Cray Wanderers 1 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 3/22/2010 - Saturday, 9th July 2022 - Pre-Season Friendly

Cray Wanderers (0) 1 Cook 76
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Gard 76
Attendance: 100-ish

Admission: £5 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 80/236

On a blazing hot afternoon which was more readily associated with the Wimbledon Ladies Final shown on the big screen in the beer garden at Bromley, Jay Saunders’ Tonbridge Angels enjoyed a good first half in which they should have taken the game beyond their Isthmian Premier League hosts, Cray Wanderers but he second half was a different story and Cray were well worth their draw at the final whistle.

I’ve been to Bromley’s Hayes Lane several times with the Academy since the building of the Glyn Beverly Stand but the Broomfields Bar and Kitchen has never been open, so even if it was only to purchase a cup of tea (for the rather extortionate price of £2) it was a chance to view the 500-capacity facility and it did leave me with a massive case of ground envy. Firstly walking into the bar you pass a trophy cabinet that houses the FA Trophy won by Bromley back in May before entering the cavernous and tastefully decorated bar. All this is, of course, underneath a 1,450-seater stand that in itself is superb. But, of course, none of this has anything to do with Cray Wanderers, who are themselves in the process of building a new home at Flamingo Park, Sidcup.

Saunders has reduced his trialist to a single, new addition who played in the second half. I, and I think most others, can start to see the opening day team being based around the starting eleven at Cray with a couple of obvious changes who played in the second period, plus the post-match interview hint that there might be one further addition to the squad.

As already said Tonbridge were dominant in the first half with Jamie Fielding finding plenty of space to raid down the right side and supply a series of crosses that offered chances for Louis Collins and Joe Turner before eventually in the 39th minute his cross to the far post found the head of Lewis Gard. It was good to see the industry of Emmanuel Maja offering the space to bring out the best in Doug Loft.

The raft of second half changes saw Tonbridge losing their shape with Cray capitalising and whilst the Angels reshaped side, including three Academy lads, defended well it was a goal that was a while coming when a cross from the right was steered into the net by Anthony Cook after 76 minutes.

It was a rather run-of-the-mill friendly, interesting if you support one or other of the sides or a groundhopper with a particular interest in club bars.