Swatridge foursome swings game Kylies' way

30 October 1994, Division 8 at Mannington
KMLC FC 5 v Aldbourne SSC 2 (HT 0-1)

Two games after notching the first Kylie hat-trick Swatty became the first player to score four in a match.

One-nil down at the break the Swatridge goal rush and a first of the season from Merry turned the tables.

This game also saw the introduction of Alan 'Big Al' Lunt who became the second Kylie 'keeper when he replaced Garratt at the break.

Swatty unsurprisingly took MVP while Simon Haynes came off the bench, won spoons and never played again.

Garratt
Summers, Carter, M.Warr, Gunning
Gratland, Merry, Gould, Kelly
Swatridge, Kibble
Subs: Lunt for Garratt, Griffiths for Kelly, Haynes for Kibble

Scorers: Swatridge 4, Merry

MVP: Swatridge
Spoons: Haynes

Next match - 6 Nov at Mannington v Honda Logistics

Kylies bogged down

23 October 1994, Division 8 at Mannington

ISSC 0 v KMLC FC 0

A second successive clean sheet was the only positive thing to write home about where this game is concerned.

I think the conditions had a bearing on the game as one goalmouth in particular was borderline waterlogged if I remember rightly. Standing still (and I did a lot of that) meant slowly sinking in the Mannington mud.

Before the game the referee rolled the ball from the penalty spot towards the goal, watched it get stuck en route then decided that the game was on.

At least the result took the unbeaten league run to four matches.


Garratt
Summers, Woolford, M.Warr, Gunning
Gratland, Merry, Gould, Kelly
Swatridge, Sharp
Sub: Shurmer for Gratland

MVP: Gunning
Spoons: Summers

Next match - 30 Oct, at Mannington v Aldbourne SSC

The joy of six

16 October 1994, Division 8 at Mannington
KMLC FC 6 v Mannington 0 (HT 3-0)

Last week's narrow victory was followed up by a comprehensive Kylie win. Swatty bagged the first competitive hat-trick for the club which also kept a first clean sheet.

As well as the hat-trick hero's MVP winning performance there were first goals from Sharp, Smedley as well as a spot-kick from Gould.

[Dave?] Haynes came off the bench for his first, and also penultimate, appearance.

Garratt
Summers, Woolford, M.Warr, Gunning
Smedley, Merry, Gould, Gratland
Swatridge, Sharp
Subs: Haynes for Sharp, Kelly for Gratland

Scorers: Swatridge 3, Sharp, Smedley, Gould pen

Next match - 23 Oct at Mannington v ISSC

A result to Crow about

9 October 1994, Division 8 at Burderop Park
Halcrow Wilts 3 v KMLC FC 4 (HT 0-1)

KMLC's first trip away from Mannington finally brought them their first win.

This was a beautiful morning for football and the pitch was probably the best we played on. The 'billiard table' surface allowed the Kylies to play their slick passing game which had been their five-a-side hallmark.

The watching crowd (Mr. I. Rainbow) was hugely impressed by the high standard of the KMLC inter-passing and it was no surprise that they turned around a goal to the good. This situation should have given them the platform to go on and beat a team that only won twice the previous season but it didn't turn out that straightforward...

The second half saw some of the problems that had dogged their early matches almost come back to haunt them. Missed chances at one end and defensive frailties at the other meant that despite all their good work they trailed 3-2 inside the last ten minutes.

The pressure finally told as Gould netted an equaliser and shortly after Halcrow put through their own net to deliver the points to the away side. Any other result, as the watching crowd (Mr. I Rainbow) remarked, 'would have been a travesty'.


Garratt
B.Warr, Woolford, Summers, Gunning
Smedley, Merry, Gould, Howell
Swatridge, Sharp
Subs: Gratland for Merry

Goals: Gunning, Swatridge, Gould, og

MVP: Swatridge
Spoons: Merry

Next match - 16 Oct, at Mannington v Mannington

Defensive calamity hastens Chairman's exit

2 October 1994, Chairman's Trophy 1st Round at Mannington
KMLC FC 1 v The Globe 6 (HT 0-2)

The Globe were one of the top teams in Division One at the time and often challenged for the league title so the Kylies knew they were up against it as soon as the draw was made.

The team acquitted themselves well however and only trailed 2-0 at the break but this game will be remembered for an extraordinary own goal.

I can't remember what the match situation was at the time but a long ball out of the Globe half caused Garratt to charge out of his goal to clear. At the same time Carter was chasing back to do the same job. The two players arrived at the same time about 20 yards from goal.

It seemed that both players kicked the ball at the same time so whether it deflected from one Kylie on to another is somewhat of a mystery, but as they led in a heap on the Mannington turf they could only watch as the ball looped apologetically into their own net.

Carpo was making his first competitive start after breaking his toe at Derby but knacked knee ligaments in this one and was out until December.

There was also a debut for Smedley in this match and Gould's first Kylie goal came from the spot but both were somewhat overshadowed by the defensive, spoon-winning mix-up.


Garratt
Carpenter, Woolford, M.Warr, Gunning
Smedley, Merry, Gould, Carter
Swatridge, Sharp
Subs: Gratland for Carter, Kelly for Sharp

Goal: Gould (pen)

MVP: Gould
Spoons: Garratt/Carter


Next match - 9 Oct, Division 8 at Burderop Park v Halcrow Wilts

KMLC make their point

18 September 1994, Division 8 at Mannington
KMLC FC 2 v The Harrow 2 (HT 0-2)

A battling second half performance from the Kylies secured their first league point.

Two goals down at the break meant that the team had gone four halves of football without finding the net but that changed in the second period.

Goals from Gunning and Swatridge levelled the match and sent the home team back to the Mannington dressing rooms in good spirits ahead of their tough assignment in the Chairman's Trophy next week.


Garratt
B.Warr, Woolford, Summers, Gunning
Carter, Merry, Griffiths, Shurmer
Swatridge, Howell

Subs: Sharp for Howell, Kelly for Griffiths

MVP: Kelly
Spoons: Garratt/Summers

Next match - 2 Oct, Chairman's Trophy at Mannington v The Globe

Kylies fire blanks in league opener

11 September 1994, Division 8 at Mannington
KMLC FC 0 v AFC Purton 3 (HT 0-2)

The first league game for KMLC ended in disappointment with a 3-0 defeat to AFC Purton.

Young guns Howell and Kelly made their debuts (Howler picking up MVP) but nothing else sticks in the mind about this one.


Garratt
B.Warr, Howell, M.Warr, Gunning
Summers, Merry, Carter, Griffiths
Swatridge, Sharp

Subs: Kelly for Howell, Shurmer for Swatridge

MVP: Howell
Spoons: Gunning

Next match - 18 Sep, Div 8 at Mannington v The Harrow