Tonbridge 2 Herne Bay 0

Match 14/15/1219 - Tuesday, 18th August 2015 - Ryman League Cup 1R

Tonbridge (0) 2 Elder 73, 89
Herne Bay (0) 0
Attendance: 228

Entrance: £10
Programme: £0.50
Mileage: 38/694

Match Report

There are people around who would rather not be in the Ryman League Cup and their viewpoint might well have been vindicated when Nicky Wheeler felt the weight of an awful challenge by Herne Bay's Georgio Russio and after treatment was substituted and limped away from the action. In a later incident Brett Millham took another full-bloodied challenge that left him on the ground for somewhile taking attention from the club physio. Tom Pearson was also stretchered away in a strange incident that saw him writhing in agony after taking a shot on goal, this time unchallenged by a visiting defender. Whilst Tonbridge progress into the next round of the competition, it is at some price if they are going to lose one of the early season's success stories in Wheeler.

The match throughout was messy and Herne Bay were certainly niggly and that is being polite.

Nathan Elder, who on Saturday couldn't hit the proverbial barn door, had two goals laid on a plate for him with pinpoint crosses from James Folkes for his first after 73 minutes and, late in the game, Luke Blewden stood one up for him to head in from close range. Two goals that will not do Elder's confidence any harm whatsoever.

Tonbridge paraded their new loan signing, Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick, a winger from Sutton United and he showed up well especially in the early stages when a 20 yard shot shook the crossbar.

In the Herne Bay side were ex-Angels Danny Walder and, on the bench, Mark Lovell and it was good to see the ex-Gillingham favourite Danny Spiller continuing to ply his trade at the lower levels.

I've said before, I like the distraction of these minor competitions including the Kent Senior Cup. They fill a few empty Tuesday evenings later in the season and it is a good opportunity for the blooding of youngsters from the reserve team and for supporters to see if any of these players are knocking the door for first team action.