Metropolitan Police (2) 2 Onwarchu 7, Kozakis 17
Tonbridge (0) 5 Brett Milham (pen) 75, Pearson 88, 110, Quintyne 95, Osborne 100
After extra-time, 2-2 at 90 minutes
Headcount 60
Played at Gay Dawn Farm, Corinthian FC
Entrance: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 71/6,650
On a beautiful afternoon, in a rural setting befitting an afternoon’s cricket, Corinthian FC played host an entertaining final. With its pavilion at a 45 degree angle to a lush playing surface and the sun shining brightly, it almost seemed sacrilege to being playing football.
Chris Hollyoak might take the viewpoint that his side also preferred to take in a few of the rays and top up the tan as the Metropolitan Police took an early control on the game.
Having spurned an early chance, the Met took the lead on seven minutes when Iffy Onwarchu, offered an acre of space down the right hand side, fired in a low shot into the bottom corner.
Tonbridge failed to awake from their slumbers and ten minutes later found themselves 2-0 down. A cross from the left, once more found its target, Alex Kazakis, in space to bury a simple header.
Jack Kelly, Tonbridge’s goalkeeper, was brought into action on several occasions as the Police continued to dominate the game. Tom Pearson dragged a shot wide and James Philpott directed a header wide being Tonbridge’s sparse first half offerings.
The second half introduction of Franco Mici brought a change in the direction of the game and Jermeille Johnson also started to weave a bit of his magic.
On 75 minutes, Johnson was felled in the box and Brett Milham converted the penalty to bring the Angels back into the game.
Two minutes from time and Johnson jinked his way to the bye-line to cross low into the path of the hard-working Pearson, who sent the game into extra time from close range.
The momentum was now completely with Tonbridge and after five minutes of extra time they were ahead for the first time. Mici crossed from the left, Pearson brought a save but Gavin Quintyne was on hand to tuck in the rebound at the far post. Five minutes later, a stunning volley from 17-year-old Harry Osborne extended the lead and in the second period Brett Milham pulled a pass back from the bye-line for Pearson to complete the scoring, although the striker was offered several opportunities to complete his hat trick.
So that is season's end and time for a review of the ten months that have passed by at a fair old rate of knots. Ninety-six games attended, where, oh where, can I find that extra four games next season!
I managed 19 new grounds in the season among them the Nou Camp, Barcelona and the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal, I’m not going to choose between them as to which is best. Such is my passion for non-league stadiums though, I was equally excited by the art-deco grandstand at Wingate and Finchley and it was nice to get to Aveley before they shut the doors at the end of the season.
I was looking for improvement at Gillingham as a minimum requirement and this was achieved although relegation looked a distinct possibility until the Gang of Four took over from Peter Taylor and, subsequently, Justin Edinburgh taking on the manager’s role. Their season was mid-table in terms of finishing position and entertainment and, consequently, the highlights of my personal season will come from elsewhere.
The best games of the season were the home and away encounters between Tonbridge and Margate with the addition of Tunbridge Wells’ 3-3 home draw with Greenwich Borough. Tonbridge’s home game against Margate produced the most dramatic finish with Margate goalkeeper, Nikki Bull, plundering an equaliser in the 93rd minute. In the reverse fixture, Mitchell Pinnock scored one of the two contenders for my goal of the season with a 25 yard strike. Dee Okojie’s screamer in Tonbridge’s home win against Canvey Island being the other.
The most satisfying games of the season were the three games in which Tonbridge remained unbeaten against Maidstone United and Sonny Miles’ own goal at the Gallagher producing the champagne moment.
Biggest disappointment of the season has to be Tonbridge’s FA Cup defeat at Redhill. A first half performance that was quite dreadful and although they may have deserved to come away from Redhill still in the competition with a improved second half, it was following the draw, away to Greenwich Borough, that the realisation that a door had been opened to the First Round for the first time since 1975 which produced that disappointment.
Overall, a season of more lows than highs, although Gillingham and Tonbridge emerged unscathed after flirting with relegation and despite Tunbridge Wells having another decent run in the Vase they never really challenged at the top end of the SECL table which had to be their ultimate goal.
Pre-season starts 4 July, whether one of my teams are playing or not, I’ll be looking for a game by then!
Lifetime match total: 2,455
Number of grounds: 276
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