Kingstonian (1) 1 McCollin 5
Tonbridge (0) 3 Elder 69, Whitnall 75, Wheeler 90+2
Attendance: 411
Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 118/5,324
Match Report
It is felt that this was the first in a series of big games that would shape the destiny of Tonbridge's season. Visiting Kingsmeadow always gives the impression of a bigger club than perhaps Kingstonian are, but at the start of play they sat just five points behind the Angels with a game in hand so the importance was obvious and not lost on a Tonbridge contingent, huge in terms of numbers and volume.
As a slight sidetrack, it could be (with promotion for either club) that this is the last time we visit Kingsmeadow. Kingstonian's landlords, AFC Wimbledon, have sold the stadium to Chelsea to finance their return to the borough of Merton and the Kings will have to find a new home for the beginning of season 2017-18. Without disrespecting Ladies' football it seems such a shame that from that season this will be the venue for women's football and Chelsea's youth teams.
Steve McKimm rested Luke Blewden and Anthony Riviere to the bench following on from the heavy pitch at Aveley and here, where it quickly cut up and became heavy going. Into the side came Luke Allen and Bradley Woods-Garness.
The tricky Woods-Garness posed early problems for the home side, but after just five minutes they were in front. A free kick to Tonbridge was poorly delivered from the half-way line and a first time clearance sent Andre McCollin clear to shoot past the Angels' goalkeeper, Anthony Di Barnardo from around the edge of the box.
The visitors responded to the set back and territorially dominated but created largely half-chances, although a 14th minute header from Nathan Elder should have brought more than a comfortable save out of Rob Tolfrey.
Tolfrey, often a thorn in Tonbridge's side in the past, was at his agile best in an unbelievable 15 seconds on 27 minutes. Following a Nick Wheeler corner, twice he made plunging saves and a third effort was cleared from the line by a defender with the Tonbridge faithful behind the goal holding their heads in disbelief.
Tonbridge continued to enjoy the best of the possession through to the end of the half, but without carrying any significant threat. A good move involving Woods-Garness and Wheeler ended with Allen firing over and just before the break Woods-Garness had a snap shot on the turn comfortably saved by Tolfrey.
Ten minutes into the second half came one of the game's defining moments. A rush of blood from Di Barnardo saw him sprinting from his goal in a foot race with McCollin to clear the ball to safety. McCollin won, and as he rounded the goalkeeper, he was hauled to the ground by a rugby tackle around the waist. Personally, at the time, I thought the goalkeeper was about to walk, but the referee, presumably taking into account the position on the field of play of the incident, deemed it was worthy of just a booking. The Kingstonian supporters around us were incensed by the decision. On reflection, I now think the referee got it right, it was very wide and there were Tonbridge defenders getting back at the centre of the goal. They were further frustrated when in quick succession two yellow were shown to Dan Bennett and George Wells.
A double substitution on 68 minutes was also pivotal in the Tonbridge recovery with Blewden and Tommy Whitnall coming on for Woods-Garness and Charlie Webster. Neither was particularly involved a minute later when a cross from the right from Wheeler found the head of Elder who scored from close range.
With their tails up, it was just five minutes later when Blewden surged through the middle of the park to unleash a shot from the edge of the box which Tolfrey only parried into the path of Whitnall. Rather than taking a first time shot, the substitute composed himself, rounded the keeper and placed the ball into an empty net.
Kingstonian pressed forward in search of a match saving goal and produced a couple of heart-stopping moments but, in time added on, Whitnell picked the pocket of a Kings defender on the right touchline and passed inside to Wheeler, who like his teammate earlier, composed himself and tucked the ball into the far corner.
joyous celebration amongst the travelling support and a mini pitch invasion that was unnecessary and might bring an unwanted fine from the Football Association.
But nothing will detract from the memory of this day. Tonbridge undoubtedly are a talented team, but one with a spine and resolve. McCollin and Harold Odametey are a handful, but man-of-the-match Jerrome Sobers and his central defensive partner, Sonny Miles, largely restricted them to long range efforts. This was a good day, a very good day, but there needs to be several of these days, home and away, over the coming four weeks.
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