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Smarden ground out a win in their first league game of the season. The tough fixture was made harder with Arch missing several first team players -Dyke (arm) and Leggis (knee) are long term injury absentees, with Moon, Dyer and Eels on international Duty and Law and Hodges sold in the summer, the den were without 7 of last seasons regular starters and 4 players had to be signed on at kick off. Transfer deadline day signing Paul Burt joined Potter and Bushall in making their Smarden debuts whilst Hollingsbee had not already signed on.

The local derby was always going to be a feisty affair and Arch called for calm, cool heads and no retaliation to any provocation in his pre match team talk. His players didn't seem to listen and did get inovled right from the off -a couple of players perhaps a bit lucky that the ref didn't bring his glasses.

Around 20 minutes in, under some continued heavy pressure from the Biddenden front line, Smarden finally succumb, Stuey Batt adjudged to have handballed in the box although the decision seemed harsh but the Biddenden forward slotted home the penalty 1-0.

If the first quarter of the match belonged to Biddenden then Smarden definitly staked claim to the second quarter. The midfield started to find feet, the defence started to tackle the ball rather than just the players and heavy pressure ensued with Charlie Potter finding the net after a goal mouth scramble. 1-1 they came in at half time but the game could have gone either way

The second half saw some more stalwart defending from the Smarden team all over the pitch. When Pete Naden had to retire due to injury, a re-shuffle saw Carty drop to the back, Matt Dyke get a rare outing in center mid and Tom Bushall brought on up top alongside fellow debutant Paul Burt. Bushall thought he had made the dream start to his Smarden career when Burt released him and he fired home, only to see his goal disallowed for offside.

Despite the Biddenden onslaught it was Smarden who won out and after Paul Newman's through ball/tackle sent Paul Burt racing clear, there was only one outcome for the new Smarden striker as he fired into the bottom right and ran over to the fans kissing the smarden badge, taunting the Biddenden manager who had high hopes of signing Burt this summer himself.

2-1 it finished thanks to Burt and although not a pretty win, a win it was and Smarden get their league campaign underway with 3 points. The only other league game saw Leeds SV beat Headcorn 3-2 to go top in the early table. click for league table

Team vs Biddenden (3-5-2) Kitney, Stocker, Loppy (Bushall 60), Lee, Gibbs, Newman, Potter, Carty, Batt, Burt, M.Dyke

Goals: Potter 34, Burt 85

Assists: Newman

MOM: Burt

 

Smarden slumped to a 6-1 defeat against Eccles in their second league game of the season. Stuey Batt was preferred at sweeper as Carty kept his spot in center mid, and eels returned to the fill the wing back slot. Adamson came straight in for the suspended Burt and young Mike Otterwell won his first Smarden Cap off the Bench.

The game was an evenly contested game, for the first 60 minutes at least; whilst Eccles led 1-0 from 20 minutes in, Smarden enjoyed much of the possesion and pressed Eccles but couldn't break them down.

When the second Eccles goal came Smarden fell apart conceeding a further 2 goals in quick succession and despite a reply from Adamson from a well worked free kick Smarden eventually lost 6-1.

Team vs Eccles (3-5-2) Kitney, Stocker, Batt, Hollingsbee, Gibbs (Otterwell), Newman, Potter (Bushall), Carty, Eels, Adamson, M.Dyke

Goals: Adamson

Assists: Newman

MOM: Matt Dyke

Smarden crashed out of the cup 1-0 to Leeds at Cornes Meadow. Arch had to tinker with his line up with several missing, Batt remained at sweeper, Carty dropped back to partner Lee, Dyer and Eels at winbacks with Moon, Chunk and Potter forming the midfield trio. Bushall earnt his first start alongside Matt Dyke up top.

It was a solid performance from Smarden looking comfortable for much of the game but worringly they didn't create many clear cut chances until near the death but it was all too late. The Leeds goal came as one mistake was punished after Kitney failed to get enough on his attempted punch of a crossed ball and the ball fell to the Leeds striker who looped it back over kitney and the sweeping Batt into the net.

