Tonbridge 1 Eastbourne Borough 1

Match 69/12/1022 - Tuesday, 23rd April 2013 - Conference South

Tonbridge (0) 1 Ijaha 75
Eastbourne Borough (0) 1 Jamie Smith 52
Att. 624

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 26/5,756

Match Report

Two days after the celebrations at Priestfield, this unforgettable season rose to another high, but of a much different nature, as a point for Tonbridge was enough to secure Conference South safety for another season.

A difficult season, second season syndrome perhaps, but not identified as such by manager Tommy Warrilow, was epitomised by a stuttering performance that could easily have ended in tears without the dismissal of Eastbourne captain Ollie Rowe after a clash with Ollie Schulz.

Defeat for Billericay on Saturday had consigned them to relegation alongside Truro and Hornchurch's defeat left them on the threshold of the drop should Tonbridge manage to pick up a single point from either of their final two home games.

Despite a sizeable contingent from the south coast, the majority of the bumper attendance of 624 was willing and able to sing their way to Conference survival.

Eastbourne Borough came to Longmead safe in the knowledge that their Conference future was secure and this should have allowed them to play with a freedom that the home side could not afford, but this failed to materialise in a first half that was scrappy and had the look of a nervous relegation six-pointer, which, of course, it was not.

Early in the second half, Eastbourne scored to increase the tension around Longmead Stadium. A cracking 25-yard drive from Jamie Smith into the top corner leaving the home support momentarily silenced.

Tonbridge's lifeline was handed to them on the hour when a scuffle in the visitors' penalty area ended with Schulz prostrate on the ground holding his face. The referee, who was only inches away from the incident, produced an immediate red card to the horror of Rowe, who clearly felt that the Tonbridge defender had feigned injury.

The impetus was passed to the home side, but not before an almighty scare when Jonte Smith struck wide of the post when it was a whole lot easier to score. Tonbridge's salvation arrived on 75 minutes when a long throw from Nathan Green, the Angels' best player on the night, was only cleared to the edge of the box to David Ijaha whose shot found the bottom right corner of the net. Ironically, Ijaha had one of those nights known in the game as a bit of a mare.

The game might have been put to bed when an effort from Henry Muggeridge was well saved by the Eastbourne goalkeeper, Danny Potter before the visitors also spurned a chance in the dying minutes when a free header from a corner was put high and wide by Darren Lok.

The celebrations on this occasion were those of relief but, nonetheless, just as joyous. This season has one last high on to which it can rise . . . Wemberlee!