Match Reports

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Charing 2 - 5 Troggs

Sunday 18/10/09 from Charing playing field............Click thumbnail for line up

Troggs enjoyed a welcome break from the perils of the league with an away tie to Charing in the Ashford Charity Trophy. Stocker and Gibbo were late back and so Gibbo made the Bench but Newman kept charge for another week.

He went with a 4-4-2 formation with Dyke and Roffey leading the front line, Eels left with Tommy and Newman in the middle, handing a debut to Pete Sparks on the right. The back four line up with Dan LB, Bruce and Lee CB's and Mark RB with Carty joining Gibbs on the bench

The Troggs looked comfortable for most of the game with Newman and Tommy controlling the game from the middle and Sparks and Eels causing trouble down the flanks. The lively Roffey up top twice had the ball in the net in the first 20 minutes only to have both ruled out for dubious off sides. It was Roffey who eventually opened the scoring after Sparks showed great pace down the right and fired in a fantastic low cross that beat the keeper putting the first goal on a plate for Roff.

After some heavy pressure Sparks again broke free and cut back to Dyke who laid off to Newman and his rifled effort could only be parried by the Charing keeper, unfortunately for him, straight to Roffey who tapped in his and Troggs second.

Troggs kept playing the better football but again struggled to put a game to bed early when they really should have and Charing fought their way back into the game. Young Freddie routinely kicked from his hands but was harshly adjudged to have held onto the ball for too long and outside the area. The resulting free kick was whipped in down the center of the goal and the young keeper was unsighted by an attacker and his own defender and could do little to stop the goal. Perhaps this was kick up the proverbial that the Troggs needed. The second half had seen the introduction of Gibbs on for a tired Sparks and after Dyke released him down the right, Gibbs did well to beat his man and play it back into the "strikers" path and he duly slotted home into the bottom left for his second in two games to restore the Troggs lead.

Mark Harrison, having a solid defensive game as usual whipped in a vicious cross from deep and Simon Eels, with a leap that said 'shoulder injury, what shoulder injury?', beat both keeper and defender to the ball to nod home. It was unlikely goal hero Harrison himself that completed the Troggs scoring, after dyke had pressured the keeper into a hurried clearance wide of his goal, Harrison passed it over the scrambling center backs into an empty net for 5-1.

Charing got one more consolation as a corner wasn't cleared properly and a shot that came in from the edge of the box found its way into the bottom corner passed a disappointed O'Sullivan in goal and Carty on the post but it mattered not and the Troggs went comfortably through 5-2 to the last 16 where they will find Aldington waiting.

line up: (4-4-2): O'Sullivan, Philcock, Hollingsbee, Dyer (Carty 80), Harrison, Eels, Carlton, Newman, Sparks, G.Dyke, Roffey

Goals: Roffey 2, Dyke, Eels, Harrison

Assists: Sparks, Newman, Gibbs, Harrison

MOM: ?

Troggs 3 - 4 Highfield

Sunday 11/10/09 from Cornes Meadow.................Click thumbnail for line up

With Adamson away Chunk opted for a surprise target man in G. Dyke. Roffey and Eels went wide with a midfield trio of Moon, Carlton and Chunk. Philcock returned to left back, Carty and Lee in the middle with Harrison right back and O'Sullivan kept his place in goal with Brown away on work duty again. Dyer was the unfortunate one to miss out and Butch joined him on the bench earning a call up from the goons.

Things didn't go to plan straight away for the Troggs as they found themselves 1-0 down in the first half. Like an old head on, well, old shoulders, Tommy Carlton had week long championed the threat of committing midfielders into the box and personified his tactic nodding home a Mooney cross after some good work from Roffey down the right.

Dyke looked steady up top trying to bring others in to the game and offer (a fairly large) target for counter attacks. He got his reward for hard work as Roffey found him at the back post and he notched his 25th career goal for the Troggs with a diving header.

Despite some good attacking play from a more confident looking Troggs side, Highfield found their way back into the game and the game hung in the balance at 2-2. Roffey turned his ankle which forced the introduction of Butch pushing Dyke back into the midfield and Moony wide, with Bruce having come on at half time in a straight swap for Carty.

