Maidstone United 0 Tonbridge 4

Match 46/14/1155 - Thursday, 4th December 2014 - Ryman League Cup 3R

Maidstone United (0) 0
Tonbridge (1) 4 Tavares 43 Rivelino 68 Quintyne (pen) 86 Mici 88
Att. 460

Entrance: £3 Senior
Programme: Free
Mileage: 30/3,202

The Robert Dyas Cup (the Ryman League Cup) is a competition that has largely been devalued by the playing of weakened teams was further denigrated by an agreement between Maidstone United and Tonbridge Angels to play this game on a Thursday evening in order to get a one-game suspension for Maidstone’s Jack Parkinson out of the way prior to their FA Cup Second Round tie at Wrexham. This, of course, has to be hearsay, as I would imagine that if that was made into some sort of an official notice, then a reprimand could be brought against both clubs.

In the circumstances with the aforementioned cup tie 48 hours away, it was obvious that Maidstone would be fielding a side based largely on academy players whilst Tonbridge have in previous rounds used the competition to assess young and fringe players. Much though it is said through gritted teeth, it is a great credit to the huge support that Maidstone enjoy that an attendance of 460 gathered with every last one of them aware of the circumstances.

It is also a compliment to Maidstone that they produced a programme, free of charge, unlike Bromley on Tuesday. Right, that’s enough of being nice to our fiercest rivals. I was not alone in the thought that why are we doing our bitterest rivals a favour?

This will be recorded, whatever the make-up of the teams, as a first team fixture and any win over Maidstone is to be enjoyed. A 4-0 demolition is to be savoured.

Tonbridge were able to call on reserves with some experience. Manny Monthe and Charlie Slocombe partnered in the centre of defence, whilst Jack Brivio and Flavio Tavares have seen first team playing time from the bench. Maidstone were only able to call on Phil Starkey, ironically an ex-Angel, who was ineligible for Saturday’s encounter, with any experience.

With no prior knowledge of Maidstone’s academy, other than local talk that it is highly regarded, a tough match was still expected, but after an initial 20 minutes in which both sides weighed each other up, Tonbridge began to take control with Brivio and George Craddock, recently released from Margate I’m told, pulling the strings. The pace of Tavares on one wing and Neville Rivelino on the other was a constant source of danger to the home side. After several near misses, the breakthrough finally came when Tavares cut in from the left and curled a beauty in off the far post.

The second half was completely one-way traffic. Rivelino drove in a second from inside the box and then was brought down for Gavin Quintyne to stroke home the penalty and late in the game Mici added a fourth.

The Robert Dyas Cup may only have its uses to serve suspensions or blood youngsters but it has served up a rich source of encouragement for Tonbridge. This talented bunch need to be tested at higher levels to see just how good they might be, but on the evidence of this game, the future looks bright.

As a postscript to this game, it has emerged that George Craddock was, in fact, an ineligible player having played as a substitute in a prior round for Merstham. A decision will be made at a Ryman League meeting on 18 January 2015 with the expected consequence being Tonbridge’s removal from the competition. This is so frustrating and you have to wonder how a player is unaware of the fact that he is cup-tied.