Tonbridge 0 Maidstone United 1

Match 09/13/1036 - Thursday, 25th July 2013 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge (0) 0
Maidstone United (0) 1 Sobers 88
Att. 354

Entrance: £4 Senior
Programme: Sold Out
Mileage: 26/325

Match Report

There is no good time, be it pre-season or a cup final, to lose to your fiercest of rivals and to lose to a highly debateable goal a couple of minutes from time was a bitter pill to take. This was the most anticipated game of my pre-season with much interest in the reception that awaited Lee Worgan and Frannie Collin, as it happened, the Tonbridge fans gave them a respectful return.

Much has been said and written, that the two of them have departed and now is the time to look forward and this is largely the reaction that was evident on Thursday evening.

An even contest, poorly refereed, was settled two minutes from time, when the ball sat on a spot seemingly waiting for a defender to clear it to safety before Jerome Sobers poked it home to delight the visiting fans positioned behind that goal. Later reviews of the video clearly show that Sobers has gone through the back of Sonny Miles as the defender, somewhat casually, considers whereabouts to launch his clearance. The ball broke to Collin whose shot was parried by Chalmers-Stevens but only into the path of Sobers. It was dreadful goal on all counts, a bad decision from the referee and poor defending from Tonbridge.

Gary Borrowdale has been drafted into the worryingly frail central defensive position and if he can regain full fitness he would form an experienced pairing with Gary Elphick.

Maidstone opened the stronger and two long throws from Alex Flisher caused real problems at the heart of the defence, one of which left Collin with a clear opportunity which he blazed over the bar and when the visitors were awarded a free kick from just outside of the box, it was feared that the result that has been cheered many times would this time be met with groans, but once again Collin's shot sailed over the bar.

Tonbridge took their time getting into their stride, but chances came and went for Mickel Suarez and Luke Blewden, who headed straight at Worgan from close range.

In the second half, Nathaniel Pinney was introduced and once more showed that he is going to be a worthy replacement for the aforementioned, albeit that his game is entirely different. He is a powerful target man that holds the ball up well and looks to be a real handful at this level.

So controversial goal or not, it is the Stones that take the local bragging rights, but it's only pre-season and the results don't matter, but I don't believe that for one minute when it comes to this particular contest.