WE ALL WISH WE HAD A TEAM OF NICKY BUTTS

Smarden B 6 v 4 Smarden A

When Archie announced the line ups, some were surprised that he named the ball winning no nonsense players; Dyke, Bruce & T.C. on one side against the airy flary players; Mooney, Newman & Adamson on the other.. It was set to be a battle of attacking flare versus defensive thugary and went to prove that if the flare players don't sparkle, thugary shines through.

Mika Windybank fired a hat-trick and George Dyke bagged a brace in the 'friendly' encounter at the minnis. Dyke opened the scoring with a thunderous strike after he was brought down on the edge of the box and ever controversial match referee Tim Archer awarded a dubious free kick. 'The Thugs', the side that were, on paper, clearly weaker simply went from strength to strength from there on in. Mika only needed 6 chances before he finally notched the first of his three, although the pick of the bunch was a delicate lob over the approaching keeper in the second half. The opposition didn't offer much in the form of resistance, mooney's weak first half strike was made to look spectacular by an awe inspiring dive from gibbo who also gifted another goal; dropping an easy catch. Newman senior notched a couple of late consolations past a woeful loppy but goals from Dyke and Gibbo had already put the game beyond doubt. It was a day of key individual battles, Loppy vs Adamson, Jimmy Nayden vs Grandad Chris, Dyke vs Newman Snr, Bruce vs Mooney. Smarden B simply won their battles.