Team vs Leeds (3-5-2) Kitney, Batt, Hollingsbee, Carty, Dyer, Chunk (Carlton 70), Moon, Potter (lawrence 75), Eels, M. Dyke, Bushall

Booked: Carty

Smarden crashed out their second cup in as many weeks with a less than impressive performance over at Yalding.

the den did lead 1-0 through Adamson but succumb to late pressure when as a mix up between Naden and Kitney allowed the Yalding striker in to equalise.

It took extra time and a shoot out to decide this one though with 9out of the 10 penalties scored, Dyke Snr, Moon, Naden and Stocker on target with Hollingsbee the fall guy with a tame penalty straight to the keeper.

A mistake might have cost the game but we all make mistakes (just ask rio who nearly cost united the derby) and the game should have been put to bed but the Den are just not clicking this year without talismanic front man Dave Law.

The den face Shepway away next week where they were thumped 5-1 last season as the tough and stuttering season doesn't look like its going to get any easier. Shepway have just 1 league game under their belt going down to Hunton in a shock 2-1 defeat and will be out to get retribution for that result. Smarden however will take heart from the 7-1 thumping that they dished out to Shepway in the reverse fixture last season and no that on their day they can compete with anyone in this league and above but Arch has his work cut out getting the season back on track.

Smarden 3-5-2 (wingbacks) Kitney, Carty (Stocker 55), Hollingsbee, Batt, Eels, Dyer, Newman, Potter (Dyke 70), Moon, Bushall (Naden 65), Adamson

Goal: Adamson

Smarden will think themselves unlucky in a promising display against last years league winners. This fixture last season saw Smarden lose 5-1 but the den did turn Shepway over 7-2 at home. On Saturday both sides were without their talismanic strikers from last year -Dave Law from Smarden, and Billy Driver from Shepway but this did nothing to detract the attacking football and the goals.

Tim the tinkerman Archer, never one to let a player settle into a position, moved utility man Stuey batt from sweeper to striker, Bushall from striker to winger and the cantankerous Bruce Dyer from wing back to center mid. G.Dyke returned from his broken arm to make his first start in over 4 months, slotting in a right back. Arch also handed a debut to Freddie O'Sullivan, a promising young keeper who has come through the youth ranks and has been impressing for Troggs reserves. The young firey shot stopper announced his debut by rushing off his line and clearing out both the Shepway striker and Lee Hollingsbee with the ball which was a sign of things to come from the confident 17 year old.

The first half didn't go according to plan for the Den, as they let two goals slip in. Both came from bad calls/missed headers with the breaks favouring the Shepway front line.

Some rousing words from Arch at half time seemed to do the trick and the Den emerged a much changed side and after a neat one two between Chunk and Gibbs and it opened up for Gibbs who, now relishing his attacking left back role, fired home a rasper from 30yards into the bottom right.
With a renewed enthusiasm Smarden piled on the pressure and some good work up front from Batt allowed Moon the space to find Eels who tempted the keeper out before slotting past him, 2-2 and a chance at a win or at worst, you felt, a well earned point.

It wasn't to be for Smarden as they failed to beat Shepway for the third game in a row, their striker found some space to turn and despatched into the bottom corner, before putting the game to bed with a deep cross and spectacular volley from the right winger. 4-2 it finished but on some positives notes, it was shepway, an almost write off game, Smarden showed good character to get back in the game, and Arch may have unearthered a gem in young Keeper Freddie O'Sullivan who, despite conceeding 4, made some good stops, came off his line well and was very vocal. His distribution may need some attention but he is definetly one for the future. 3 points now from a possible 9 but no need for panic just yet.

Smarden 4-4-1-1 O'Sullivan, Gibbs, Carty, Hollingsbee, G.Dyke, Eels, Dyer, Newman, Bushall, Moon, Batt Unused Subs: Stocker, Naden

Goal: Gibbs, Eels

Assists: Newman, Moon

Smarden took another point home but will be dissapointed not to have grabbed all three. Arch brought Adamson in up top dropping Batt into the center of the park and Dyer back to left back to cover for the absent Gibbs.

