Leatherhead 0 Tonbridge 2

Match 35/15/1240 - Wednesday, 21st October 2015 - Ryman Premier

Leatherhead (0) 0
Tonbridge (2) 2 Wheeler 3, Miles 45+1
Attendance: 291

Entrance: £7 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 104/2,157

Match Report

In life, I'm far from a pessimist but not really an optimist and, in football, would classify myself firmly as a realist. This season is going so well, I'm going to have to turn myself in a glass half full kind of guy. With both Gillingham and Tonbridge continuing to challenge at the right end of their respective divisions, come March time, I can see myself having to make difficult choices on a Saturday afternoon as to where to watch my football. I will cross fingers and toes that I am forced to make those choices.

This game was a perfect example of Tonbridge's credentials to be around the top end of the table, not only now in October, but also in April of next year. They opened the scoring early, dominated the first half before adding a second and throttled the life out of any second half revival from a disappointing Leatherhead side.

Tonbridge's away form so far this term is outstanding, seven games have yielded 18 points with a single goal conceded at Harrow Borough back in August. The dominance of the visiting back line, coupled with the ineffectiveness of the hosts, gave the impression that Leatherhead could have played until next August and still not scored.

On a pitch that could have passed for a bowling green, Mitchell Pinnock's cross field pass from left to right would have befitted any top class bowler landing at the feet of Nicky Wheeler who produced an unerring strike from the edge of the box into the bottom corner to open the scoring after just three minutes.

Tonbridge dominated the first half to the dismay of the home support who were labelling their team, "weak, feeble, useless and embarrassing" after 20 minutes of chasing the ball without success. The Leatherhead manager, Richard Brady, obviously concurred with the viewpoint making a double substitution after just half-an-hour.

Louis Wells, in the Tanners' goal, made a comfortable save from Jack Parter and Nathan Elder also saw a header from a Wheeler cross saved. Luke Blewden was narrowly wide after a surging run. Just when it seemed that Tonbridge's first half efforts were going to yield just the single goal they doubled their lead in the time added on. A Wheeler corner was headed on at the near post to the far, from where Sonny Miles had the simple chance to head home.

The second half became a non event as Leatherhead had neither the craft or the cutting edge to mount any sort of comeback. In the 91st minute, a free kick saw Anthony Di Barnardo make his first comfortable save of the match. Luke Blewden may have put a cherry on the top of the cake with a final surge on goal but this was a very professional performance.