Merstham (2) 5 Henriques 30, Penny 32,63, Bennett 49, Folkes 88
Tonbridge (1) 3 Scannell 11, Allen 52, Fortnam-Tomlinson 90+2
Attendance: 223
Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 96/2,963
New Ground: 295
Match Report
In the space of eight days, Tonbridge have gone from a defence that was tighter than the proverbial duck's backside to that of a leaky, old sieve. A week ago, at Longmead, Leiston's second half comeback from 2-0 down was brushed aside with the great credit given to the visitors who showed their credentials as title chasers. On Saturday at Bognor Regis, the reports that I have received were that, in the second half in particular, Tonbridge were pretty poor, going down 2-0. But there still was no suggestion of the capitulation that was to follow at Merstham.
Loss of certain playing personnel, George Beaven and Tommy Parkinson, have contributed to the defensive fragility in many of the supporter's eyes but this cut little ice with manager Steve McKimm who considered his squad strong enough to cope with the losses.
If Tonbridge were to bounce straight back from the defeat at Bognor, they certainly signalled their intent with a bright start in Surrey that culminated with a goal after 10 minutes. A strong run from Craig Dundas ended with a pass, inside the box, to set up a shooting opportunity for Nathan Elder. The big striker didn't shoot first time but manoeuvred himself into a better position but saw his shot parried away by the Merstham goalkeeper, Phil Wilson. The rebound fell kindly for Damian Scannell, who finished calmly into a largely open goal.
Merstham replied in a fashion but a cross-cum-shot was palmed away by Anthony Di Bernardo and from a corner a free header sailed harmlessly over.
Tonbridge went close to doubling their advantage after 26 minutes when a 25 yard shot from Tom Phipp was narrowly wide.
After 29 minutes, Tonbridge needlessly conceded a corner when Jack Parter allowed the ball to cross the line thinking that a goal kick would result. From the resultant corner, delivered to the near post, Tutu Henriques turned the ball in.
Within two minutes, the home side were in front. A free kick for a foul, cheaply given away on the left hand side of the box, was floated in towards the near post and it was the diminutive Charlie Penny that met Xavier Vidal's delivery to glance it into the net. Within a minute, Tonbridge were extremely lucky not to fall further behind as the same move this time ended with Penny directing his header against the upright.
Tonbridge's sought to rectify matters in the remaining time of the half. A long ball over the top was headed clear by the goalkeeper but straight to Scannell whose lob towards the empty net was too high.
In the opening minute of the second half, Dundas broke free, but his goal-bound shot was cleared from the line and following a corner, Elder's header was also cleared to safety.
Tonbridge paid for their wastefulness almost immediately. A through ball saw Dan Hector running into the box and brought down by Ugo Udoji leaving the referee no alternative but to point to the spot.
As Vidal prepared for his spot kick, it was clearly audible that the Tonbridge bench were imploring their side to follow the ball in after the spot kick. Vidal's shot to Di Bernardo's right was brilliant saved but Dan Bennett was the man alive to the rebound and shot home. The bench did their bit, the goalkeeper did his, the rest stood and watched.
A real end-to-end encounter was no ensuing. Three minutes later Tonbridge were back in it at 3-2 when Luke Allen fired a free kick low into the bottom corner and in the space of five minutes, half-chances for Allen, Dundas and Nick Wheeler might have brought the scores level.
The next goal, however, fell to Merstham courtesy of a surging run through midfield from Bennett, who skipped a couple of challenges to play in Penny for the in-form striker to secure Merstham's 4-2 lead.
With 15 minutes remaining, Tonbridge might well have set up a big finish but for a linesman's flag. Luke Blewden, on as a substitute for Scannell, followed in what appeared to be a goalbound shot, but his touch rendered him offside and the goal was disallowed. Did he need to touch it? Opinions differed from where you were watching, to me it looked as if it was going in, others from behind the goal said is was not. It is a striker's instinct and Blewden was desperate for a goal.
As it was Omar Folkes, a Merstham substitute drilled a powerful shot into the bottom corner to make it 5-2 with three minutes remaining.
There was still time for Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson to curl in an absolute beauty of the edge of the box into the top corner for a goal that deserved better than consolation status.
Merstham are a team that for six games from the start couldn't buy a win and, aside from three goals scored in a 4-3 defeat to Hendon, could barely buy a goal. A FA Cup win at home to Southern Combination side East Preston seemingly unlocked the gates and since then goals have flooded in at the Moatside. They put six past Grays Athletic, before Charlie Penny arrived, and following, five past Harrow Borough and now five past Tonbridge. Penny, 20 goals last season, has returned after an unsuccessful early season with National League Woking has scored four in two games. Vidal and Bennett proved dominant in midfield against Tonbridge, but the eye-catching performance came from Alex Addai who gave Jack Parter as difficult a game as I've seen in two years.
This was my first visit to the Moatside where we were afforded a warm welcome, although some of the antics in front of the boardroom in the second half left a little to be desired.
It is a nice tidy ground with a decent sized main stand that seats about 150 and another behind one goal that is very small, seating about 30. One thing worthy of mention, harking back to the good old days of Tunbridge Wells Football Club, the tea bar served up your cuppa in a china mug.
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