Tonbridge (2) 3 Piper 6, Kinch 22, Olorunda 109
Harrow Borough (0) 2 Baptiste 25, 70
(After extra time, 2-2 at 90 minutes)
Att. 1,124
Entrance: £10
Programme: £2
Mileage: 26/9,670
Match Report
I’ve a friend who just doesn’t get the play-offs. He has the opinion that a league is a league and that whoever finishes in the top two or three are promoted and that is that. The fact that he supports a top Premiership club that is never likely to have to endure a play-off match from the comfort of his armchair says it all, but if he could ever be tempted into a season with one of the lesser lights I’m convinced his misguided opinion would change.Whether it be Gillingham or Tonbridge, joy or despair, the play-offs never cease to thrill, and such was the case on Tuesday night at Longmead Stadium when the play-off for a place in the Ryman Premier League final went the full distance of 120 minutes and was settled with a goal nine minutes from time.
Tonbridge enjoyed home advantage by virtue of their second place finish, but their opponents Harrow Borough had beaten the Angels in both encounters during the league season. A warm day had turned into a slightly chilly evening and the scene was set with 1,124 in attendance to witness the proceedings.
The lack of any meaningful rain over a long period left a pitch that was hard and uneven and not conducive to football that is pleasing on the eye, not that the intense nature of the play-offs lends itself to such anyway.
The home crowd craved an early goal and that is what they got. Chris Piper’s crisp finish from inside the box following an Adrian Stone header gave Tonbridge a sixth minute lead. Better was to follow. Captain Kinch hooked a shot over his shoulder and to the surprise of Harrow keeper, Nicky Jupp, the ball nestled into the far corner of the net, 22 minutes played and two goals to the good, the home crowd were ecstatic.
But their joy was short-lived as within three minutes, Rocky Baptiste, of YouTube fame for the worst miss of all time, touched in a goal following a rare Lee Worgan error.
The second half began with Harrow pressing hard for an equaliser which they finally got with 20 minutes remaining, once again Baptiste getting the final touch with a header from close range. Now memories of last season’s play-off disappointment against Carshalton, when Tonbridge had been two up only to lose 3-2 came flooding back.
A chance each for both sides went begging before the match entered extra time. The first period drifted by as both sets of players were running on very tired legs. One last ounce of energy was found by Ade Olorunda after six minutes of the second period. A through ball from Fraser Logan was chipped goalwards by the striker, the keeper got his fingertips to the shot but the ball looped into the air and behind him. It was now a three yard foot race between Olorunda and the Harrow defenders, with the Tonbridge player winning the chase to stab the ball over the line. It was as if time stood still for a couple of seconds before the noise erupted around Longmead in joyous acclaim.
A last minute booking for Harrow’s John Constable for a dive in the penalty area was the last scare of the night before the referee brought the epic proceedings to a close. Tonbridge are one match from the Blue Square South and Lowestoft stand in their way. Remember back in October, Tonbridge 3-0 up and are pegged back to 3-3, doing it the hard way is going to be the Angels’ review of 2010-11.
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