Tonbridge (2) 3 Gooding 38, 43, Sigere 70
Ebbsfleet (2) 2 Shakes 10, Hickey 37 (pen)
Att. 252
Entrance: £6
Programme: 50p
Mileage: 26/162
It would have come as something of a relief for these two Kent clubs to be playing football again. A summer of turmoil can be put behind them and their respective managers will be tested by reduced budgets brought about by their clubs’ off-field problems.
Both managers have had to lose players as these adjustments are being made and for Liam Daish this resulted in a team almost entirely made up of triallists and youth team players at the time the final whistle sounded. Tommy Warrilow’s situation is not quite as critical, he has lost players but there is still the nucleus of half-a-dozen of last season’s successful side.
Longmead looked in fine order with its new perimeter fencing and a lush green pitch that had needed an extra week bedding in, thus causing the postponement of the Gillingham friendly last Saturday. The grass is being kept a little long and its base showed signs of being a bit dusty but appeared to play well.
In an entertaining game, Tonbridge came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 with a second half winner from new signing Jean-Michal Sigere. After an even opening few minutes Ricky Shakes made the most of a excellent left wing cross to head the Fleet into a 10th minute lead. The game continued to be evenly contested until Luke Hickey put the visitors two in front from the penalty spot following a hand ball on 37 minutes.
Rather than being set back by their deficit, Tonbridge produced two Scott Gooding headers from set pieces to go in deservedly all-square at half time.
Tonbridge overall dominated the second half as Daish made wholesale changes. For Tonbridge, Carl Rook, presently trialling at Brighton, was replaced by Paul Booth. Midway through the half, Booth intercepted a poor back pass, rounded the keeper and unselfishly slid a pass for Sigere to tap into a open goal.
Steve Ferguson produced an livewire display down the right wing and should prove a handful for Ryman League defenders in the weeks to come.
It seems strange to say that the loss of a 40 goal striker would be a blessing, but should Brighton firm up their interest in Rook, the money saved on the wage bill, plus a potential fee could free up enough cash for a couple of incoming players. Such is the hard reality of clubs at this level when they lose their principal backers/benefactors.
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