Tonbridge 1 Sutton United 4

Match 09/11/896 - Tuesday, 16 August 2011 - BSq Conference South

Tonbridge (0) 1 Collin 85
Sutton United (2) 4 Beautyman 7, Orilonishe 15,79, Riviere 86
Att. 683

Entrance: £6 Senior Citizen
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 26/638

Match Report

Reality can bite back and it when it does, it can really hurt.

Sutton United’s heavy defeat at the hands of Woking and the Angels comprehensive win at Maidenhead should not have led to any complacency and on the pitch there was no evidence that it did, but the events of the evening led to a severe wake-up call for one and all.

The Tonbridge back line that had looked assured on Saturday was led a merry dance by Leroy Griffiths, a striker who was completely out of his depth during his spell at Gillingham, and the very impressive Fola Orilonishe, whilst the home front line was easily controlled by Karim El-Salahi and Sam Page, a powerful central defensive pairing.

Tonbridge endured a nightmare start to the game and struggled to gain a foothold from that early period. With just seven minutes on the clock, an under hit back pass from Jon Heath allowed Harry Beautyman a one-on-one with Lee Worgan; the keeper managed to parry at the feet of the Sutton striker but the rebound allowed an open goal to tap into.

After 14 minutes, Griffiths set up Orilonishe, once again Worgan parried the first effort but the ball fell kindly and the Sutton No. 4 was able to score with covering defenders unable to make a challenge. At this point, with Tonbridge being opened up almost at will, a long evening looked as though it would ensue. To a certain extent the home side responded and Jon Main had an attempt that was wide and Ade Olorunda had a goal disallowed for a push, but the whistle had long since sounded.

Just prior to half time the Angels defence once again went to sleep and it took a fine double stop from Worgan to thwart Griffiths and Beautyman’s follow-up was kept out by Sonny Miles. Sutton had looked two yards quicker throughout a one-sided first period.

Tonbridge made a better fist of the second half without imposing much of a threat before 15 minutes from time Sutton made the game safe. Griffiths was once again the provider as his right wing pass found substitute Ramone McCrea, whose shot was parried by Worgan into the path for Orilonshe to tap in front close range. Sympathy has to go to the Tonbridge keeper who managed to get something onto every one of the goals but only managed to find the eventual scorer.

Frannie Collin, on as substitute for Main, scored a consolation goal with eight minutes remaining before Anthony Riviere scored the goal of the match a minute later with a magnificent shot curled into the far corner from 20 yards, this time giving Worgan no chance.

Hopefully an encouraging attendance of 683 will not be too disheartened by this opening Blue Square Conference South fixture and will return in similar numbers in the future, but next time there will be no false illusions as to the task that faces Tommy Warrilow and his troops in the coming weeks.

Maidenhead United 0 Tonbridge 4

Match 08/11/895 - Saturday, 13 August 2011 - BSq Conference South

Maidenehead United (0) 0
Tonbridge (2) 4 Henry 20, Beecroft 37, Main 70 Olorunda 79
Att. 385

Entrance: £6 Senior Citizen
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 156/612
New Ground: 243

Match Report

It’s not going to be this easy every week.

Tonbridge took their place on opening day of the Blue Square Conference South at a historic venue, York Road, Maidenhead and the 4-0 win would have been beyond the expectations of even their most optimistic of supporters.

Tonbridge fans turned out in force to welcome their club to the relative big time and might easily have accounted for one-third of the 385 attendance. They left probably a bit bewildered that the standard of the opposition was so poor, they should not be fooled, I doubt we will see a worse side than Maidenhead in the coming months.

But that should take nothing away from a thoroughly dominant performance from the Angels. They started brightly, setting the tempo for the whole match. When called upon, the central defenders coped with the little threat offered and when asked, Lee Worgan made a couple of decent saves to preserve their clean sheet. On another day, Jon Main will be the first to admit that his goal tally could easily be have been four as the visitors shredded the home defence almost at will.

Tonbridge took the lead on 20 minutes when the tricky Chris Henry collected a pass from the impressive Anthony Storey and curled a shot into the corner of the net. This was followed in the 37th minute with a second first half goal. Main seized upon a weak back pass and although the dithering Nick Bussey took the sting out of his shot, it did no more than leave Jake Beecroft with a tap into an open net.

