Ramsgate 0 Tonbridge 1

Match 42/14/1151 - Tuesday, 18th November 2014 - Ryman League Cup

Ramsgate (0) 0
Tonbridge (0) 1 Milham 58
Att. 86

Entrance: £4 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 110/2,902

Having given up the comfort of the sofa in front of the Scotland v England game to satisfy the preference for live football, it has to be said that my heart sank a little as the team sheets were posted in the window of the Ramsgate club shop. Apart from the erroneous detail that the evening’s visitors were Tooting and Mitcham, the Tonbridge side showed very little first team experience and probably half of the team were completely unknown to me.

Among the name unknown were Sean Nyarsungo, Cameron Milham and the entire bench; known to me was the wonderfully named Neville Rivelino. A Courier report later in the week detailed that in the youth section of the club there is also a Ronaldo, Romario and Carvalho.

The Ryman League Cup, never a crowd puller, failed to drag too many people away from their television sets and just 86 people made up the attendance. This was my first time at Southwood Stadium for over 20 years and, although I was assured it hasn’t changed in that time; I had no memory of the place. It did make a favourable impression though and the rounded roof the main stand that travels the full length of one side, built some 55 years ago, is a particular delight. The terraced areas behind each goal are quite a long way back from, what is an enormous pitch.

My fears that inexperience was going to the undoing of this season’s foray in this competition were to go unfounded as the Tonbridge youngsters put in an assured performance built on the solid display of Emmanuel Monthe who was commanding in the centre of the back line.

The pace of Flavio Tavares proved a positive outlet, whilst the midfield trio of Jack Brivo, Nyarsungo and Milham carried too much energy for their rather laborious Ramsgate counterparts. Upfront, Alex Teniola worked hard proving to be a constant handful.


Tonbridge dominated much of the match, so much so that James Steele was barely required to make a serious save throughout. The game was ultimately won 15 minutes into the second half when Milham earned the bit of good fortune that his deflected shot brought after skipping a couple of lusty challenges before creating the space for his goal scoring attempt.

Half-time in the clubhouse had seen Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain give England the lead at Celtic Park and the last 20 minutes were brought via the car radio as England secured a welcome victory over the Auld Enemy. But I was satisfied that my effort to leave the sofa and venture to East Kent had been worthwhile and the glimpse that was given into the future of Tonbridge Angels was very encouraging. Steve McKimm has indicated that his youthful side will be given another opportunity in the next round and this could be at Maidstone United, even with the hefty slice of optimism administered by this performance that should prove a step too far.