Leatherhead 1 Tonbridge 2

Match 21/14/1130 - Saturday, 6th September 2014 - Ryman Premier

Leatherhead (0) 1 Hughes-Mason 49
Tonbridge (0) 2 Medlock 57,76
Att. 403

Entrance: £7.50 Senior
Programme: £1.50
Mileage: 114/1,600
New Ground: 262

Match Report

After three successive away defeats there was a monkey to be removed from the back of Tonbridge Angels but, for yours truly, the monkey was weighing even heavier. With my clubs, five away trips this season had failed to yield a single point, the finger of jinx was being well and truly pointed.

So, it was with a great deal of satisfaction that I departed the leafy surrounds of Fetcham Grove heading in the direction of the M25 and home with three points safely in the pockets of Tonbridge Angels and the finger of suspicion having been turned away from my direction.

A good contingent of supporters from Tonbridge was in evidence at Leatherhead’s very tidy ground with a beautifully manicured pitch. Two stands covering the length of the pitch are separated by the tea bar; one is for standing and the other seating. Both are covered by a rather ugly green corrugated roof, but they serve their purpose of keeping the punters dry, although on a very warm September afternoon this was not necessary. Behind one of the goals there is a covered enclosure with the rest of the ground having single level concrete hard standing.

A number of ex-Tonbridge players were noticeable on the Leatherhead team sheet and one of those, Stacy Long, looked to have a little too much quality for the visitors in the opening stages of the game. But, once Tonbridge got a foothold in the game after about 20 minutes, then his threat diminished.

Following that opening spell, it was Tonbridge that carved out the best chances in an entertaining half. Louis Wells, the ex-Dartford goalkeeper, was called upon to make saves from Harrison Tweddell and a 30 yard free kick from Billy Medlock.

Another ex-Tonbridge player, Carl Rook, lived up to his reputation from old, with a constant stream of chatter aimed at the officials, which almost inevitably ended with his name going into the book. Some things never change!

A third ex-Angel, Paul Semakula, found Kiernan Hughes-Mason, who was given time and space to curl a shot from 20 yards into the top corner to give Leatherhead the lead after just three minutes of the second half. After a first half that had given heart to Tonbridge supporters who had endured some really poor performances on the road, I felt that pointed finger of jinx prodding my back.

Thankfully, that feeling wasn’t to last too long. After 57 minutes a shot on goal from Tweddell was deflected into the path of Medlock who had the easiest of tap-ins to level the score.

Kyle Merson was called into action for the first time mid-way through the half when he saved from Hughes-Mason before Tonbridge took the lead on 74 minutes. Wells did well to turn away a Tommy Whitnell effort. But, from the resultant corner, Whitnell cleverly back-heeled at the near post to Medlock, who once again had a tap-in for his second of the game.

With time running out for the home side, Merson was brought into action and made a good save from Ryan Dolby, pushing the ball to safety before making an even better one, low to his left to deny Long.

The final whistle brought relief and celebration that the monkey had been removed and it was with a smug smile that the M25 traffic beckoned without so much as a care.