St Albans City (0) 3
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Turner 6
Attendance: 700
Admission: Pass
Programme: None
Mileage: 150/2,578
They opened the gates and the people came! For the first time in nine months, an attendance was allowed at a National League South game with a limit of 700 and no visiting supporters. Strangely, it was as much a surreal moment as those long days of behind closed doors. St Albans, who went top following their victory, would have expected to host over a 1,000 in a normal set of circumstances but 700 is a very good starting point.
On the whole their protocols seemed good; the normal testing procedures that those of us lucky enough to have been able to attend games have become used to, were in place. There was heightened security and stewarding, with one female security making her presence felt in no uncertain terms!
The allowance of people to migrate from one end to the other at half-time though has to be questionable. The end that the home side were attacking in the first half is significantly larger than the other and in the second half, social distancing looked impossible in a more confined area.
But, despite the fact that the roar of the crowd and the celebration of goals and victory went the way of not the club I was supporting, it was great to hear and a first step to normality was taken without too many apparent concerns.
We, at Tonbridge Angels, must wait longer. Tier 3 it would appear is going to be with us into the New Year and all we can do is prepare and learn from the experiences of others in the meantime.
Tonbridge have enjoyed some, almost unbelievable, results on their travels this season with wins at Billericay, Chelmsford and Ebbsfleet that would have been the delight of their supporters had they been able to attend and it seemed another one might be added to the list when, after six minutes, a Ben Greenhalgh cross was tucked away at the far post by Joe Turner.
It was a good 15 minutes for the visitors, matching their high flying hosts and creating chances on the break but, after 17 minutes, a strange decision from the referee allowing a uncontested drop ball on the edge of the box following an injury to James Folkes which culminated into a cross a cross that was headed home by Mitchell Weiss.
Tonbridge were forced to onto the back foot and were grateful to goalkeeper Jonny Henly who made a string of fine saves to keep his side on level terms at the break.
An early penalty shout for Tonbridge as Tommy Wood went down was waved away but St Albans maintained their momentum with Henly needing to continue at his best.
The home side finally got their noses in front after 70 minutes when a free kick from the right side of the box was turned into his own goal by Sonny Miles under pressure.
A ball in behind the Angels defence allowed Shaun Jeffers a free run into the box from where he was upended by Rian Bray for the award of a penalty which he converted himself.
So the fans came, and as they all supported the same team, they all went home happy. Sadly, the Covid cases continue to rise in Kent so the day when Longmead throws open its gates appears to be a while away.
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