Folkestone Invicta (0) 1 Miller 48
Tonbridge (0) 2 Elder 67, 74
Attendance: 365
Entrance: £5 Senior
Programme: £1.50
Mileage: 73/1,120
Match Report
Whilst away in New York, I was rather concerned to hear, via the mobile phone, that Tonbridge had gone behind in the initial game and it was a good seven hours later before, with some relief, I discovered that they had, at least, forced a replay.
Cheriton Road, or the Fullicks Stadium in its sponsored guise, has turned itself 180 degrees since my last visit. The gales of the Christmas period of 2013 caused irreparable damage to the old Wilf Amory stand and after its demolition the seats were transferred to the opposite side of the pitch and installed into the Brian Merryman stand. In its place, the club has built a good length of uncovered terracing. The old low covered terracing behind the Cheriton End remains.
Tonbridge suffered an early scare when Ashley Miller burst through their defence only to see his shot turned away from the line by Sonny Miles. Miller was a livewire throughout and despite it being against my club it was good to see the player in such dangerous form as his career has rather stalled since his release from Gillingham. At 21, he still has time on his side to make an impact in the non-league game and perhaps return to the Football League and he has one of the best managers in Kent football than Neil Cugley to encourage his development.
Tonbridge recovered from their early scare and although the game ebbed and flowed, it was the visitors that created the better chances. Nathan Elder, returning from suspension, headed over and a succession of shots on goal sailed harmlessly over the bar. Tom Phipp sent a header over the bar from a Nicky Wheeler corner for the best opportunity of the half.
Tonbridge fell behind early in the second half when Miller capitalised on a slip by Jerrome Sobers, taking the ball around a couple of defenders before calmly slotting past the goalkeeper.
The visitors reacted in the best possible manner and immediately dominated from midfield with Phipp, in particular, driving them forward. In the 67 minute, Elder converted a Wheeler corner with a header from close range and seven minutes later the big striker's welcome back was complete when he latched onto the perfect through ball from Phipp to shoot past the Folkestone goalkeeper.
In the closing minutes, Anthony Di Bernado denied the home side their shot at extra time when he saved brilliantly from Carl Rook to preserve the Angels advantage in a well fought game.
Apart from the prize money of £3,000, a trip to the Suffolk coast to the home of Leiston was the perhaps not quite so welcome reward.
No comments:
Post a Comment