Sunday 19th Feb 3-0 vs Egerton (H) Peter Pain Cup Semi Final

The turnstiles at the Minnis were left in need of repair after the seasons record gate turned out to watch the increasingly popular Troggs. Newman was under pressure to get this result and to give his side a chance to defend the cup that Troggs snatched with a penalty victory last season. The Manager gambled with his tactics, opting for wing backs in a 3-5-2 formation in an effort to give Playmaker Richard Moon a free role. Forced into a defensive selection crisis after ever controversial youngster Josh Newman failed to show, Newman Snr asked no nonsense defender Tony Carty to do a job as sweeper, and Carty proved once again, just how versatile he is.

Troggs turned out in a pristine blue Kit, courtesy of newly acquired sponsors Sitex, manager Paul Newman proving his value to the club off the field as well as on it. Troggs clearly set out to win this battle with several of the players turning up on time and even without hangovers.

The first half was a gritty affair, Carty in his new role as sweeper cleaning up anything that came past the towering figures of Stocker and Granddad Chris, the wing backs Logg and Harrison cancelling out any wide threat from Egerton and the midfield trio of Dyke, Newman and Moon successfully battling for possession in the middle of the park. Troggs did enjoy much of the play, Adamson coming close twice when put through clean on goal, Gibbs and Moon with decent efforts and a glancing header from Dyke kept out only by the cross bar. Egerton tried to break the Troggs down and to be fair to had them worried at times but the teams came in at the break all square at 0-0.

A rousing chat from the gaffa at the break confirmed what everybody knew "we can win this!" and saw more attacking football in the second half with the Troggs finally breaking the deadlock on 55 minutes. Adamson was released down the wing and crossed superbly onto the head of Club Captain Ben Gibbs and to the delight of the Troggs faithful, even he couldn't miss from there, 1-0. Egerton were yet to give up and kept driving forward, producing a customary champagne save from Rob diving low to his left, which we assume was more for the crowd than anything as the strike was almost certainly heading wide. Troggs pushed on with Adamson again the creator laying a slide rule pass to Moon who seemingly failed to control the ball only to wow the crowd by striking it first time low into the bottom right past the despairing keeper. 2-0 and Troggs were in control. Newman utilised his squad bringing Headcorn Bob off the bench for the ever impressive youngster Log and versatile veteran Deano, on for Mark Harrison, also played his part- notably with a goal stopping slide challenge on the edge of the six yard box. Newman urged his side to keep the ball and that they did Moon again coming up with the goods, spanking the ball right footed in the top left after some quality possession.

MOM's luckily aren't given in Cup games as this one would have been too hard to call.

Troggs, deserved winners of this encounter, defend their trophy at homelands in April. We will bring you dates and ticket details as soon as we have them!

<View the news pages and Interview with the Gaffa>

TROGGS (3-5-2): Rob, Cartey, Chris, Stocks, Log (Bob 65), Dyke, Moon, Newman Snr, Harrison (Deano 70), Adamson, Gibbs

Goals: Gibbs 55, Moon(2) 67, 78.