Tonbridge 2 Hastings United 2

Match 32/15/1237 - Tuesday, 13th October 2015 - Ryman League Cup

Tonbridge (1) 2 Brown 1, Folkes 25
Hastings United (1) 2 Temba 11, Richardson-Brown 50
Hastings United won 3-0 on penalties
Attendance: 294

Entrance: £10
Programme: £0.50
Mileage: 36/1,961

Match Report

I noticed a few people leaving the ground as the final whistle blew on this Ryman League Cup tie. Perhaps they were unaware that the game would be going to straight to penalties, or perhaps, they were very much aware of Tonbridge's abysmal record in penalty shoot-outs.

Without a game in the last 10 days Steve McKimm opted for a strong line-up with Sonny Miles, Nick Wheeler and Luke Blewden sitting on the bench. Hastings meanwhile, rested to their bench Sam Crabb, Sam Adams, ex-Angel Billy Medlock and ex-Tunbridge Wells' Jack Harris, all players whom I presume are considered first team regulars.

Given their lofty league position, the Ryman League Cup was a competition where there was a genuine chance of Tonbridge making good progress, if not winning it.

On the top of the new media suite a scoreboard has been introduced and it didn’t take long, less than a minute, for it to be put to good use. Ellis Brown outmuscled a defender, or was it a blatant shove, at the far post to drill a shot past the despairing Josh Pelling.

Tonbridge looked in complete control of the game when the ball was cleared from the line to deny them a two goal lead before a weak back pass from Lawrence Ball allowed Bright Temba to nip in and round Anthony Di Bernardo to place the ball into an empty net.

Nathan Elder headed a James Folkes cross wide before, in the 25th minute, Folkes began and finished a splendid move with a shot from inside the box after linking up with Brown to open up the opportunity.

The opportunity was there for Tonbridge to put the game to bed, but Hastings were not prepared to lay down and Simon Johnson fired wastefully over as did Tyrell Richardson-Brown. Just prior to the break, Folkes was needed to clear the ball from the line as Temba once again rounded Di Bernardo.

Five minutes into the second half the visitors were rewarded for their attacking intentions. A cross from Sam Cole was met cleanly on the volley by Richardson-Brown to level the score.

A couple of minutes later, a Richardson-Brown lob had Di Bernardo acrobatically clawing the ball to safety.

Wheeler and Blewden were introduced as Tom Parkinson, back from injury, ran out of steam and the ineffective Mitchell Pinnock were replaced. Immediately the tempo was increased and Tonbridge started to look the likely winners. Jack Parter ended a surge from the back with a shot over the bar and, with five minutes remaining, Blewden opted for power rather than placement when sent clear and blasted his shot high, wide and not too handsome.

One final chance saw Charlie Webster create an opportunity for Brown but Pelling was equal to the effort.

And so to penalties and the continuance of Tonbridge’s wait for a winning tie-breaker. Medlock stepped up first for Hastings and confidently buried his effort and when Pelling saved Lee Carey’s spot kick it was advantage to the Sussex side.

Cole made it 2-0 before Blewden drove his kick straight at the keeper. Ollie Rowe missed Hastings’ third kick but this was immediately cancelled out as Wheeler saw Pelling dive to his right to push away his effort.

Chris Cumming-Bart completed the penalty spot rout to condemn Tonbridge to a fifth shoot-out defeat and the unenviable record of having never won one.

A month on, and with some difficult league fixtures behind them, Tonbridge might look back on this defeat as a blessing, but for now it feels like an opportunity for silverware lost.