Tonbridge (2) 2 Miles 23, Sobers 40
Canvey Island (0) 0
Attendance: 659
Entrance: £10
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 36/5,874
Match Report
The Canvey goalkeeper, the mountainous Connor Gough, despaired during a first half in which his goal kicks either came back towards him in the wind or sailed into touch on his left hand side, much to the amusement of the Tonbridge supporters stationed behind his goal.
Playing with the wind in the first half, Tonbridge profited with two goals from central defenders Sonny Miles and Jeromme Sobers and contained their visitors in the second half with relative ease, although it took a magnificent double save from Anthony Di Bernardo, five minutes from time, to preserve their clean sheet.
This was, nonetheless, an important three points for the Angels. Another couple of wins might well be enough to secure their play-off position and, if they can win their home matches against the teams from the middle of the table with little to play for, it takes some of the pressure away from the (on paper) more difficult fixtures at Dulwich Hamlet and Hendon.
It was obvious that full advantage of the wind needed to be taken in the opening 45 minutes and Tonbridge created early chances. A Luke Allen effort was deflected wide and Sobers headed over within the first 10 minutes and a James Folkes cross after 15 begged a finish.
The home side took the lead with a golden goal after 23 minutes. Jack Parter hit a cross to the far post that might have been sailing out on the breeze but for a wonderful retrieval header from Tom Parkinson that was directed into the path of Miles who cracked home the sweetest of volleys. It certainly was a Golden Goal, one that netted me £75 for the first-ever time!
Canvey Island had little idea, perhaps even inclination, on how to play against the wind and the play continued to be one-way traffic. Nathan Elder had a low header deflected wide for a corner before the advantage was doubled after 40 minutes. Another Parter cross found Elder's head, but the big striker's effort came back off a post to be converted on the rebound by a Sobers header.
During the second period the wind continued to blow heavy offering the visitors a way back into the game, but in truth, they made a very poor fist of it.
Yet another Parter cross, probably reason by the sponsor's choice of man of the match, resulted in a weak shot from Elder.
The much-travelled Chris Akurang came off the bench to offer Canvey some sort of target upfront and in the space of three minutes, three chances eluded him. A missed header, a shot deflected wide and a cross that he failed to get a touch on all brought exasperated gestures from the management team.
Fifteen minutes remained when Sobers had a chance at the far post to wrap up proceedings but his shot sailed some distance over the bar.
We have seen quite a few games this season that have been a great advertisement for the Ryman League, sadly this wasn't one of them. We await the arrival of Katie and hope that it doesn't postpone our visit to the Hipsters of Dulwich, for what should be a really decent spectacle.
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