Into the second half and Main inexplicably steered a header wide before, in the 65th minute, finishing with the aplomb of a seasoned striker. Latching onto a ball over the top from Jon Heath, the home keeper neither came or stayed at home and the Tonbridge striker lobbed him with ease. The game was completed when Ade Olorunda, who had a superb match leading the line, curled in a shot from the corner of the penalty area to the delight of the fans assembled behind the goal.

Impressive it was, but when Sutton United come visiting on Tuesday evening smarting from a 5-0 home defeat by Woking, thoughts are more likely to be centred on just how good are Woking rather than another easy night for the Angels.

York Road is the oldest football ground in the country, some say the world, with continual use as a football stadium. It is perhaps not quite what we might have expected from a higher level of the pyramid. It is a hotch-potch of enclosures that engendered a certain charm, but also the reality that it is very old and a little tatty. But it will certainly be remembered as the place where the first three points of Conference football were attained.

Brighton and Hove Albion 1 Gillingham 0

Match 07/11/894 - Tuesday, 9 August 2011 - Carling Cup 1R

Brighton & Hove Albion (0) 1 Barnes 67 (pen)
Gillingham (0) 0
Att. 16,295

Entrance: £14.50
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 80/456
New Ground: 242

Match Report

The old green eyed monster is a terrible trait in life and, in general, I don’t suffer from it, but football throws up a whole different set of circumstances than everyday life. All football supporters have clubs they don’t like for various reasons and one of mine is Brighton & Hove Albion. I didn’t much like them before they became tenants at Priestfield but their constant carping during their tenure that they were being ripped off by Gillingham left me hating their very existence, one that our club was instrumental in preserving.

There was something comforting about the Withdean Stadium; it was a poxy place that ideally suited a poxy club. Now they have a shiny new home and one, that as we approached we were quickly reminded by the first Albion supporter we encountered. Seeing our Gillingham colours he remarked, “Now we have a proper stadium”, yes, but you’ve still got a poxy club.

That’s got that off the chest. Yes the Village People Community Stadium is very impressive. Its main three-tiered stand is very pleasing on the eye with its curved roof mimicking the rolling hills in which it is set. The layout behind both goals is rather odd, especially the end where the home fans are sited. The amount of seating in relation to the room available seems limited, but I presume it is an area that can be reconfigured should they find themselves in the Premier League and requiring extra capacity. Likewise the visitors end and the other side, scope for extra seating is apparent.

The obvious downside to Falmer is the (wait for it, that word is coming again!) poxy transport links. No parking at the stadium means a park and ride that is nine miles away. That be said, we were the luckiest parkers in the Amex on Tuesday evening. At 6 p.m. we pulled up at Falmer to ask the way to the Park and Ride, having failed to find the Mill Hill point. A kindly steward took pity on us and allowed, despite the intervention of another steward, to occupy a corner spot at the Station. Lucky, lucky, lucky!

As for the game itself, given the two division difference between the sides, Gillingham performed admirably. There are the same reservations as the opening League game, Danny Kedwell cannot continue infinitum to plough a lone furrow up front and discipline cannot allow for seven bookings to be accumulated in a single match, even allowing for a poor performance from a real homer of a referee. The match was ultimately decided with the latter, Andy Frampton wrongly adjudged to have brought down the home danger man, Will Buckley, to concede the duly converted penalty. Television pictures clearly show that the Gillingham captain played the ball and Buckley fell very easily.

After early chances for Kedwell, the second of which was cleared from the line, Brighton exerted a lot of pressure on the visitors back line, especially poor Barry Fuller who was given a torrid time by Buckley. But they stayed firm with the central defensive partnership of Frampton and Matt Lawrence repelling everything alongside Joe Martin who continued his fine start to the season and it is to the credit of the back four that Ross Flitney barely had a save of note to make.

Gillingham actually enjoyed the better of the second period. Lewis Montrose had a penalty appeal turned down by the rotund Brendan Malone. At the time it didn’t look a penalty, but it was as much a penalty as the one given later. Casper Ankergren was forced to make a decent save from a Montrose header as Gillingham held the balance of play.

Following the 67th minute penalty, duly converted by Ashley Barnes, and into the final ten minutes, Gillingham could be accused of losing their discipline and a reckless challenge from substitute Stefan Payne led to a mass coming together of both sets of players before a frustrating final period when referee Malone blew his whistle and booked Gillingham players almost to distraction.

So, our involvement in the Carling Cup ends with a defeat in the first round but in a heartening manner. One final word for the steward at Falmer Station who said that we could not park there on future occasions, we don’t want to come back to your poxy club anyway.

