Tonbridge 3 Ashford Town (Middx) 2

Match 14/09/766 - Monday, 31st August 2009 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (0) 3 Minshull 47, Rook 63, 90 (pen)
Asford Town (Middx) (0) 2 Bulley 46, Johnson 61
Att. 440

Entrance: £10
Programme: £2
Mileage: 26/2,257

Match Report

For 44 minutes of this Ryman Premier clash it appeared that I was at the same game as Saturday’s encounter at Walsall. It was dull, chances were few and far between as the players struggled with the heat of a hot August Bank Holiday and a pitch that was solid as a rock under a carpet of grass that looked great but from all accounts is quite difficult.

After 20 minutes and against the tempo of the game, Lee Worgan was forced into a finger-tip save from a speculative 25 yarder from Ricardo Joseph. Both sides created a couple of half chances that failed to extend either keeper until just before half time when firstly Jamie Cade ran into the box and had a shot that was well saved by Ashford keeper, Craig Ross, his parry fell to Kirk Watts whose shot was also turned away for a corner. From the resultant corner, Paul Booth headed just over to end the half and set the scene for an altogether better second period.

The second half was only seconds old when a looping header from Malachi Bulley crept in off a post. It was just the tonic the game needed as Tonbridge responded immediately. Watts centred a great cross that was met by Lee Minshull with a powerful header into the top corner.

The Angels should have gone into the lead when Booth missed when it seemed easier to score before some awful defending once again handed Ashford the lead. A free kick into the box left Paul Johnson with a shooting chance that he scuffed badly. Rather than capitalising on their good fortune, the Tonbridge defence returned the ball to Johnson who this time scored with another half-hit shot.

Once again Tonbridge managed to respond quickly. Gavin Dayes, a 58th minute substitute, crossed from the right to the back post where Carl Rook headed home. The home side now held the ascendancy and Ross did well to tip away a long range shot from Anthony Storey. Rook saw an acrobatic volley just clear the bar and had another shot that went in the same direction as the time ticked away.

On the 90th minute Tonbridge were awarded a penalty. Minshull, a worthy man of the match, sent Watts free down the left hand side whose cross was clearly handled by Vinnie O’Sullivan. Rook converted from the spot, sending the keeper the wrong way. There was a sense of deja-vu from last season’s exciting encounter with Ashford when Tonbridge came back from two goals down to win by the same scoreline with a goal well into time added.

So alls well that ends well for Tonbridge who would nevertheless have frustrated their manager, Tommy Warrilow, with some sloppy defending. But the win moves them into third place in the Ryman Premier, a good start given the uncertainty surrounding the club as the season commenced.