Folkestone’s U16 Boys opened their season in emphatic style at Three Hills, putting on a dominant, free-flowing display of hockey on a sweltering afternoon to secure an 7-2 win over Marden Russets.

What made the performance all the more impressive was how quickly the newly assembled side gelled. With many of the squad playing together for the very first time. The squad received a fantastic boost from across the age groups and schools. Leo, Herbie, and Will all stepped up seamlessly from the U14s, showing great composure and work rate against older opposition. Meanwhile, Imran and Ronik joined from Duke of York’s to help bolster the line up, providing immediate quality and physical presence across the pitch.

Despite the soaring temperatures, Folkestone controlled the tempo from the opening whistle. Their passing was crisp, their movement off the ball was sharp, and their attacking transitions tore through the Marden Russets defense. Will led the charge with a brilliant hat-trick (3 goals), supported by strikes from Joff (1), Jake (1), Herbie (1), and Thomas ‘Mousse’ Barnes (1).

The 7-2 scoreline fully reflected a commanding team effort and sets a high bar for the rest of the season.