VCD Athletic 0 Tonbridge 2

Match 36/14/1145 - Saturday, 1st November 2014 - FA Trophy 1QR

VCD Athletic (0) 0
Tonbridge (1) 2 Medlock 44, Taveres 90+3
Att. 156

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 74/2,479
New Ground: 267

Match Report

A point I’ve alluded to whenever Tonbridge have been involved in Cup ties has been that I’ve never considered them a particularly lucky Cup side. Some of that misfortune has not been bad luck at all, on a couple of occasions in recent times when they have received what was perceived as a favourable draw they have proceeded to waste the opportunity.

So it was, walking away from my first visit to the Old Road Sports Ground, home of VCD Athletic, I was able to reflect that, on this occasion, Tonbridge had certainly enjoyed the rub of the green after a second half in which their goal led a charmed life.

On a very mild day, not befitting the first day of November, Tonbridge enjoyed a first half in which they dominated possession but failed to test the home goalkeeper, Nick Blue, on too many occasions. Dee Okojie was both the most serious threat and also the most frustrating as his mazy runs presented problems for the VCD defence but all too often lacking in end product.

Billy Medlock was exercising his shoot on sight policy that has brought him goals aplenty this season with a 30 yard effort that skimmed the bar and another shot that was blocked when a pass to Chris Piper was a far better option. But Medlock was to prove his predatory instincts just prior to the break when he diverted a Laurence Ball shot into the net from close range to open scoring.

With his substitution, 15 minutes from the end, Medlock’s goal may prove to be his last in a Tonbridge shirt and it emerged after the game that the striker had accepted the offer of a loan period on dual registration from Sutton United in Conference South for a month. This a major setback for the Angels with Medlock, on 17 goals for the season, far and away their leading scorer.

In the VCD side was the heavily bearded Michael Power who had a previous, unfruitful spell with the Angels that didn’t lead to great endearment with the Tonbridge faithful. Directly after the opening goal he gave more ammunition to the visiting support with a woeful header that cleared the bar when left unchallenged on the left of the six yard box.

What appears to have been a bad injury to Tonbridge’s Tom Parkinson, stretchered from the pitch by VCD’s assistant manager Ray Powell and the Tonbridge manager, Steve McKimm, knocked the visitors from their stride early into the second half and led to the attacking intentions changing hands.

Debutant goalkeeper, Tom Hadler on loan from Gillingham, comfortably saved an shot from Lewis Perkins but was mightily relieved when a shot from the evergreen Leigh Bremner looped into the air following a deflection only for the ball to be put wide from a couple of yards.

Ben King cleared an effort from the line and Bremner stabbed a shot from a corner into the side netting, once again from close range. The Tonbridge fans and Hadler knew this was to be their day when, as the game entered time added on, a volley from Lea Dawson crashed against the upright with the young keeper well beaten.

Tonbridge sealed the game in the 93rd minute when a breakaway ended with Flavio Tavares finishing neatly from the edge of the area into the bottom corner.

Somebody might have whimsically mentioned that Tonbridge’s name may be on the Trophy. Historically, I don’t believe their cup fortune can last that long.