Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Worthing (0) 1 Pearce 62
Attendance: 1,337
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/5,094
In a really good game, Worthing showed all the credentials of a promotion winning side including the must have, a prolific striker in Ollie Pearce, whose goal took his total to 21 for the season.
That be said, in my opinion, Tonbridge deserved something out of the game and with the sharper finishing that their visitors possessed, they would have got what they deserved.
After the freezing temperatures of the last few days, the mercury rose a little but it was still pretty chilly as another bumper crowd, boosted by a strong following from West Sussex, of 1,337 was in attendance.
Tonbridge paraded two new loan signings, Nathan Odonkonyero, a striker from Ebbsfleet United and Liam Vincent, a left back from Portsmouth. Jordan Greenidge, Sean Shields and Jernade Meade were absent through injury.
Worthing showed their attacking intent from the outset and had a futile penalty appeal waved away followed by Jonny Henly making a save to thwart Jake Robinson, but the best chance of the opening minutes fell to Paris Lock who was fed a pass on the left side of the area from Mo Dabre, but his shot was well saved at the near post by Josh Jeffries.
A weaving run from the left from Lock ended with a Dabre shot that was comfortably collected by Jeffries and Odonkonyero pulled a shot wide as the Angels were enjoying the better of the play.
On 38 minutes, Worthing’s Danny Cashman was sent clear but blazed wastefully over whilst a minute later, Jeffries was the hero of the hour as he brilliantly clawed a Lock effort out of the top corner.
As the curtain came down on the first period, feeling was there was little between the teams with perhaps the Angels shading it.
In the 62nd minute, Worthing opened the scoring with some patient play down the left that retained possession before a long cross to the far post was headed back across the face of goal by Michael Klass for a typical poacher’s goal from Pearce, knocking in from close range whilst under pressure.
On 71 minutes a chance on the edge of the box fell to Gard, but his shot was high and wide. With 10 minutes remaining Lock’s persistence and quick feet saw him drive into the box where he went down under pressure from Finlay Chadwick.
Six successful conversions previously this season, Gard was probably due to miss one, and this was that time with a spot kick that comfortably cleared the bar.
The home side pressed hard for an equaliser, Tariq Hinds went down in the box in added time but this time the referee was unmoved.
Worthing proved their worth, no pun intended, and the Angels can only reflect that the difference between the sides has been the clinical striker, that Pearce is. That sort of quality doesn’t come chief and is beyond the means of most National League South clubs.
No comments:
Post a Comment