Tonbridge 4 Dover Athletic 1

Match 37/15/1242 - Tuesday, 27th October 2015 - Friendly

Tonbridge (2) 4 Pinnock 11, 65, Brown 27, Parkinson 80
Dover (1) 1 #9 10
Attendance Quess: 120

Entrance: By donation
Programme: None produced
Mileage: 36/2,249

I wasn't convinced as to the value of a friendly fixture towards the end of October and, for much of the day, was going somewhere else for Tuesday night football, but time constraints took me to Longmead and in terms of what Steve McKimm and myself got out of the evening, I think we can both be reasonably satisfied.

Tonbridge have had an odd start to the season in terms of postponements due to their opposition's cup commitments and even at this relatively early time stand five games adrift of league leaders Dulwich Hamlet and others. Another postponement on Saturday coupled with Wednesday's game at Grays falling victim of their cup replay at Welling, led to the late arrangement of this friendly against Dover Athletic. With no team sheet available, it was difficult to gauge the strength of the Conference National side with only Ricky Modeste instantly recognisable and Tyrone Sterling and Chris Kinnear Jnr being identified. Tonbridge, over the course of both halves, fielded their entire first team minus the long-term injured.

For some while, as a group, we have discussed the idea of playing James Folkes further forward and McKimm tried this out during the first half, playing Folkes in front of Charlie Webster. Personally, I thought it worked well and could have some mileage should it be needed. Modeste gave Webster a fair testing and if he is struggling to get a place in the team down at Crabble, he would represent a good loan signing for a club that could afford his wages.

Modeste laid on a plate a tap-in for an unknown centre forward after 10 minutes. Tonbridge were level within 60 seconds with an exquisite lob from Mitchell Pinnock. The on-loan Maidstone winger has looked a little rusty since his return but his form in this game was more like the Pinnock of last season, even taking into account the unknown strength of Dover.

Ellis Brown has been a regular substitute that has come off the bench and had the odd chance or two but hasn't always had the best of luck in front of goal, but his finish from the edge of the box showed after 25 minutes was clinical.

Tonbridge created the best of the chances with the goalkeeper saving from Folkes whilst Anthony Di Bernardo was stretched to turn over a Modeste lob.

In the second half, Nick Wheeler was introduced and from one of his trademark runs to the bye-line, he pulled back a pass for Tom Parkinson to poke the ball home from close range.

Time remained for Pinnock to produce another superb lobbed finish to round of a good evening for him and the sparse, but entertained attendance.