Tonbridge 0 Brentford 0

Match 03/10/819 - Saturday, 17th July 2010 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge (0) 0
Brentford (0) 0
Att. 486

Entrance: £10
Programme: £2
Mileage: 26/158

Match Report

League One Brentford arrived at Longmead courtesy of Leon Legge’s transfer to the West London side last summer. Legge has emerged as a real success story at Griffin Park, making 33 League appearances in his first season which culminated with the award of player of the year.

Brentford paid Tonbridge the compliment of bringing their first string side which produced a strong end to last season which saw them finishing in the top half of the division. There were some familiar faces amongst them, the Gillingham Judas Nicky Forster, ex-Dartford hitman Charlie MacDonald, while Legge himself made an appearance from the bench as a 66th minute substitute.

Tonbridge can be hugely encouraged by their performance. Such has been the turnaround of players the first half was spent largely trying to work out who was who. This process could be made so much easier if the tannoy announcers were to ditch the bizarre method of reading out the team sheet in alphabetical order.

Tommy Warrilow has made some impressive captures during the close season and all within the playing budget we are assured. I can remember my surprise at Frannie Collin being released by Dover at the end of last season; never did I imagine he would turn up at Tonbridge. Danny Walder and Lee Browning have followed Collin from the Crabble, whilst Jacob Mingle and Jake Beecroft have arrived from clubs of higher status.

Brentford with obvious advantages of quality and superior fitness stretched the home side’s defence to the limit during a fairly one-sided first half. Myles Weston, who gave Gillingham the run around back in February, exercised Walder with a difficult 45 minutes, but credit the full back who stuck to his task especially as it was later revealed that he is recovering from tonsillitis. Seb Barton, standing in for Lee Worgan in goal, was forced to make just a couple of decent saves as Peter Hawkins and Liam Harwood stood firm in the centre of the defence.

Tonbridge made a better fist of the second half in terms of an attacking force and their best chance of the game fell to Harwood who headed over from a Beecroft cross. Charlie MacDonald hit a post for the Bees, but the home side were good value for their creditable draw.

A fairly long pre-season ensures there is plenty of time and matches for this new-look Tonbridge to gel into a side that is going to justify its position among the favourites with the bookies and as a first step this was very encouraging.