Tonbridge 1 Stevenage 3

Match 05/14/1114 - Tuesday, 22nd July 2014 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge (0) 1 Tweddell 53
Stevenage (1) 3 Triallist 33, Dembele 55, Bond 75
Att. 252

Entrance: £4 Senior
Programme: 50p
Mileage: 34/222

Match Report

Pre-season is a strange time watching football. As supporters we have to believe that when the manager says that results are of no consequence, it is all about fitness, shape, etc., that the professional way of thinking is the right way. So we look at performances that are encouraging but sadly end in defeat and accept it as part of the phoney war.

And so it is with Tonbridge Angels. A fresh start has seen the new manager and a complete squad of new faces on the pitch perform encouragingly with a win and two defeats against opposition from higher levels, but nobody quite knows exactly where we are in the scheme of the new season.

Against Football League opposition in the shape of Stevenage, Tonbridge, for the most part, gave a good account of themselves. In midfield they had the outstanding player on the pitch in Harry Harding and scored a beautifully crafted goal but they also conceded a couple of poor goals from set pieces.

In the Stevenage side was Charlie Lee following his transfer from Gillingham this summer and the combative midfielder gave the Longmead audience a glimpse of why he picked up in access of 10 bookings a season whilst at Priestfield with a couple of mistimed challenges. However, it was from one of his trademark long throws, headed home by a Stevenage triallist that gave the visitors the lead after 33 minutes. It was an unnecessary goal from Steve McKimm’s point of view and the Tonbridge manager will be hoping that in the weeks to come, Kyle Merson in the Tonbridge goal will be coming and collecting the ball in these situations.

Early in the second half Tonbridge equalised with a goal of real quality. Nathan Campbell found Harding on the left hand side who held the ball waiting for the overlap of full back Ben King whose cross to the edge of the penalty area was met with a curling shot into the top corner from Harrison Tweddell.

Another set piece undid the home defence a couple of minutes later when a corner was headed on and Bira Dembele was on hand at the far post to tuck away an easy chance.

Fifteen minutes remained when Stevenage put the game beyond doubt when Andrew Bond was on hand to tap in after Merson had made a fine save to deny an Adam Marriott header.

The game offered plenty of plus points for Tonbridge and it doesn’t take a professional’s eye to formulate the opinion that McKimm, whilst having plenty of work to do, is moving this group in the right direction.