To my readers who in the past have enjoyed balanced reports, the green-eyed monster is back in its cage and normal service will be resumed at Maidenhead.

Gillingham 1 Cheltenham Town 0

Match 06/11/893 - Saturday, 6 August 2011 - League Two

Gillingham (1) 1 Montrose 26
Cheltenham Town (0) 0
Att. 5,360

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3.00
Mileage: 45/376

Match Report

A moment of madness from Luke Rooney left Gillingham holding on for their opening day victory at Priestfield this afternoon. The Gillingham youngster lunged into a reckless challenge and was shown a straight red card by a rookie referee who took dog’s abuse for the decision but, in truth, was left with very little option.

Sensing their opportunity to grab a point, the visitors piled forward but a resolute performance from Gillingham’s back line left keeper Ross Flitney with just one comfortable save to make. New skipper Andy Frampton and Matt Lawrence gave towering displays in the centre of the defence and Joe Martin had one of his best games for the club, including a major contribution to the winning goal.

Gillingham’s lack of support for Danny Kedwell is patently obvious to everyone, none more so than Andy Hessenthaler. Kedwell worked tirelessly as the lone striker and it was such a shame that his superb display was not rewarded with a goal when he wasted his one big chance of the game. Rooney’s corner with ten minutes remaining was met with an unchallenged header, but the striker’s effort was well wide.

The first half was pretty much one-way traffic with Cheltenham’s contribution being limited to a series of irritating shoves in the back from James Spencer who tried the patience of the home support and the referee to the absolute limit before he was eventually booked just prior to half time.

Chris Whelpdale reminded Gillingham supporters of his shooting powers that had been displayed during last season’s loan spell with a couple of rasping drives that had whistled over the bar before Gillingham took a deserved lead on 26 minutes. Joe Martin made a surging run from his left back position, his cross found Whelpdale who laid the ball back for Jack Payne to strike. The youngster’s shot was blocked but the rebound fell into the path of Lewis Montrose (pictured) who fired into the bottom corner with a crisp strike.

Gillingham were good value for their half time lead, but their visitors approached the second half with a renewed vigour. Of concern during the second period was the number of free kicks that were conceded close to the penalty area and better sides than Cheltenham are not going to allow Ross Flitney the luxury of not having a save to make from any of them.

Curtis Weston was introduced from the bench to replace Montrose with 20 minutes remaining and for the first time there was a discernable partner for the impressive Kedwell. In the final minute of the 90, Weston brought a good save from Scott Brown, turning his shot around a post. This was an impressive little cameo from Weston that would have caught the manager’s eye and a possible starting position for Tuesday’s Carling Cup tie at Brighton.

Nothing more can really be asked on opening day than to get off to a good start and Gillingham will certainly be glad to have three points on the board having waited the length of August for a win last term.

Hythe Town 2 Tonbridge 2

Match 05/11/892 - Saturday, 30 July 2011 - Pre-Season Friendly

Hythe Town (2) 2 Parkinson 7, Cook 28
Tonbridge (1) 2 Main, 18, 59
Att. 128

Entrance: £7.50
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 78/331
New Ground: 241

Match Report

No pre-season would be complete without a new ground to visit and this year it was a trip down to the East Kent coast for Tonbridge’s fixture at Hythe Town and their Reachfields stadium. A pleasant enough little arena that is dominated by the clubhouse that is not particularly pleasing on the eye but viewing from the balcony is rather good, I’m told. Alongside there is a shallow stand with a limited amount of seating but the rest of the ground is without any terracing or cover.

The match itself was a well-contested affair with a draw a fair reflection of the play. Hythe took an early lead when the Angels defence failed to deal with a long throw, the ball was deflected into the net and the goal was awarded to Tom Parkinson, it looked like an own goal from the sidelines. Jon Main equalized after 18 minutes before Hythe retook the lead on 26 minutes. Once again the home side credit the goal to their own Dave Cook, but the ball was clearly directed into the net via the knee of Tonbridge’s Ben Andrews.

The second half saw the visitors step up the pace and on the hour, Main added his second of the afternoon finishing whilst one-on-one with the keeper.

Hythe should have won the game but for a miss worthy of YouTube fame from Lloyd Blackman, who somehow managed to loft the ball way over the bar from a couple of yards at most.

So the curtain comes down on pre-season as the weather warms itself for the traditional opening day of the season in baking sunshine.

