TROGGS AID - MATCH REPORT
Sunday 25th June Troggs 4 - 5 World XI
by the man himself Paul 'Chunk' Newman:
The game started like most Smarden Vs Smarden games; in controversy. After just 5 minutes the World XI were awarded a penalty after Andy Adamson was adjudge to have handle the ball in the box. Up stepped, former manager Paul 'Chunk' Newman. The World XI forward placed the ball, ran up and calmly slotted past the wrong-footed Troggs keeper, Robert Payne. 1-0 to the World XI, was this the start of a much predicted rout?
Relentless pressure followed from the World XI side and on 12 minutes and against the run of play Ben Gibbs latched onto a through ball after the ball broke from a World XI corner. He then out paced centre half Dean Burden and clipped the ball over the advancing Aaron Brown to equalize for the Troggs. A typical Gibbs finish and the Troggs were back on level terms. Perhaps not the reply the World XI were expecting and certainly not what they had hoped for.
Then followed some good end-to-end stuff with both sides seeing plenty of midfield procession but no real clear-cut chances. Then from a corner and following a goalmouth scramble the ball fell to Graham Stocker who smashed in from 5 yards to give the Troggs an unlikely but not entirely undeserved lead.
On 35 minutes the crowd were treated to a piece of genius from Paul Newman. The former manager peeled off at the back post and was picked out by an inch perfect cross-field pass by Grant Flockton. Newman chested the ball under control dropped a shoulder to pass Tony Carty and slotted the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the goal. 2-2!
The World XI then came close after some good inter-play between Newman and Flockton with a header from the latter being acrobatically tipped over by Keeper Robert Payne.
Guest referee Mika Windibank then blew for half time after a strong challenge from Chunk left Andrew 'Maggot' Adamson in a heap on the half way line, crying. 2-2 was probably about the right score at half time, although with the World XI having more chances they probably didn't share this view!
The second half started with a sensational piece of 'samba' style skill from Dave Law who juggled the ball past Tony Cartey and Pepper and slotted past the diving Rob Payne to restore the World XI lead.
10 minutes later new Troggs signing Nick 'dogman' Parrock, playing for the World XI raced down the right wing and unleashed a cross/shot, which deceived everyone and flew into the top corner! Were we finally witnessing the much promised and much expected rout?!
Not if last seasons top scorer and the relatively quiet up to this point, Andy Adamson was going to have a say. The Troggs front man hit one from the edge of box, which sneaked through the commanding Dean Burdens legs and past the unsighted Aaron Brown. The keeper was hapless and the Troggs saw a chance to get back into the game.
Adamson added a second a few minutes later and it was all square with 15 minutes to play. Both sides rallied and it was real end-to-end stuff with both adamson and Newman on hatricks it really could have gone either way. Newman then came close with a right foot shot being deflected onto the post by a last ditch challenge. At the other end Dave 'butchy' Collins scrambled through on goal! Loppy recovered only for butch to thwart him with a cheeky slide tackle and slot into the corner but the keeper Aaron Brown pulled out a sensational stop!
Then, Matt Dyke, the youngest man on the field, at just 15 years 178 days, unleashed a left foot beauty from 15 yards to win the game for the World XI! The youngest scorer in a Smarden Vs Smarden?!
A great game and a much closer affair than most predicted. A great send off for Chunk!
