Leiston (1) 3 Jefford 17, Sands 48,73
Tonbridge (1) 1 Phipp 2
Attendance: 212
Entrance: £7 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 248/1,544
New Ground: 281
Match Report
This latest exit, at the hands of a newly acquired bogey team, Leiston, was not unexpected, and it has to be said, the home side were deserving of their victory, but, once again, it was laced with misfortune.
On arrival at Victory Road, home of the Suffolk-based hosts, I was greeted with a warm welcome and was immediately taken with the beautiful playing surface. There was a nice sized clubhouse but the rest of the facilities were a bit sparse. A small seating enclosure straddles the half-way line opposite the clubhouse and behind one goal there is what can best be described as a bus stop. On the clubhouse house side there is a further length of covered terracing.
The Tonbridge line-up revealed the absence of Tommy Parkinson, a loss of one of their most influential midfielders.
Tonbridge's FA Cup misery was encapsulated within the opening two minutes of the game. They started brightly with an encouraging surge forward from James Folkes that signalled intent. The ball was recycled to Lee Carey who planted a sublime cross to the far post that met the head of Tom Phipp who gave the goalkeeper no chance. Immediately, there was distressed signals to the sidelines as Nicky Wheeler and the goalkeeper urgently summoned the medical team. Initially, from my position I thought that Phipp had collided with the post as he landed but it was far more serious than that. He was heard from behind the goal saying that his knee had "popped". A five minute delay ensued whilst his knee was encased in a splint and stretchered away.
So, having been shorn of one midfielder before the start, now they were two light in a matter of minutes. Sadly, worse was to follow.
Tommy Whitnell replaced Phipp, and for a while they appeared to make light of the setback. But, in the 17th minute a free kick floated to the far post was met with a towering header from the Leiston skipper, Joe Jefford. It was a set piece that, in truth, was poorly defended by the Angels.
Ashlee Jones, the Leiston keeper who was ultimately handed the man of the match accolade, did well to tip over an effort from Wheeler and was grateful when a shot from Nathan Elder was steered into his hands.
Just prior to the break, Whitnell fell to the ground and was unable to continue. The Tonbridge midfield had now been almost totally decimated.
In the time added on at the end of the first half, Anthony Di Bernardo made a magificent, low diving save to turn to safety a shot from Jefford.
The second half was always going to be an uphill task for the visitors and it became a mountain after just two minutes. Elder was robbed in the centre of the field, I say robbed but he was clearly fouled. Leon Ottley-Gooch strode forward into the huge gap that had opened up in front of him, rode a couple of insipid challenges and as Di Bernardo advanced he unselfishly passed to his right to allow John Sands the luxury of an open goal to touch the ball into.
A fine move after 72 minutes cut through the Tonbridge defence with a cross from the right finding Sands to steer home the decisive goal.
Tonbridge pressed on in the final minutes attempting to retrieve a hopeless situation and Jones produced a flying save from a deflected shot that probably influenced the sponsors decision for man of the match. He was one of the most vocal goalkeepers I've come across, giving a virtual tactical commentary.
Reading this back, perhaps disappointment got in the way of balance, that is the curse of the FA Cup. It has been with me for 43 years and I fear it will never leave me.
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