Annual Bank Holiday Kent Trip - Snodland Town vs. Eltham Palace

Rolling Kent hills in the background at Potyn's

It seems pretty much every bank holiday I travel to Kent for a game. In recent times I've visited APM Contrast, Crockenhill, Sheppy United and Eltham Palace. I was seeing Eltham Palace again this bank holiday as they head to new boys Snodland Town. This is Snodland's first season at this level following their promotion from The Kent County League last season. They'd made an OK start to the season, winning two and losing two of their first four games. Today's visitors had won one, drawn two and lost three so far this campaign. Eltham Palace were the first side I visited in The Kent Invicita League when they hosted Bridon Ropes. The Kent Invicita League is now Division One of The Southern Counties East League which is the competition of today's game.

Kick off in front of the stand

In the early stages of the match, Snodland have a lot of the ball but they fail to create anything. They are almost played in but the defender gets across at the last moment to get a vital foot in. It the visitors who have the first real chance when the Snodland defence struggle to clear a free kick and luckily the second shot is straight at the keeper and he is able to clear the danger. Then Snodland have a fantastic chance as the forward is found completely free in the box with a cross but he some how heads the ball over from close range. The winger is played in via a brilliant diagonal ball shortly afterwards but his weak fails to seriously challenge the keeper. Close to half time and another guilt edged chance is wasted. The Eltham Palace forward is found all alone at the back post but he also misses the target from close range. Right before half time a chance is finally put away by the home side but all I can tell you about is that the home fans cheered so loud I could hear it in the clubhouse.

One of the Snodland first half chances

Snodland come close to doubling their lead at the start of the second half as the attacker is found with a touch back from the centre forward and the Eltham Palace keeper makes a good low save. Eltham Palace then should really equalise when the ball is squared to the man in space just outside the six yard and he somehow puts the ball into the hedges behind the goal. From the resulting goal kick a dangerous cross is put just wide of his own by a Eltham Palace defender. When Snodland get the second goal it is an absolute screamer - he beats the defender in the air and then beats another man before putting the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the area. They make sure of the three points when the midfielder controls the long ball forward and then plays in the forward over the top and he lashes the ball home. Eltham Palace still continue to push forward and it takes a great save with the keepers legs to stop them getting a consolation goal.

First half match action

One of the main reasons I chose Snodland was how quickly it is to reach from London. To get there you can take 'the high speed train' from St Pancras to Strood and change there for a train to Snodland with the journey taking under fifty minutes. There are two pubs I saw in Snodland. The first one is The Freemasons Arms on the southern edge of the town and this had the sports channels as well as a decent beer garden if the weather is decent. There were also a couple of ales. Then just down the road from the ground is The Monk's Head which is perfect for a pre match drink and also had the sports channels. The ground is an easy ten / fifteen minute walk from the station. The clubhouse is outside of the ground and had the usual drinks on offer. It looks the club are making real strides with the ground and they host a Maidstone United XI in the middle of next month for the switch on of their floodlights. A club really worth visiting.

One last shot of the stand