With Butch causing the Highfield defence trouble a failed clearance sat up in front of the encroaching Richard Moon who caressed a right foot volley effortlessly into the top left corner, another moment of brilliance that reminded all present that despite his erratic form of late, he is still undoubtedly the most technically gifted player in Smarden.

It was a strike worthy of winning any tie, but Highfield were not finished and the Ref aided them awarding free kick after free kick their way, booking both Chunk and Bruce in the process. The Troggs eventually capitulated as Highfield found not only the equaliser but a late winner after one cleared free kick was returned back to the box to find 3 players unmarked and onside to break Troggs hearts.

A very tough goal to swallow in a game that the Troggs dominated for much of the 90 minutes and will feel they deserved more from but they were left bemoaning some questionable refereeing and again looking at why they cannot close out games. Positives again but no points and with 3 points deducted for an administrative error, the Troggs are 6 games in with -1 points.

line up: (4-5-1): O'Sullivan, Philcock, Hollingsbee, Carty (Dyer 45), Harrison, Roffey (Butch 70), Carlton, Newman, Moon, Eels, G.Dyke

Goals: Carlton, Dyke, Moon

Assists: Roffey, Moon

MOM: Moon

Troggs 0 - 6 Market Hotel

Sunday 04/10/09 from Cornes Meadow.....................Click image for line up

Troggs knew this might be a case of damage limitation and so Chunk lined them up in a wingbacks formation with Carty, Dyer and Hollingsbee at the back, Eels and Harrison wing backs, Carlton, Newman and Moon in the middle with Adamson and Roffey up top. Aaron Brown had work commitments so promising young keeper Freddie O'Sullivan got another baptism of fire having made his Saturday debut the week before against free scoring Shepway.

The defensive line up did the trick for most of the first half and the Troggs nearly kept it to just one before the break but conceeded a second from a headed cross and that was probably the killer goal that knocked the stuffing out of the Troggs. Adam Roffey did come close with a well struck volley but it was turned over by the Market keeper.

At half time, stand in manager Chunk wasn't happy with just rolling over and fancied a stab at attacking Market. Switching to a 4-3-3 formation he brought Dyke on for Carty pushing moon and roffey out wide to support target man Adamson.

It could have worked as the Troggs enjoyed many more productive attacks in the second half. Adamson could have scored when he tackled the keeper, rounded him but only found the side netting. Dyke should have scored after dancing past 2 market defenders only to be confused by the calls of Moon and Newman and crossed passed both of them rather than slotting it past the keeper. Roffey turned his ankle over and had to come off for Philcock, and despite showing promise the Troggs eventually capitulating to Markets dominance.

In the end the change in formation conspired to make the scoreline worse, Dyer had been effectively man marking Steve Harris in the first half but without the spare man at the back it was too tall an order as Harris got a hat trick and Market put 6 past the Troggs. The market players freely admitted that Troggs were the harder working team but were outclassed on the day by a Market side that works the ball right across the pitch pulling the opposition players out of position.

Despite the scoreline, O'Sullivan impressed again in goal and has no reason to blame himself for the goals, the young keeper couldn't have wished for harder debuts on both days against arguably the best teams in both leagues. It was the evergreen Tommy Carlton who picked up the token MOM for an unprecedented work rate in the middle.

line up: (3-5-2 wingbacks): O'Sullivan, Dyer, Hollingsbee, Carty (G.Dyke 45), Eels, Carlton, Newman, Moon, Harrison, Adamson, Roffey (Philcock 60).

MOM: Tommy Carlton

Troggs 0 - 0 Mersham

Sunday 27/09/09 from Cornes Meadow.....................Click image for line up

With Stocker and Gibbs now away for 3 weeks the caretaker partnership of Newman and Dyke stepped in for their first game in charge.

A late change to Stockers planned line up was enforced as Carlton had to pull out and G.Dyke returned to partner Chunk in center midfield for the first time in far too long. Philcock was pushed on to left midfield with Dyer behind, Carty returned to partner Lee at center back with Harrison straight back in at right back. Eels went right and Moon played off a very ill looking Adam Roffey up top.

