Boreham Wood 4 Tonbridge 2

Match 63/11/950 - Saturday, 28 April 2012 - Conference South

Boreham Wood (2) 4 Montgomery 8, Jones 45, T. Olorunda 78 (o.g.), Effiong 81
Tonbridge (1) 2 Piper 18, Collin 66
Att. 275

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 136/4,789
New Ground: 249

Match Report

This last game of Tonbridge’s inaugural season in Conference South took on the title of an alternative play-off match for eighth place, but they came across a Boreham Wood side that with the benefit of home advantage had a little bit more desire to end the season with a flourish.

Tonbridge and Gillingham’s season have followed a similar path, although Gillingham have a game to play and could finish anywhere between eighth and eleventh, at present both sit in ninth position and the reason both have missed out on play-off places is that despite scoring plenty of goals they have conceded in equal measure. So it was with this visit to Boreham Wood, Tonbridge enjoyed their fair share of the possession but gave the ball away far too often and were caught on the counter attack to the tune of four goals, could have been more, but then could have scored more themselves.

The Wood looked a very capable side with a strong back line, which says a lot for Tonbridge that they punctured it twice, and a sharp attack which included Omer Riza, an experienced, well-travelled striker who began life as an apprentice at Arsenal, played at the top level in Turkey before returning to England to eventually arrive at a Histon side that made it to the Conference in 2010.

The home side were quick out of the blocks and ahead in eight minutes. Following a scenario that became a feature of the game, Tonbridge lost the ball in midfield and two passes left Graeme Montgomery with the task of beating Lee Worgan from 10 yards which he did with ease. Tonbridge were level within 10 minutes after a weak clearance to the edge of the box saw Chris Piper score from 18 yards.

Tonbridge found a bit of momentum and had a goal chalked off for offside before a fine counter attack ended with full back Mark Jones finishing off a move with a shot into the bottom corner from inside the penalty area.

The visitors equalised 20 minutes into the second half when Frannie Collin converted with a close range header for his 29th goal of the season before two quick goals ended Tonbridge’s resistance. A cross from the left was turned into his own net by Tim Olorunda on 78 minutes and three minutes later substitute Inih Effiong benefited from Tonbridge once again losing the ball in a dangerous area to wrap the game up for the home side.

Frannie Collin crashed a shot against the bar to deny himself a 30th goal of a season where he has ended as the League’s leading goalscorer by a country mile.

Meadow Park was a tidy stadium with a fair sized main seated stand along one length of the pitch whilst on the other was a terraced covered enclosure which once more, as Tonbridge supporters, we look on with envy as being perfect for our needs. Nothing fancy, only three steps high, but perfectly fit for purpose. Behind both goals was uncovered terracing. The pitch looked in really good condition considering it was the last game of the season and had a week’s worth of persistent rain on it, but there is an alarming slope into one corner where the level must fall about two feet in the space of just 15 yards or so.

Boreham Wood take the coveted eighth spot and in doing so on such meagre attendances that is to be admired. The attendance of just 275 was their third highest of the season and at a bare minimum at least the 75 was made up of visiting supporters. Tonbridge ended the season within the top ten and back in August the vast majority would have taken that with pleasure.