Tonbridge 0 AFC Wimbledon 4

Match 46/07/663 - Saturday, 12th January 2008 - FA Trophy 2nd Round

Tonbridge (0) 0
AFC Wimbledon (2) 4 Webb 13 De-Bolla 45, 58 Jolly 90
Att. 2,281

Entrance: £9
Programme: £2
Mileage: 26/3,862

A record attendance at Longmead saw the majority going home happy with the result as AFC Wimbledon supplied the bulk of the crowd. Arriving for a Tonbridge home game more than an hour before kick off and finding the car park close to full and even a 15 minute delay in starting due to congestion at the turnstiles are all near novel experiences at Longmead. The 2,281 gathered exceeded the previous record for the play-off game against Dover by 400 or so.

The Tonbridge supporters in attendance will be disappointed with both the scoreline and the manner of the defeat. AFC Wimbledon are a good side, they have some big name players in non-league terms and played with a confidence befitting of their lofty league position and certainly did not need the help of three gift goals from the home side.

Tonbridge were shorn of half-a-dozen players cup tied, suspended or injured and threw a couple of new players into the fray. Unfortunately they were at fault for the three gift goals. Daniel Webb, son of Dave, the ex-Chelsea hardman, seized onto a poor clearance from Starkey and scored with a well hit shot and either side of the interval, a miss kick and a misjudgement from centre back Wilfort contributed to two Mark De Bolla goals. Previously De Bolla had seen a penalty saved by Matt Reed.

By the time Richard Jolly rounded off the scoring, Tonbridge’s run to the last 32 of the Trophy had been terminated unceremoniously. The victory over Oxford United in the previous round should not be forgotten and the club should have made a few bob today, but now their league form is of paramount concern and hopefully a more settled side will lead to more consistency.

AFCW obviously have the support base to go on to the higher echelons of non league and perhaps ultimately into the Football League, where they would consider to be in their rightful place as the true reincarnation of Wimbledon Football Club, unlike the impostors from Milton Keynes.