephatt, J. Younger.