Gillingham 0 Millwall 1

Match 04/11/891 - Saturday, 23 July 2011 - Pre-Season Friendly

Gillingham (0) 0
Millwall (0) 1 McQuoid 90
Att. Estimated 2,500

Entrance: £15
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 45/153

Match Report

Gillingham’s first of three friendlies at Priestfield will be my only pre-season visit as I embark on my annual rant about the admission fee. £15, plus another quid for booking on the internet, is too much for a bloody friendly and I don’t care whether it’s Millwall or Barcelona. OK, so I would happily stump up £15 to watch Lionel Messi strut his stuff on our fields of green, but Darius Henderson . . . do me a favour.

As it turned out it was a passable game of football, Gillingham lost to a last minute goal but gave a display that would lend itself to a certain amount of optimism for the coming season but with the caveat that they were rather toothless failing to force Steve Mildenhall in the Lions goal into a single save of note. The loss of Adam Birchall, whose cruciate injury sustained at Welling will sideline him for the first six months, leaves Danny Kedwell without an obvious partner and sadly it showed.

At times it was quite feisty for pre-season, the aforementioned Henderson and our own Matt Lawrence and Charlie Lee, both ex-Lions, being charitably ticked off by the referee when in regular season a card would certainly have been brandished.

The usual plethora of substitutions at half time contributed to the first two real chances of the game early in the second half both wasted by Millwall’s Hamer Bouazza and Josh McQuoid.

The deadlock was finally broken in the visitors’ favour in the last minute. Gillingham’s central defence weakened by the withdrawal of Lawrence went absent as a free kick from Bouazza found John Marquis in space in the six yard box, to glance a header past the triallist Argentinean keeper, Paulo Gazzaniga.

Gillingham can take positives from the first half performance of new captain Andy Frampton, resolute and very vocal, there is no doubt he will be a fine signing and also the little cameo from Luke Rooney, quiet first half but had a good 15 minutes before being substituted in the second. One suspects Rooney is not the long-term answer as a replacement for Birchall, but could be the immediate solution.

Tonbridge 5 Gillingham 2

Match 03/11/890 - Thursday, 21 July 2011 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge (2) 5 Collin 22,79 (pen) Kinch 40, Main 87, Parter (o.g.) 90
Gillingham (2) 2 Rance 19, Davies 32
Att. 448

Entrance: Senior Citizen £5
Programme: £0.50
Mileage: 26/108

Match Report

In the 35 years that I’ve supported both clubs there has never been a pre-season friendly between them, but there have been two Kent Senior Cup ties (one win apiece) in that period, the last in 1997.

So this was a game keenly anticipated by myself, and much to the Binman’s chagrin, I was supporting Tonbridge on the night, longevity of support the governing factor.

For the home side there was the opportunity to put their calamitous start to pre-season behind them, but for Gillingham, who brought a side made up of youngsters and triallists, nothing more than those players making an impression on the manager.

The end result was a confidence-building win for Tonbridge with nobody emerging with honours from the visiting ranks.

Daren Hawkes, in the Gillingham goal, effectively their number two keeper until such times as a more experienced signing is made, had a particularly difficult night. He found himself in no-man’s land early on and was saved by a poor finish and after Gillingham had taken the lead through a splendid Dean Rance finish from 25 yards, he chased from his goal line to the edge of the box, only to be beaten to the ball by ex-Gill Frannie Collin, who coolly lobbed the errant keeper.

Barry Fuller, the one first-teamer on display searching for match fitness, struck a 32nd minute free kick that rebounded from the underside of the bar allowing Callum Davies to head home from a yard to give Gillingham a 2-1 lead before a well constructed move ended with Scott Kinch heading in from close range to level the proceedings at half time.

The second half was also an even contest until Tonbridge benefited from an uncharitable refereeing decision with ten minutes remaining. Hawkes made another hash of collecting a cross and when Alwyne Jones’ shot was handled on the line by Davies, the young defender was shown the red card as the official exercised the letter of the law. It was a friendly, for Christ’s sake!

Collin smashed home the penalty and Tonbridge then ran riot for the final ten minutes. Jon Main delighted the 442 attendance with his first goal on his return to the club, a glancing header and Gills misery was complete when Jack Parter deflected the ball past the hapless Hawkes for a fifth.

There have not been many times I’ve gone home happy at a Gillingham defeat, but it was morale boosting for Tommy Warrilow’s side to bounce back after their Brentford trauma.