Wingate & Finchley (0) 0
Tonbridge (1) 3 Dundas 15,55 Elder 77
Attendance: 167
Entrance: £8 Senior
Programme: Sold Out
Mileage: 147/2,615
Tonbridge progressed comfortably through to the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, and the fans begin to wonder (with the Angels FA Cup record there is no level of expectancy) if the 44-year wait for a First Round Proper place is about to end.
Those supporters, who made up a good half of the meagre 167 attendance, have good reason to float that dream around their head as a tricky tie on paper in north London was navigated with relative ease.
Our own traffic problems began at the Tunnel (where else?) and although we made reasonably good time for the rest of the journey, we were still left to hot-foot it to the turnstiles with only five minutes to spare. Unfortunately, the programmes had sold out (167 and they run-out, how many did they print, 50?).
The conditions were bright, but very breezy with the pitch looking in very good condition.
Tonbridge started strongly and had their first opportunity after just four minutes when Craig Dundas' effort was cleared at the far post and a follow-up shot from Nick Wheeler was also blocked. It was the first sign that Dundas would be a thorn in Wingate's side all afternoon.
After a couple more half-chances, Tonbridge took the lead after 15 minutes. A corner from the right was met with a towering header from Tommy Parkinson which was initially parried by Wingate's goalkeeper, Shane Gore, but the rebound was headed over the line by Dundas.
The home side responded well with a couple of shots that brought comfortable saves from Anthony Di Bernardo and a free kick from Tommy Tejan-Sie that begged a touch but eluded everyone.
The second half opened with the visitors once more on the front foot. A long, mazy run across the face of the 18 yard box ended with a shot high, wide and not too handsome from Wheeler.
Ten minutes into the half, Tonbridge doubled their advantage with Dundas' second goal. A woeful clearance was intercepted by the Sutton loanee and although his first effort was blocked by Gore, he followed up to tuck in the rebound.
As followed the first half goal, the hosts responded and Di Bernardo was forced to punch clear under pressure and on the hour a shot from 25 yards by Tejan-Sie rattled the crossbar and immediately a Luke Ifill cross should have been converted at the far post but Tanasheh Abrahams headed wide.
A third goal was needed to put the tie to bed and Tonbridge thought they had it when Wheeler cut in from the left the fire a shot into the far corner but a linesman's flag ruled it out.
Thirteen minutes from the end, Tonbridge's name was put into the hat for the next round when Jack Parter, overlapping down the left, sent in an inch perfect for cross for Nathan Elder to power a header home from close range.
The home side's shoulder sank and Tonbridge could easily have added to the scoreline before the finish with further chances for Parkinson and Scannell.
44 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ...
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