Folkestone Invicta (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Soares-Jr 57
Attendance: 342
Admission: £3 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 64/102
Weather: 16degC. Torrential rain
The rain that had pounded Wimbledon’s Centre Court roof so loudly that through the TV you could not hear the ball hitting the racket duly arrived at Folkestone Invicta just prior to kick off and it fell in monsoon proportions.
Credit must go to the Folkestone ground staff who had prepared a pitch that was just about the best that its been in recent visits and one that despite an obvious amount of standing water survived not just the 20 minutes that some of us envisaged but a full length game.
And, to be fair, for a pre-season friendly, it was a decent watch.
From a Tonbridge Angels point of view, there were extra minutes added from Saturday’s opener at Rusthall. The starting eleven progressed to the hour mark to be replaced with a first look at Joe Boachie, who looked lively and a clutch of Academy lads, none of which looking out of place.
Ruben Soares-Junior over the two games has looked like a player that is saying to his gaffer, I want to play my football for you this season, not out on loan. He was a constant threat and a spectacular overhead kick that took a deflection to loop it over the goalkeeper proved to be the winner. Technically, it was perhaps an own goal, I’m taking the moral high ground and awarding it to RSJ.
During the first half, the best of the chances fell to the home side with Ira Jackson forcing Jonny Henly into a 11th minute save and a free kick from the edge of the box that was touched over by the Angels’ keeper.
The second half saw more attacking intent from Tonbridge and following Soares-Junior’s goal on 58 minutes, Boachie won a penalty on 70 minutes, but Joe Turner’s driven shot from the spot crashed down from the underside of the bar and to safety.
Pre-season games are never remembered for too long but at least the weather will have registered itself in the memory for a while.
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