Eastbourne Borough 1 Tonbridge 2

Match 24/11/911 - Tuesday, 25 October 2011 - Conference South

Eastbourne Borough (1) 1 Watson 22
Tonbridge (1) 2 McGlaggon 44, Browning 70
Att. 924

Entrance: £8 Senior Citizen
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 64/1,565
New Ground: 245

Match Report

Tonbridge’s season thus far has been littered with false starts, so it is to be hoped that this confidence-building win at bang in-form Eastbourne Borough might this time be the start of a positive run that will put some breathing space between them and the relegation zone.

Arriving at Priory Lane on the back of a disappointing reversal at Longmead against Basingstoke, Tonbridge took time to settle against their hosts who played some attractive, attacking football in the opening 20 minutes pressurising Tonbridge into giving away the ball too cheaply time and again. So it was no surprise when Ben Watson put the home side in front on 22 minutes. A Matt Crabb cross was only headed to the edge of the box by Sonny Miles and Watson scored from around 12 yards. Appeals for a foul on Miles fell on deaf ears.

Tonbridge had to endure some worrying moments before they started to get a toe hold in the game after half-an-hour. Miles had the ball in the net, but the flag for offside had long since been raised and Bristol Rovers loanee, Kane McLaggon, fired over the bar.

Just before half-time Tonbridge got the equaliser through the perseverance of Ade Olorunda, who managed to get a cross into the six yard box under pressure where McLaggon was able to scramble the ball home from close range to the pleasure of the sizeable Tonbridge contingent in the crowd of 924.

From a half that had seen Tonbridge struggle to contain their hosts they obviously took a lot of confidence from entering the break on even terms. The second half was a much different affair with the Angels making the majority of the running as the rain lashed down.

Several chances came and went before Tonbridge went ahead with 20 minutes remaining. Lee Browning received the ball just inside the Eastbourne half, drove forward unchallenged for 20 yards before unleashing an unstoppable shot from 25 yards that rocketed past Rikki Banks.

It was heart-stopping on the sidelines but Tonbridge saw out the remaining time relatively easily spending most of the time in the home side’s half, Lee Worgan being asked to make a couple of comfortable saves.

Priory Lane was a smashing little ground with cover on all four sides. OK, so it is a bit prefabricated and lacking in character but at this level it is certainly going to be one of the better grounds that Tonbridge visit. We had a quick drink in a large, well furnished clubhouse before entering the ground. The terracing on the uncovered area in which we stood for the first half was a bit on the shallow side making viewing a little obstructed. We moved down the touchline for the second half, and were glad to be under cover as the heavens opened. Along the opposite side of the pitch there is the seating enclosure that covers virtually the full length. Behind the goals there is covered terracing with executive boxes on an upper tier. Executive boxes in non-league football, prawn sandwiches next! Behind the other goal there is covered terracing. A little gem, I would conclude, to go with Lee Browning’s diamond finish.