This weeks guest reporter: Richard Moon
The Minnis, Smarden
There is nothing that the people of Smarden enjoy more than a local derby of a Sunday morning, so it was no surprise to see a crowd of 10+ flanking the Cornes Meadow pitch this morning. Smarden, off the back of eight consecutive victories (equalling a longstanding club record), were expecting an easy game against their struggling rivals, Egerton, a competent if not spectacular outfit looking for their first win of the domestic campaign.
A frosty pitch and crowd congestion around the eastside of the pavilion delayed kick off for approximately 15 minutes. Once underway, the game was contested at a frantic pace, with misplaced passes and flying tackles. Thuggery is employed as a matter of course for some members of the Troggs team and it was players in the mould of George Dyke and Tony Carty, which shone in the opening period. A moment of quality was required to break the deadlock and it inevitably came in the shape of Richard Moon, who drove the ball home from 20 yards on 18 minutes. Egerton upped the tempo and caused Smarden several problems in the latter period of the first half, with the impressive Rob Keeper making some speculator stops to deny an increasing frustrated Egerton unit. That said Smarden can also regard themselves as unlucky not to have extended their lead before half-time, with Andy Adamson and Moon, both guilty of missing gilt-edged chances.
Egerton started the second half strongly and it was a handled Tony Carty pass back, which handed the travelling team an opportunity to equalise on 65 minutes. Following robust negotiations with the official, Tim Archer, a free-kick was awarded and subsequently despatched with glee into the top right hand corner to delight the travelling support with a well deserved equaliser. The pitch was heavy and mistakes were becoming increasing common as the second half progressed. There was a flurry of chances at both ends in what had developed into an open game. Again some great keeping from Rob had kept Troggs on terms, while Moon, Windibank and Adamson all missed good opportunities to regain the advantage for the Smarden-based outfit. It was eventually a brave Ben Gibbs tackle on 74 minutes, which set up the winner, releasing Adamson, who made no mistake from 6 yards. Troggs saw out the game with the passion, if not the finesse, that the supporters have come to expect from a young side, widely tipped for promotion this season.
MOM went to Richard Moon, who has always been a keen advocate of deciding such awards on effort rather than ability. Keeper Rob and George Dyke can feel rightly aggrieved not to have received the nod this week.
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