Sunday 6 November 2016

Tonbridge 0 Kingstonian 1

Match 50/16/1357 - Saturday, 5th November 2016 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (0) 0
Kingstonian (1) 1 Inns 7
Attendance: 481

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/3,937

Guy Fawkes Day turned into a damp squib for Tonbridge as an early goal from Alan Inns was enough to consign the Angels' unbeaten home record to the bin.

Tonbridge's injury woes (crisis even) shows little sign of abatting with George Beaven returning to the treatment table and James Folkes on the bench in name only. Nathan Elder's continued absence brought the recall of Tashi-Jay Kwayie from his loan spell at East Grinstead and into the side for his senior debut. It was a difficult ask of the youngster playing as a lone striker against the experienced pairing of Bruce Hogg and Alan Inns, but he stuck to his task and put an audacious overhead kick just wide of the post after 10 minutes.

Tonbridge had an early chance when a shot from Jerrome Sobers was saved at the near post by Rob Tolfrey.

Sobers was brought into action at his own end a minute later when he deflected a cross past his own goal. From the resultant corner, Inns powered in an unchallenged header to put the Ks in front.

Tonbridge huffed and puffed a response but without the strength and hold-up play of Elder it was difficult for them to make an impression on a well-drilled Kingstonian defence. They came closest after 35 minutes when a run and cross from Kwayie was just behind Luke Allen but Luke Blewden arriving from the right hand side struck a shot that hit the outside of a post.

Early in the second period, a shot from outside of the penalty area from Sean Bennett-Johnson was tipped over by Di Bernardo as Tonbridge continued to control possession but failing to create anything of note.

Just past the hour, Kwayie was unlucky when a shot following a cross from Ugo Udoji was deflected wide for a corner, quickly followed by a Nick Wheeler free kick that suffered the same fate.

As the minutes ticked away, Kwayie failed to find the target with a header after some good work from Wheeler, whilst with three minutes to go, a splendid move involving Tommy Whitnell and Jack Parter ended with the latter running on to a pass but Tolfrey was out to smother at his feet.

It is said form is temporary, class is permanent, so I'm optimistic that the early season form will return in the not-too-distant future. I believe I know exactly when that will be, the day Tommy Parkinson is fit and ready to return to action.

Pictures courtesy of David Couldridge

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