Tonbridge (2) 2 T Olorunda 9, Collin 28 (pen)
Dover Athletic (2) 3 Dixon 15, Bricknell 25, Huke 88
Att. 940
Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 26/4,485
Match Report
As Shane Huke rose high above a static Tonbridge defence to power a header into the net two minutes from the end of a pulsating Kent derby, new life was breathed into Dover Athletic’s play-off challenge whilst expunging the home side’s more modest ambition of finishing above their bitterest of rivals.As the season enters its final straight, for Tonbridge the wear and tear is beginning to show and the bench that a couple of months ago looked quite strong was now threadbare with a couple of teenagers making up the numbers. Olly Schultz was unable to play as a term of his transfer from Dover last month and when Ben Judge was forced from the field with 20 minutes remaining the lack of height at the centre of defence became the telling factor in allowing Huke his unchallenged header.
Dover’s own poor form, albeit principally at Crabble, contributed to a smaller than usual following from the coast, but the attendance still amounted to a respectable 940. Unfortunately, this is a fixture with a bit of history and there was a fracas in the bar at half-time that needed a police presence to maintain order. Having not been in the bar, it is not for me to apportion blame.
The first half-hour of the game was a breathless, totally captivating period. Four goals, some do or die defending and good goalkeeping. Tonbridge took the lead on nine minutes; a Rory Hill corner was smacked against the bar from a Sonny Miles header and makeshift central defender Tim Olorunda was on hand to stab the ball over the line from close range.
The lead was not to last long, after 15 minutes Terry Dixon forced the ball home after his initial header had been brilliantly parried by Lee Worgan. A ball that looked to being going out was chased down by Donovan Simmonds and from his cross Dixon got his opportunity.
Dover went ahead on 25 minutes with a converted penalty by Billy Bricknell. Lee Browning lost the ball in midfield and a single pass from Simmonds sent Bricknell through on goal. Worgan, plunging at the striker’s feet, brought him down to earn a yellow card and concede the penalty.
Once again, albeit in reverse order, the lead was not to last as Tonbridge were themselves awarded a penalty a couple of minutes later. Frannie Collin weaved his way past Dover’s 17-year-old debutant Lloyd Harrington before the youngster stretched out a leg to bring the Tonbridge goal machine to the ground. Collin got up to convert the penalty and regain parity.
Although there were no more goals, until the winner, the game continued to ebb and flow through an absorbing second period. Worgan made good stops to thwart Bricknell and Dixon and there were last ditch blocks made by Olorunda and Judge whilst at the other end, Jaimez-Ruiz made saves from Chris Piper and Collin.
Ten minutes remained when a fine diagonal pass from Collin was collected by Hill who cut inside and cracked a shot against the crossbar with the goalkeeper well beaten. That was to be Tonbridge’s chance to win the game, but when Dover got there’s they took it. Barry Cogan swung in a corner from the right and Huke powered in his header to win the game to the delight of the travelling contingent who were fully aware that a point from this game was not going to be enough.
Tonbridge’s poor record this season in Kent derbies sadly continues, in eight games this season they have failed to win any and managed just four draws. It is much to their credit that they have kept the season alive until four games from the end, but it will now become a test of their character to see the season out without it drifting aimlessly away with patched-up players running on empty.
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