Tonbridge 0 Billericay Town 1

Match 39/14/1148 - Saturday, 8th November 2014 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (0) 0
Billericay Town (0) 1 Cleaver 79
Att. 398

Entrance: £3 Senior (Late entry)
Programme: Too Late
Mileage: 36/2,612

Match Report

There is a new lady in my life and she may become a bit demanding of my time. So it was, for this Ryman League match at Tonbridge, I not only arrived 30 minutes after the start, but was not even supposed to be there at all!

Just to clarify, the new lady is Molly, an eight-week old cocker spaniel puppy who we had collected on Saturday lunchtime. I had purchased a ticket for Gillingham’s FA Cup tie with Bristol City, but as time ebbed away, Tonbridge was going to offer a greater amount of football time.

On arrival, I was informed that the home side had enjoyed the majority of possession but had suffered two injuries leading to the substitutions of Lee Carey and Chris Piper. Sadly, I had also missed the act of remembrance which had been signalled by The Last Post, played by a young lad with a trumpet, a fitting tribute to those who lost their lives 100 years ago and in subsequent conflicts.

The remainder of the half had emphasised my fellow supporter’s views as Tonbridge continued to dominate but the lack of a cutting edge without the departed Billy Medlock was clearly apparent.

A week ago at VCD, I and many others, were bemoaning Medlock’s selfishness when shooting and a pass was a much better option, but how Tonbridge could have done with some of that single-mindedness in this game. Too many times, an extra touch, an extra pass was played when begging for a shot a goal.

Alex Teniola, who is the in-house replacement for the departed striker, had a quiet game with his only chance being a first half shot across the face of goal. With Tonbridge enjoying the possession, the full backs, Jack Parter and James Folkes, were offered a licence to get crosses into the box, but these were capably dealt with by Billericay’s keeper, Billy Lumley.

The sucker punch arrived on 78 minutes. After a scramble inside the six-yard box which led to Lumley making a double save and with the protestations of handball ringing in the referee’s ears, Billericay broke away and with a three-on-two situation worked the ball to Jacob Cleaver to score past Tom Hadler.

In one last desperate assault on the visitor’s goal, Lumley made an incredible double save to deny Dee Okojie and preserve the points for the Essex side, who at the final whistle moments later celebrated their victory, shall we say, enthusiastically.

So it was that disappointment at Longmead was compensated with new found Puppy Love at home. Aahh!