Staines Town 1 Tonbridge 1

Match 47/15/1252 - Tuesday, 1st December 2015 - Ryman Premier

Staines Town (0) 1 Abdullah 53
Tonbridge (0) 1 Elder 62
Attendance: 198

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 140/3,440

Match Report

Successive away games have brought the same result with two vastly different performances that were influenced heavily by the state of the surfaces. The Staines pitch resembled a bowling green in comparison to the cabbage patch at Billericay and Tonbridge were able to express themselves accordingly.

There is always something irritating about visiting Staines. Late postponements were the signature of my first two visits and now it is being turned away from the car park if you are not a member of the gym. Never trusting the M25 during evening rush-hour, extra time was allowed and, of course, it was plain sailing round the motorway leaving enough time to find a parking space elsewhere once turned away.

The home side started well enough with a shot wide and a header comfortably saved by Anthony Di Bernardo before Tonbridge took control of the game. After 12 minutes, David Fitzpatrick sent Luke Blewden through, but a moment's hesitation was enough for Tommy Brewer to make a saving tackle.

Staines' goalkeeper, Jack Turner, made the first of several good saves when he clawed away a Tommy Parkinson header from a Blewden long throw and a couple of minutes later saved with his feet at the near post a Blewden shot.

After 38 minutes, Parkinson should have put the visitors in front when he steered a close range header wide after a perfect cross from Nicky Wheeler.

Parkinson was substituted during the half-time break with Anthony Riviere taking his place. The visitors continued to take the game to their hosts and it was something of a surprise when, from 20 yards, a low shot from Ahmed Abdullah found the bottom corner.

A second substitution was necessary as Blewden limped off to be replaced by Tommy Whitnell. After 55 minutes, Turner produced another good save to turn over the bar a Nathan Elder before Tonbridge found an equalier a couple of minutes later. A fine run and cross from Fitzpatrick offered up a simple chance for Elder who buried his header from close range.

Fifteen minutes remained when another very good save from Turner denied Elder after some good work from Jack Parter, who also had to be substituted before the end.

If Tonbridge were slightly fortunate to leave Billericay with a point, here they were deserving of the full compliment. As I overheard a Staines supporter telling another, "you can see why they are at the top".