Smarden battled well throughout the game and showed some more promise going forward but still worringly lack that cutting edge in front of goal. There were still too many sloppy passes and mistakes creeping into their game and Arch let the team know at the break; once more singling out the unfavourable Richard Moon and proceeded to haul him off for Nick Parrock on 60mins. The stand out performances were probably Eels and Bushall who both bounded around with endless energy.
It was the energetic Tom Bushall who gave smarden the lead after he whipped a corner straight into the bottom corner past a shocked Hunton defence, for Bushalls first goal in smarden green- hopefully the first of many.

Unfortunately it was hero turned villain as Bushall looked to clear a corner at the other end but the ball bounced up and hit his hand and the ref harshly gave a penalty. The team protested that he was outside the area and regardless it was ball to hand but the ref had blown and Kitney could do nothing to stop the resulting penalty.
1-1 it finished and the Den will probably feel they dropped points again. If the rumours are true that both Law and Burt will be in the squad next week it could be just the spark smarden need to get back to winning ways.

Smarden 4-4-1-1 Kitney, Dyer, Carty, Hollingsbee, G.Dyke, Eels, Batt, Newman, Bushall, Moon (Dogman 60), Adamson

Unused Subs: Naden

Goal: Bushall

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. Arch welcomed back the Law man on his week off from Lydd duty and opted for Chunk in the hole behind him, with Moon and Eels wide and holding midfielders in Dyer and Batt. The back 4 lined up with Carty at left back, Loppy partnering Lee in the middle and G. Dyke continuing to make the right back slot his own.

.The game was not all as plain sailing as the score line suggests and it was Headcorn who took the lead through Pete Zakora but when Dyer found Dyke 30 yards out, the right back moved the ball onto his left foot and sailed the ball into the top left for an emphatic equaliser. Piling on the pressure, Smarden went into the lead after a corner found Naden at the far post who headed back across for Hollingsbee to poke home. 2-1 at half time and Smarden looked good for their derby lead.

Headcorn weren't going to roll over and leveled after the break, zakora breaking free and slotting his second. Arch took his usual move and hauled off the luckless Moon, this time for Pearce - the veteran making his season debut, as well as bringing on Troggs star Adam Roffey for Simon Eels. The substitutions worked as Roffey terrorised Headcorn down the left flank having a great shout for a penalty turned down as he was hauled down by the Headcorn keeper after skipping past him but the ref said no.

It was Pearce who put the Den back in front, latching on to a defensive error to nutmeg the keeper for 3-2. The law man, back for his first Smarden outing this season after his summer move to Lydd, showed the fans what they've been missing by picking up a pass from chunk and smashing the ball into the top left from the edge of the box to put the game beyond Headcorn.

The effervescent Roffey eventually got reward for his persistence down the wing, winning a penalty after cutting inside and being brought down – this time the ref couldn’t turn down the appeal and Roffey slotted home himself for the icing on the proverbial 5-2 cake.

Arch went home a happy man and if Smarden get a win over at Grigg lane, the players can relax as apparently not even relegation would dampen his spirits after a double over Headcorn.

Smarden 4-4-1-1 Kitney, Carty, Naden, Hollingsbee, G.Dyke, Eels (Roffey 65), Batt, Dyer, Moon (Pearce 70), Newman, Law

Unused Subs: Lawrence

Goals: Dyke, Hollingsbee, Pearce, Law, Roffey (pen)

Assists: Dyer, Loppy, Newman.

After last weeks impressive victory in the derby against headcorn many expected a comfortable result against M.P.E at home.

Arch was missing Moon as well as Stocks and Gibbo and selection was made worse with the late withdrawal of Simon Eels with a shoulder injury and Andy Adamson with some kind of broken watch/phone.

Smarden dissapointed the fans and themselves with a lacklustre performance that saw them go down 3-1 to a side they really should be beating comfortably.

A consolation goal from the isolated Law man up top wasn't enough and defensive errors and not enough commitment and quality all over the pich meant that MPE looked good for their win. Chins will have to be raised as the Den face a much sterner test entertaining Shepway next week.

Smarden 4-4-1-1 Kitney, Carty, Naden, Hollingsbee, Lawrence, G.Dyke (Roffey 65), Batt, Dyer, Bushall, Newman, Law

Goals: Law

Assists: Newman..