Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Greenidge 9
Havant & Waterloovile (0) 1 Faal 83
Attendance: 964
Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/3,502
After representing the club as an Under-10; he made his debut in 2008 against Merstham and here we are 14 years later, and barring one season when he was lured to the dark side by now Angels’ manager, Jay Saunders, he continues to be the rock at the centre of our defence with his no-nonsense defending and, friend or foe, a constant stream of chatter.
The team on the other side of the pitch were another of the high-spending, full-time clubs that sit healthily in the top three with their goals scored column the best in the league. So Sonny’s task to celebrate the occasion would be a daunting one and one that threatened to go horribly wrong after 11 minutes in an incident that I’ve only ever seen before on television!
After the presentation of a framed “500 Miles” shirt, Sonny lined up in an Angels XI that showed Craig Braham-Bennett returning to the side with Dajon Golding retiring to the bench.
Havant showed their attacking capabilities right from the outset and Muhammadu Faal put a shot only narrowly wide of the right hand post. But it was Tonbridge that took a ninth minute lead when Jordan Greenidge, winning the ball on the left touchline, surged inside to strike into the far corner.
The lead was apparently not too last too long as one of the strangest incidents I’ve seen in a long while transpired. Initially a cross from the left from Joe Newton was handled by Miles as the ball was about to drop onto the head of Jason Prior. We held our breath, surely not today of all days, was Sonny about to see a red card? Referee Matthew Norton rightly deemed that a cross is not a goal scoring attempt and the yellow was brandished but a penalty given. What happened next was, at first baffling, and something that is going to witnessed very few times in a lifetime. James Roberts stepped up to take the penalty and sent Jonny Henly the wrong way, but as he struck the ball, he slipped and both feet made contact, thus disallowing the goal. It was a great spot from the referee, and I would hasten to add, the young lad stood alongside me!
Louis Collins had a great chance to double the Angels advantage on 24 minutes when Joe Turner headed the ball forward and Collins got in behind the Havant back line but his attempt to lob Brad House was a tame one and the goalkeeper collected with ease.
Havant continued to create chances, Danny Wright flicked a header wide and Faal was denied by Henly with a save at his near post and, five minutes before the break, Faal should have done a lot better than shoot straight at Henly when sent clear.
Henly continued his heroics early into the second period saving with his legs again, this time from Charlie Ruff, whilst just past the hour, Faal shot wastefully over. It was not quite one-way traffic and Greenidge won the ball just inside Havant’s half before sending Devote Aransibia clear but his shot was taken too early and drifted wide.
Henly saved a long shot from Roberts and then produced a remarkable stop to deny Faal and with Paul Rooney blazing the rebound over, as the game entered its final 10 minutes, perhaps another great win was on the cards.
But, in football it is the hope that kills you and with seven minutes remaining those hopes were dashed. Tommy Parkinson, on as a substitute, attempted to shepherd a ball out of play for a goal kick, but Newton hooked the ball back to Faal whose initial shot was parried by Henly but it rebounded back off Faal and into the net.
A point would have been most acceptable before the kick-off but this was heartbreaking. But, this was Captain Fantastic, Sonny Miles’ day, duly awarded Man of the Match (and not without merit) and it was fitting that a superb defensive display had brought reward from the game.
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