Smarden overcame local rivals Headcorn in a 5-2 thriller at cornes Meadow -a derby match that Tim Archer called the most important game of the season. The game was not all as plain sailing as the scoreline suggests with the Den going 1-0 down before taking a 2-1 lead, but headcorn battled back into the game to draw level before smarden saw them off in the final quarter of the match. Goals from G.Dyke (left foot screamer), Lee Hollingsbee (headed corner), Marcus Pearce (nutmeg), returning hero Dave Law (not quite as good as Dykes left foot screamer) and Adam Roffey (pen) sent this seasons highest gate home happy.

For the Match report <click here>

The only other league game saw Leeds continue their impressive 100% start to the season with a 2-0 win over Addington to move further clear at the top from now 2nd placed smarden, although other teams have several games in hand....click for: <league table and results>

Dave Law (pictured right) has answered the calls of a smarden side struggling for goals and re-signed at his spiritual home -cornes meadow. The Question is - Will he stay??

Law has been the clubs top goalscorer for the past two seasons bagging over 50goals in the 2 years since his club record signing. Law attracted the attention of some big clubs and eventually accepted a pay-per-play offer from Lydd but has not been enjoying his time there as much as he hoped although things did turn round with a 2-1 victory over County Premier side Canterbury on saturday. It remains to be seen if the Law man will be staying for good but he is in the squad for the game against Headcorn and is hoping to line up alongside fellow high halden primary legend Paul Burt who is back from suspension but doubts also remain about his long term commitment to the club.

The news will delight the smarden faithfull who have seen their side struggle in front of goal including saturdays 1-1 draw with Hunton and with just 4 points from 4 league games players and fans alike will be hoping the return of the striking pair will be the spark needed to re-ignite this season and push smarden up the table from 7th. <forum reaction>

Elswhere in the league Leeds SV beat East Malling 2-1 to go top, Ditton drew 2-2 at Biddended in their opening fixture, Adington beat MPE 2-0 at home and Shepway beat Smardens next opponents Headcorn 7-3 at Grigg Lane. <league table and results>

Smarden fought back from 2 down to 2-2 only to lose it at death 4-2 away at Shepway. A 30 yard screamer from Gibbs and a 5 yard poke in from Eels got the Den back in the game but Smarden let the chance at a win and the point slip away going down 4-2 in the last ten minutes.

The result leaves Smarden with just 3 points from a possible 9 but there is no need for panic to set in yet and the Smarden faithfull are still hopefull of a resurgance, especially if Paul Burt returns soon from his suspension and the rumours of a Dave Law return have any truth in them. For match report see fixtures and results orclick here

Elsewhere in the league, Biddenden went down 2-1 to MPE and East Malling edged out Headcorn by the same score.

Leeds S.V. dumped Smarden out of the Paul Butcher challenge cup but the den put in a much better performance than last week and Arch insists he is still pleased. The smarden back line looked solid and were punished for just a single mistake. More worringly was Smarden lack of creativity failing to produce many clear cut chances until the last ten minutes.

Arch will be looking to build on this performance and hopefully come out on top next week against Yalding in the Benevolent Cup.

In the Maidstone Premier, the only game saw Hunton overcome last years winners Shepway 2-1 at home

Smarden were smashed 6-1 by Eccles in their second game of the season.To view the Match Report click here. Arch will be looking for a much better performance when Smarden face Leeds SV at home in the Cup this Saturday.

Smarden began there season by grinding out a 2-1 win over local rivals Biddenden with deadline day signing Paul Burt the hero.

To view the Match Report click here

Smarden pulled of the scalp of the summer when they unveiled long term transfer target Paul Burt shortly before kick off on saturday. Journey man striker Burt, a former Charlton youth player, had played a handfull of fixtures for Hamstreet and Biddenden last term but revealed his great friendship with playmaker Paul Newman had led to him putting pen to paper for the den. Many Fans and players alike had wondered where the goals would come from this season with last years leading scorer Dave Law sold to Lydd and Matt Dyke opting for a loan move to Bristol Uni FC, but the inspirational signing of Burt could well be the answer.

Burt made his debut on Saturday, putting in a solid performance and firing home the winner against biddenden. Burt faces a 35 day suspension starting next weekend, ironically for being sent off for an altercation with Smardens own Ben Gibbs during last seasons Troggs vs Bliby fixture. Fans will be willing to wait after this weekends showing and with Tom Bushall and hopefully Adam Roffey on the way, pre season goal fears have been laid to rest.

For the Forum Reaction click here

Tim Archer bolstered his squad with the Double signing of Bethersden pair Potter and Bushall. The signing come just in time for the new season with Law already gone, Matt Dyke on the way out, and several first team players facing lenghty lay offs a few extra players were needed.

Charlie Potter, a young energetic midfielder, picked up the reserve team player of the year for the Troggs last term so is in familiar surroundings and the fans will know what to expect from the young workhorse.

Tom Bushall joins his former Bethersden team mate and the energetic and pacey striker has already impressed with his pre season performances and got his debut against bethersden on saturday, looking lively up top and even fired home an impressive effort from the edge of the box, only to have it dubiously ruled out for offside. Definetly more to come from Bushall as he settles in to life at cornes meadow