Tonbridge 3 Enfield Town 1

Match 75/15/1280 - Tuesday, 9th March 2016 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (1) 3 Miles 26, Blewden 56,64
Enfield Town (1) 1 Whitely 34
Attendance: 307

Entrance: £10
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 36/5,575

Match Report

We, as football supporters, can be a contradictory bunch, and I personally fall into this category as much as the next fan. A few days previously, I poured scorn on Ryman leaders, East Thurrock United, as the ball disappeared over the main stand for the umpteenth time. But, faced with a good footballing side in Enfield Town, two goals fashioned in route one secures three valuable points and I, and everybody else, goes home happy.

Enfield Town arrived at Longmead in a good vein of form, unbeaten in their last five and their confidence was apparent in the early stages as they moved the ball around with a good tempo. Corey Whitely brought a good save out of Anthony Di Bernardo, who tipped the ball away from the top corner after 15 minutes.

It was somewhat against the run of play when Tonbridge opened the scoring after 26 minutes. The Enfield goalkeeper, Nathan McDonald, made a hash of a punched clearance with the ball ending at the feet of Sonny Miles who stabbed it home from close range.

The lead wasn't to last long following another goalkeeping error. A long ball forward saw Di Bernardo advancing from his goal and caught in no-man's land as Whitely rolled it past him. The visitors pressed on for the remainder of the first half and Tonbridge would have been glad of the sanctuary of the dressing room with the scoreline remaining level.

A different Tonbridge side emerged for the second half, one that quickly got on top. But, it was from a good move from Enfield that ended with a cross from Harry Ottoway just failing to find a touch in the penalty area that a swift counter-attack led to the second goal after 56 minutes. An inch perfect long ball out of defence from Tom Parkinson sent Luke Blewden clear, but with a lot to do, but he clinically finished into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Only eight minutes elapsed for a repeat performance. This time the ball over the top was delivered by Bradley Woods-Garness for Blewden to outpace his marker and plant an emphatic finish past McDonald.

Perhaps we can get a little too snooty about East Thurrock's style. If it leads to a goal, why should one pass instead of thirty undervalue the goal; it counts for just the same. Message to oneself!