Following a valuable lesson taught by Herne Bays "Development" Veterans last week, the Unicorns visited Gore Court for a late afternoon fixture at Westlands School, Sittingbourne. With schools breaking up the previous day, far flung destinations were on the cards for some of the usual squad - Amsterdam, Hawaii, Orlando, Southall. This meant we were down on our regular quota of development players, though the late fixture did mean we could be joined by Keaton making his season debut on pitch for the side. With the squad reduced, a number of previous Unicorns Alumni stepped up, showing to those lads who were able to play the pathway to the top of the club - Alex and Zak from the 1s, Daniel from the 2s and Dylan from the 3's. Barry Friend also made his Gravesham & Wellcome debut in goal, and Richard Parrett making his league debut for the Unicorns.

From the off, the Unicorns held their own against a side who two weeks earlier had gone to Herne Bay and won, with our distribution across the pitch having the opposition chase. The early chances were with the Unicorns, and a run by Keaton into the D was thwarted by their keeper, before another run was played across by Keaton, but the chance was unable to be finished by Oliver. As the half went on, Gore Court were able to fashion some chances, driving runs into the Unicorns defensive half by their adults, but they were unable to get a finish - liberal free flowing umpiring helping their cause. The game went into half-time at 0-0, with the boys playing well. A half-time lesson in leadership from Alex roused the Unicorns for the second period.

The Unicorns carried on from before, though there were more opportunities at either end, though the away team were able to keep the opposition at arms length. Another opportunity fell to Oliver, but the defence was able to get back to block his effort. Fifteen minutes into the half, the Unicorns put Keaton clean through, before he was felled to the ground by a defender, and a Penalty Stroke was awarded. Keaton duly dispatched the ball into the goal. From here, the Unicorns began to dominate, the legs in the young team able to push hard, and soon after a short corner was awarded. With a little bit of pingpong in the D following the injection, Tom snuck in to slot the ball home at the back post. Now 2-0 up, Gore Court had to chase the game. Possession became the key, as the Unicorns held the ball at the back and in midfield. With five minutes to go, the Unicorns were awarded another Short Corner, and again Tom came up at the back post to score, putting the result to bed, with a 3-0 victory for the visiting team.

The boys were pleased with their days work, a Parkrun PB by Oliver, debut goals for Tom, and a Clean sheet+Goal Saturday for Keaton, and a clean sheet for Debutante Bazza. Following the game, both Attacker of the Day and Defender of the Day were closely contested battles. Tom pipping Oliver by 2 votes for Attacker of the Day, while Manraaj and Yuvan were tied for Defender of the Day - Manraaj being victorious in the high stakes battle of Rock, Paper, Scissors that followed. The Unicorns go into the half-term break with 6 points from their first five games. They return on 01 November away to Old Williamsonians Development.