Despite the bore draw scoreline it was an end to end game with neither side doing enough to edge it. Troggs struggled to create many clear cut chances as Roffey struggled due to illness and left moon playing deep and isolated. roffey did manage to chase a couple of through balls but would have needed to be sharper to make anything of them. The best chance of the first half and probably the game fell to Philcock when Dyke found him with a hollywood quick free kick but Philcock placed his shot wide with only the keeper to beat.

Mersham did have the ball in the Troggs net in the first half as Dyke lost his man at the back post and a cross shot was heading for the bottom corner only to be poked in by the striker at the back post. Luckily for the Troggs he was in an offside position and he will regret his greed.

The second half saw the Troggs get a bit tired and stretched, Dyke looking severly short of match fitness in the middle and with Hollingsbee off for the only sub, Parrock, a much needed tactical change couldn't be made and Roffey had to struggle on. Harrison slotted into center back and looked comfortable but when he was pushed out of the way off before the ball arrived the ref seemed not to see it and as the little Mersham striker rushed through from the resulting break, Carty scrambled to make up the ground but was deemed to have pulled his shirt and the Ref pointed to the spot. Brown one, not renouned for penalty saves, stood tall before diving to his right and getting a firm hand on the spot kick only to parry it back to the kicker, but the follow up was smashed over the bar. A great stop from Brown one who will again be crucial this year, this save and the usual rounded performance earning him the MOM.

A few more chances fell to either side as they were both stretched, Newman probably having the best chance for Troggs after a good breakaway involving Roffey and Moon and Eels but saw his shot deflected straight to the Keeper arms.

line up: (4-4-1-1): Brown, Dyer, Hollingsbee, Carty, Harrison, Philcock, Newman, G. Dyke, Eels, Moon, Roffey.

MOM: Aaron Brown

Highfield 1 - 0 Troggs

Sunday 06/09/09 At the North School. Report from Stocks

Here we go again. After all the hard training over the Summer. The moment of truth has arrived. The big kick off. Away to Highfield. How would we perform against a side, undefeated through the course of last season in div 1? Well, it was a mixed bag.

We started the game without Tommy (wedding) Moon and Bruce (butt-plug shopping) George(arm) Log (knee) All very likely starters, but could we cope?

The game started at a very leisurely pace. The only goal-mouth action coming from the Highfield keeper's monster kicks, landing in the Troggs penalty area. Finally after 30 minutes of gentle sparring. A breakthrough. Highfield's left winger, with an absurd amount of tape round his socks, took a corner.......and it went straight in.......bugger. The game had come alive and for the next 10 minutes Troggs suddenly found their bite. Crunching into tackles and upping the tempo of their passes. Unfortunately no goal materialised, so 1-0 to the hosts at half-time.

The second half followed pretty much the same pattern as the first. Chances for both sides kept to a minimum. The closest to a goal being a Matt Dyke effort off the post. Potter and Mike were thrown on, but the score stayed the same and a 1-0 defeat to start the season. Hugely disappointing result and i think they'll agree a draw would of been the fair result. On the plus side, a solid performance from a returning Mark Harrison. Also a very impressive debut from Dan Philcock.

We started last season with a 2-0 defeat and finished 4th. So technically we've already improved on last season! So lets keep on going from here!

Believe it, achieve it..........

line up: (4-3-3): Brown, Philcock, Hollingsbee, Carty, Harrison (Otterwell 75), Newman, M. Dyke (Potter 60), Eels, Adamson, Roffey, Gibbs.

MOM: Matt Dyke

Mersham 2 - 2 Troggs

Sunday 13/09/09 at Mersham Recreation Ground

Troggs ground out a point at the Mersham recreation ground courtesy of a Brace from Richard Moon.

Matt Dyke forgot to get up and forced a reshuffle from Gibbo, standing in for absent Gaffa Stocker. He went with the wingbacks formation, presumably as planned, and suprinsingly named himself as striker up top with Moon.

Mersham opened the scoring with a freak goal as the corner found its way straight into the net with usually unflappable Troggs keeper Brown protesting he was pushed out of the way.

At the other end when Moon was brought down by the Merhsam keeper through and on for a certain goal, the ref pointed to the spot but produced just a yellow for the Mersham keeper. Moon picked himself up and converted the spot kick

Mersham re-established their lead as Brown did well to parry a shot but was helpless to prevent the rebound being slotted home and the Troggs came in 2-1 down at half time.

