Bury Town 1 Tonbridge 2

Match 41/10/859 - Saturday, 8 January 2011 - Ryman Premier

Bury Town (0) 1 Ives 58
Tonbridge (0) 2 May 78, Hill 90
Att. 592

Entrance: £8
Programme: £2
Mileage: 218/6,426
New Ground: 239

Match Report

It may have been with a few wishful thoughts of regret as mobile messages relayed goals aplenty for Gillingham at Edgeley Park culminating in a 5-1 hammering of Stockport County, but none of it. I had no regrets whatsoever choosing Tonbridge’s visit to Bury St Edmunds, home of Bury Town. The Ryman League once again served up a memorable encounter and a magnificent comeback win for the Angels.

Confirmation that the match was on wasn’t the greatest of comforts as I set out on the two hour journey to Suffolk. Heavy overnight rain had left local roads with lots of standing water and I was fearful that further downpours could leave the trip fruitless. On arrival at Ram Meadow, first sighting of the pitch confirmed my fears had been well founded. It was certainly the worst pitch I’ve seen this season and would not have taken a lot more rain to deem it unplayable.

The first half was even in terms of possession, but the home side had the better of the chances and one save after half-an-hour by Lee Worgan from Tom Bullard was truly outstanding. Neither side completely mastered the condition of the pitch in a first half that was more absorbing than exciting.

The second half was totally different. Bury continued to carve out the better chances and Worgan was forced into two more brilliant stops before he was helpless to stop Cambridge loanee Sam Ives scoring following a well-crafted move.

The goal was the catalyst for a reversal in the balance of play. Manager Tommy Warrilow made bold substitutions and the visitors seized the initiative. Bury’s goalkeeper, Marcus Garnham became centre-stage as he repelled Tonbridge’s efforts almost single handed. In one assault, Garnham watched as the ball rebounded from the bar but excelled as he twice saved follow-ups.

The goal that Tonbridge richly deserved arrived 12 minutes from time. Jay May, who had seconds earlier been thwarted by Garnham, perfectly placed a header into the bottom corner to the delight of the sizeable following from Kent.

Garnham continued with the heroics and, whilst a point at the second-placed side would be no disgrace, it was felt that perhaps a winner might have been deserved. Step-up Rory Hill. The substitute cut in from the right hand side and cracked a low shot into the bottom corner past the despairing dive of the keeper. Such was Hill’s delight that he took a yellow card for his exuberant celebration with the fans gathered behind the goal, small price to pay for a magnificent end to an exhilarating second half.

Ram Meadow is a bit of a hotch-potch of low covered enclosures and a main stand that housed little more than a 100 seats. I found the back-drop behind each goal the perfect contrast, behind the far goal was the British Sugar Refinery belching its smoke into the winter sky and at the other end perfectly silhouetted was the Cathedral of Bury St Edmunds. Touch of beauty and the beast, but these two sides proved that on a beast of a pitch, the beautiful game still has much to admire.