Welling United (1) 1 Stevenson 23
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 767
Admission: £10 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 72/3,237
The visitors have never won a league game against Welling at Park View Road and probably will never have a better chance as, despite their improvement under Peter Taylor, they were average at best.
Steve McKimm made two changes, Harry Hudson was rested to the bench and Joe Turner, how he was missed, was unavailable. Tom Parkinson returned after his midweek absence through injury and Doug Loft was restored to the starting line-up.
Tonbridge were on the front foot from the outset with Ricky Modeste to the fore and his sixth minute cross flashed across the face of goal but nobody was gambling and the chance went begging.
Next few minutes, Adam Lovatt’s shot deflected for a corner; Ibrahim Olutade’s header is straight at Welling goalkeeper, Jack Sims and Tom Beere shoots a free kick narrowly wide of the post. Chance after chance.
On 22 minutes, the ball was lost deep in Welling’s half and one punt into the left hand channel saw ex-Angels loanee, Bradley Stevenson clear to finish past Jonny Henly.
Welling had their best spell of the match following the goal and another ex-Tonbridge player, Kristian Campbell put a shot wide and a well timed tackle from JJ O’Sullivan saved the day.
The momentum for the visitors was restored with a Beere cross failing to find a striker in the right place and a Lovatt shot saved by Sims followed by a Modeste effort that goes over. Chance after chance.
The second half began with Henly brought into action but this was followed by a Parkinson header saved by Sims and a double attempt by Olutade that ended being deflected for a corner. Chance after chance.
By now McKimm has rolled the dice with his attackers with Tommy Wood replacing Aaron Smith-Joseph and after 63 minutes, Jake Hutchinson for Olutade.
68 minutes, Beere shot wide; Sonny Miles header from a corner into the hands of Sims. Chance after chance.
What Tonbridge needed was a lucky break and when Wood was manhandled to the ground in the penalty area, the appeals were loud and somewhat desperate, but the referee waved it away.
Corners were many but the time ebbed away and once more the Angels faithful trooped away disconsolately. There was no chorus of boos, no calls for heads on platters, but without doubt there is genuine concern. Tonbridge Angels supporters are in the main a realistic lot, they understand there is not a budget for an £800 a week striker and the clubs at the top of the table have these strikers anyway and won’t be releasing them anytime soon.
Steve McKimm’s Radio Kent interview was as usual honest and forthright. He said: “I’ve got to look at myself, I’ve got to look at the players and I’ve got to speak to the board and see what the best thing is for the club because this cannot continue.”
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