60 minutes in and after some good pressure and a couple of good left foot hits from skipper chunk, it was Moon again who equalised, latching on to a miss placed back pass and cooly slotting home for 2-2. Moon later missed two guilt edged chances near the death that perhaps should have seen him complete his hat trick and secure the 3 points from the Troggs.

Troggs looked solid but would have liked to have got more than a point out of the game.

Elsewhere in the league, Bromley Green and Market drew 1-1 and Bliby smashed Kennington 7-2 with Marcus Hodges on fire netting 5.

Troggs (3-5-2) Brown, Dyer, Hollingsbee, Loppy, Philcox, Newman, Carlton, Eels, Harrison (Parrock 80), Moon, Gibbs (M. Dyke 60)

Goals: Moon 2.

Troggs 1 - 2 Kennington

Sunday 20/09/09 at Cornes Meadow

Troggs were left to ponder two big decisions from the referee that costs them all three points against Kennington

Short of defensive options, Stocker opted for himself to partner Hollingsbee at center back with Dyer sweeping behind. Philcock and Eels slotted in at wing backs with Carlton, Chunk and Moon the midfield trio and Roffey and Adamson up top.

Troggs started the brighter of the two sides and enjoyed much of the early possession with the lively Richard Moon testing Hayden in the Kennington net with a left foot striker bound for the top corner being tipped over the bar. The Troggs forced a couple of mistakes from the Kennington defence and Keeper and troubled them from the resulting set pieces but failed to find the net.

For the second quarter of the game, it was Kennington who dominated, young Matt Collins up top troubling Dyer and Hollingsbee with his pace and tricks and on one occasion skipping past Dyer only to be brought down, questionably inside the box, but the referee turned the penalty appeal down- a decision which later undoubtedly came into play. The incident and continued battle also culminated into a second half scuffle with both Dyer and Collins seeing Yellow.

Kennington pushed hard to break the Troggs down but couldn't find a way past the ever impressive Brown who reassured all that other than getting beat direct from corners, he is still the best keeper in the league, with a number of super saves ensuring the Troggs came in 0-0 at half time.

The second half looked fairly even with the Troggs fighting their way back into the contest typified by some crunching tackles from Chunk in the DM role, some much improved marking and defending by the back 3 and with Adamson starting to get the ball and cause trouble down the left flank. The Troggs broke often with the pace and creativity of Moon, Carlton, Roffey and Adamson and it was the Troggs all time leading scorer Adamson who found Roffey unmarked and last years top scorer opened his account for this term.

1-0 to the Troggs and the game dynamic seemed to change; Kennington heads seemed to have dropped as they started to wonder if they would ever be able to find a way past Brown. Dyke returned to action after his 4month lay off with a broken arm, on for a disappointed Chunk who had been controlling the middle. With Gibbo also on for Adamson the Troggs looked set to hold on for their first win of the season.

However 80 odd minutes in, the impressive Philcock slid to block a cross but as he fell inadvertently touched the ball with his hand and the referee, presumably atoning for the decision in the first half, handed Kennington their life line and Brown could do nothing about the spot kick. The understandably angered Philcock will need to learn to control his emotions if he fledging Troggs career is to carry on going from strength to strength, as he lashed out minutes later with a reckless challenge resulting in a yellow card.

Shortly before the end of the game with the Troggs coming to terms with the draw, agony turned to despair as Dyke was adjudged to have challenged too strongly for a header on the edge of the box and Matt Collins found the top corner from the resulting free kick. 2-1 and out of time the Troggs slipped to 2 defeats in 3 with just the one solitary point.

Next weeks the Troggs entertain Mersham just 14 days after the reverse fixture which has now become an absolute must win game.

Troggs 3-5-2 (wingbacks) Brown, Stocker, Dyer, Hollingsbee, Philcock, Newman (Dyke 65), Moon, Carlton, Eels, Roffey, Adamson (Gibbs 70)

Goals: Roffey

Assist: Adamson

MOM: T. Carlton

Booked: Dyer, Philcock