Tonbridge 1 Margate 1

Match 31/10/849 - Tuesday, 9 November 2010 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (0) 1 Browning 60
Margate (1) 1 Stubbs 10
Att. 326

Entrance: £10
Programme: £2
Mileage: 26/4,915

While Arsenal are hailed as the outstanding example of the “way football should be played”, the Gunners fans that I know would also add that it would be nice to win the odd trophy here and there. The point being that while they appreciate the quality of the football on show, it is still success that matters no matter how it is achieved.

What this has to do with Tonbridge v Margate is that at this present time when supporting and watching Gillingham is as much fun as wet weekend on Romney Marsh, watching Tonbridge is a real pleasure, and why, because they are winning.

Similar to a couple of weeks ago at Sutton, this was a miserable night when it would have been a lot easier to have parked the rear end in front of the box and checked the scoreline on the internet at 10 o’clock, but the effort was well rewarded with an entertaining game.

Ultimately, Tonbridge enjoyed the greater part of the possession, probably deserved to win the match, but I had the feeling that as the away team, Margate had played their part in the entertainment and warranted the point they went away with.

The visitors took an early lead when James Pinnock’s cross is only partially cleared as far as Dan Stubbs, whose shot was hit straight into the ground and over the head of Lee Worgan.

It took Tonbridge half-an-hour to get into the game in which time Margate forced a succession of corners and generally held sway. From 30 minutes onwards, Rory Hill, in particular, started to influence the game and chances were made for Jamie England, Jake Beecroft and Frannie Collin, all of which were dealt with comfortably by ex-Angels keeper, Jamie Turner.

From the outset of the second half the home side were dominant. Collin had a shot saved by Turner, Claude Seanla acrobatically shot over and Sonny Miles should have converted a header before the equaliser finally arrived on the hour. Following a tame shot by Collin the ball was deflected into the path of Lee Browning who won a crunching tackle and found his feet to lob the stranded Turner.

The remainder of the match had a decent ebb and flow about it. Rather than folding under pressure from the home side, Margate responded well and created a similar number of chances. Tonbridge might have won the game in injury time but Danny Walder sent through by Lewis Taylor, making his debut for the club after a long injury lay-off, saw his shot smothered by the advancing Turner.

As said, an evening when effort was made worthwhile, but it was still good to get back into the car and get the heater going!