Tonbridge 7 VCD Athletic 0

Match 18/15/1223 - Monday, 31st August 2015 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (3) 7 Phipp 9, Wheeler 28, 68 (pen), Webster 37,
Whitnall 73, Elder 80, Parkinson 88
VCD Athletic (0) 0
Attendance: 516

Entrance: £10
Programme: £2
Mileage: 38/862

Match Report

Walking away from Longmead, I joked with a fellow Angels’ supporter that if we could find somebody to put the ball in the net we would have a damn good team. The comment referred back to pre-season fears about the lack of a recognised goalscorer. So, here we are at the end of August, the opposition net has been found 23 times in seven league games and of the last four games, three have yield a four, a five and in this game, VCD were the unfortunate victims as seven found their way past their goalkeeper, Robb Budd.

VCD, it has to be said, were not good and Kevin McMahon faces an uphill task in the coming months to keep the Crayford side in the Ryman Premier League. But let’s not take anything from Tonbridge, it was not as if VCD went down to 9 or 10 men and to their credit they, in an inept way at times, kept battling until the final whistle. But the Angels gave a complete team performance, with Nick Wheeler and Charlie Webster offering width and delivery that was a delight to watch.

Wheeler’s individual performance in particular was one of the best that I have witnessed at Longmead in many a year with two goals, four assists and a minor contribution to the other goal. The man of the match award raised a quizzical eyebrow with the announcement of Nathan Elder. The big man was very instrumental with his hold-up play and a goal, but for me, it had to be Wheeler.

Tonbridge opened the scoring after nine minutes. Elder collected the ball from just beyond the half-way line and sent Wheeler away with a pass towards the bye-line. The winger crossed to the penalty spot from where Tom Phipp placed a header past Budd, who probably should have done better.

The home side’s expansive game was causing VCD endless problems and before the half-hour mark, Tonbridge doubled their lead. A free kick taken by Anthony Di Bernado, was headed on by Elder into the path of Luke Blewden. A challenge saw the ball back at the feet of Elder who picked out a pass for Wheeler to side-step his marker and drive home his shot.

McMahon reacted immediately and withdrew two of his players including a full back that had been led a merry dance.

A third goal before the break saw Wheeler cross into the box after an initial cross had been returned to him. The second attempt found Tom Parkinson, whose goalwards header was turned in by Webster from close range.

The only downside of the afternoon from a Tonbridge perspective was an injury to Phipp a couple of minutes before the break. A rampaging run through the centre of the field was ended when he was brought to the ground by a desperate challenge, incurring a heavy knock to the ankle.

The was no respite for VCD as Tonbridge continued their assault on the visitor’s goal in the second half. The score became 4-0 after 68 minutes when substitute Tommy Whitnell was pushed in the back as he collected a Jack Parter cross leaving the referee little option but to point to the penalty spot. With neither Blewden, who had been substituted for Whitnall, or Phipp on the pitch, Wheeler stepped forward to fire his spot kick past the despairing dive of Budd.

Four quickly became five when a Wheeler corner dropped in the six yard box with Whitnall the quickest to react to stab the ball home.

Elder got the deserved reward of the sixth goal converting Wheeler’s right-sided free kick with a powerful header from inside the six yard box. The big man is now sidelined for three games as the suspension for his sending-off at Bogor Regis kicks in.

The final goal, before the referee blew his whistle to end VCD’s embarrassment, came with a couple of minutes remaining. A cross from Parter was met with another powerful header, this time from Parkinson, to complete a glorious afternoon for the Angels.

A respectable attendance of 516 patronised Longmead on a weather-threatening Bank Holiday Monday. Hopefully word is going to get out that this is a Tonbridge team that is an exciting watch and well worth turning out for.