Maze in seventh heaven with first win

Maze put a troublesome start to the season behind them on Saturday as they registered their first league win.

The Maze returned to a 4-1-4-1 formation and it paid dividends as right from the kick off they were looking extremely dangerous.

Ten minutes in Sammy Davidson beat the offside trap and rounded the goalkeeper only to be upended, Penalty to the Maze. Thomas Neill stepped up and although in goals for this game, continued to be the number 1 penalty taker, and calmly gave his side the lead they deserved for their early pressure, 1-0.

This kick started Broomhill into a reaction and they started to play some neat passing football themselves but without creating any clear cut chances.

On 20 minutes though, they got the equaliser when from a throw in Mitchell Bowman was seemingly fouled by the Broomhill striker but the ref played on and the forward finished the chance with a neat chip over the Maze’s keeper for 1-1.

Maze didn’t let this set back deter them as they kept up the pressure on the Broomhill back line and with 30 minutes on the clock they took the lead again when Sammy Davidson was again played in, by a beautifully weighted pass from Derek Wiggam and he collected the past smashed home from a narrow angle, 2-1.

With five minutes left to the half, Maze extended their lead further after some great work from Jordan Davidson on the left flank, when he cut inside and was brought down by the keeper for what would have undoubtedly been another penalty only the ref played a good advantage as the ball landed at Sammy Davidson’s feet and he was able to slot home for his second of the game and his 6th in the last three games.

Maze came out for the second half and were determined to make sure that previous post halftime horror shows would be extinguished and they would capitalise further on what had been a good first half display, and this was to be the case as five minutes in, a corner that was only half cleared fell to the feet of Jordan Davidson and he slammed the ball home from the edge of the area for 4-1.

Maze didn’t have to wait too long for their next goal when Stuart Stevenson replaced Sammy Davidson and he made an immediate impact after the Broomhill keeper tried to play out from the back and inadvertently passed the ball straight to strikers feet and he lobbed him from a tight angle for 5-1.

Maze were now well in control on the game, but Broomhill would keep fighting to try and put some more respect on the score and made it 5-2 with still 30 minutes to play.

Although any hope of a comeback was wiped out in the 10 minute spell that followed when Jordan Davidson made it 6-2 and then following a second foul in a short space of time the Broomhill centre back received his marching orders.

This was quickly followed by Stuart Stevenson’s second of the game after a good run in which he beat two Broomhill defenders before slotting home under the onrushing keeper for 7-2.

With the game in injury time Broomhill would have the final word when after a misjudgement in the home goal from Thomas Neill, the striker took the ball around him and finished off the scoring for 7-3.

An enjoyable win for the Maze and a strong performance at both ends of the pitch from the lads, with some tireless work from everyone, the boys can hopefully take some great confidence from this and start to push on up the table in the coming weeks.

Team: Thomas Neill; Jack Snoddy; John Banks (c); Mitchell Bowman ; Derek Wiggam; Matt Johnson; Peter Smyth; Michael Johnson; Sammy Davidson; Darren Marshall; Jordan Davidson; Stuart Stevenson; Andy Crooks; Tristan Davidson.

Maze had no fixture last Saturday (19th), but will return to action on Saturday 26th September, with an away game to Seapatrick.