Folkestone Invicta 0 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 25/16/1333 - Tuesday, 13th September 2016 - Ryman League Cup

Folkestone Invicta (0) 0
Tonbridge (0) 1 Blewden 83
Attendance: 224

Entrance: £7 Senior
Programme: £1.50
Mileage: 75/2,423

Match Report

In the season of Arsenal's "Invincibles", 2003-04, the club's supporters took great delight proclaiming "1-0 to the Arsenal" with reference to their great ability to grind-out the single goal victory. Whether it was fact or jealousy, opposition supporters just labelled them Boring, Boring Arsenal. I'm hoping that Ryman club supporters are not going to see Steve McKimm's Tonbridge side in that light, but they have developed that same ability to protect a clean sheet.

Steve McKimm substantively changed his back line with George Beaven and Ugo Udoji returning from injury allowing Sonny Miles a night off and James Folkes retiring to the bench. In between the sticks, young Louis Lawlor had a very impressive debut with two fine first half saves, clean handling and very good kicking.

Tommy Whitnell and Luke Blewden gained some valuable game time along with Tashi-Jay Kwayie and a full 90 minutes for Tom Phipp, who showed authority in midfield that we briefly glimpsed before his serious injury.

Tonbridge might have gone in front with less than a minute on the clock when Damian Scannell, who was outstanding on the night, pulled a shot from the right side of the box narrowly wide of the left hand post and when he was brought down in the box after six minutes, he was shown a yellow card for diving. It looked a poor decision (seen through Angels eyes) whilst a very vocal Invicta supporter suddenly saw the referee in a completely different light. Such are opinions.

Lawlor made his only mistake of the night when a poor clearance allowed a return shot on an empty goal that cleared the bar. It was the youngster's only heart-stopping moment.

Tonbridge dominated the first half without finding the net. Blewden, Whitnall, a Jerrome Sobers header and Kwayie was through on goal before a last ditch saving tackle denied his opportunity.

Folkestone were pretty toothless with our old friend, Carl Rook, quite anonymous.

The second half followed much the same pattern although Lawlor was required to make an early save.

Penalties were starting to loom large when with 14 minutes to go Blewden smacked the ball with a shot from the edge of the box and immediately after brought a save from the Folkestone goalkeeper. The striker was not to be denied though, and with seven minutes remaining, he took aim from the edge of the box and the ball flew past the despairing goalkeeper.

The visitors comfortably saw out the tie to earn a second round home game against Sittingbourne.