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5th December 2007 |
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A dull, chilly day after a night of heavy rain that had put the game in doubt. On the whole the pitch was in very good condition, with a couple of softer patches. |
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| After moving back to their true home last season with the installation of their excellent floodlights, it was obvious that there was still a part two to their project. That work is under way, with an extra turnstile and the toilets nearly finished, with the PA system and boardroom next on the list. As you enter through the turnstiles, and look down onto the ground, it is an impressive sight. They do need to stop people standing in front of their seated stand, though. |
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| The usual fare of burgers, hot dogs and bacon rolls. No chips, unfortunately. Cheese available as an extra but not onions. Friendly service. |
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| Issued free with admission (a Kent League high of £7), it has been completely revised from previous seasons, probably due to the departure of Martin Ford. It is now a 24 page, full colour glossy edition, with all the required articles from the manager, editor, our visitors, the season’s stats, and match reports. The humour has changed from Christmas cracker jokes to lookalike photos of their players. Now one of the best in the league. |
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To change the cliche slightly, it was a game of three thirds. The game opened quietly, with Buster’s fine goal being a rare moment of danger. Later in the first half, the home side upped their game and had a couple of shots and a header that only missed by inches. They equalised early in the second half, albeit courtesy of a belated Hythe Christmas present, and looked capable of adding a second. They didn’t, and then the game turned with Hythe having four great chances, including a saved penalty and a superb chip from Marcus Hodges that touched the bar and dropped down virtually on the line before being cleared. Then, in the last minute, a VCD corner was met by sub Richard Sinden at the near post for the winner. It was a game that Hythe could, perhaps should, have won, but certainly didn’t deserve to lose, against a side that has now gone seven points clear at the top of the table.
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| Friendly volunteers, and they seem to have them in fair number. One or two uncharitable comments from their crowd, as we all awaited the second Hythe goal, but the final whistle saw the home and away fans in completely different moods. |
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Not a difficult game to referee, and Mr Mead had a quiet, unfussy style. There were two big hand-ball incidents, and he used some commonsense in issuing yellow cards where reds would have been possible. Every other hand-ball was ignored. I don’t think it was his best performance of the season. He was helped by two young assistants, who were keen, concentrated, and kept up with play, not something you see at every Kent League game. |
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| The fact that we could easily have won this game by a couple of goals, against the top of the table team. |
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