Tonbridge 0 Dartford 3

Match 39/16/1347 - Saturday, 15th October 2016 - FA Cup 4QR

Tonbridge (0) 0
Dartford (1) 3 Brown 36, Pugh 49, Bradbrook 51
Attendance: 1,391

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/3,291

Match Report

Oh well, there is always next year. There have been 44 next years. Nobody was under the illusion that this was anything other than a difficult draw and Tonbridge would have to be at their very best, and perhaps Dartford slightly below par, to see the Angels progress to the promised land of the First Round Proper. As it was for 30 minutes, Tonbridge were at their best and Dartford were certainly struggling to contain them, but the width of a post, a goalkeeper's save and the loss of a key player and the opportunity was gone.

Tonbridge are left to take the positives, this was only the fifth time and the first for nine years that they have progressed to the final qualifying round since their last appearance in the First Round in 1972 and, whilst they were well beaten come the final whistle, there was plenty in those first 30 minutes to suggest that they could hold their own in National League South should promotion be gained at the end of the season. A decent amount of cash, £15,000, has been made during the run and this can only help that campaign.

One thing, thankfully, you always get with a Dartford visit is a good following that is also good natured. The police were in attendance, but I guess that was mandatory with the expected size of the crowd. Apart from one piece of stupidity with a smoke bomb from the Tonbridge contingent, the bobbies had a pleasant afternoon being paid to watch football.

Dartford arrived in a good vein of form, unbeaten in seven with a five goal mauling of Truro their last trip out. So, it was vital that Tonbridge rattled them from the outset before they got into their confident stride, and the Angels certainly did that forcing five corners in the first five minutes. From one such, delivered by Nicky Wheeler, to the back post, Tom Parkinson rose the highest and planted a header against the outside of the post. Within seconds, Parkinson forced Darts' goalkeeper, Deren Ibrahim (who found fame in the week having been beaten in eight seconds playing for Gibraltar against Belgium in a World Cup Qualifier) into a fine save, clawing the ball away from the top corner.

Tonbridge continued to press forward, Damian Scannell, very influential in the opening half-hour, blasted high over after 15 minutes and a minute later fired a shot straight at Ibrahim.

Nathan Elder, who ultimately was to have a fruitless afternoon shackled by Tom Bonner and Tom Gardiner, directed a header wide as Tonbridge's corner count mounted.

Perhaps, in my opinion it was, the turning point in the game came after 22 minutes when Parkinson went down injured and was unable to continue. Tom Phipp was his substitute, but with no disrespect to him, the momentum started to turn from that very moment as Darts' midfielders Alex Brown and Elliot Bradbrook started to win some of the battles. Tonbridge were not under seige, but it was no longer the one-way traffic of the first half-hour.

After 34 minutes, it was Dartford that opened the scoring. A shot from the right hand side of the box by Danny Harris was parried low to his left by Anthony Di Bernardo with Brown reacting the quickest to tuck home the rebound.

It would unfair to say that the confidence drained away from Tonbridge, but the goal certainly infused their visitors with a heavy dose of the stuff.

Two horrible moments within six minutes of the restart ended the game as a contest and Tonbridge's hopes that their 44 year wait might be over.

Never let a ball bounce in your own penalty area is one of those phrases in big bold letters in the coaching manual, Tonbridge did and paid the price. While defenders dithered, Andy Pugh poked the ball home from close range to double the advantage just two minutes into the half.

Four minutes later it was all over as a header at the far post was turned in by Bradbrook.

Dartford were now in cruise control and professionally game managed the final half-hour. A surging run from [my] man-of-the-match Jack Parter brought a substantial appeal for a penalty as the ball struck a hand but this was turned away by the referee, Paul Howard, who, I thought, had a good game.

To use another well-worn cliche, Tonbridge are left to concentrate on their primary objective of promotion, although another run, this time in the Trophy, would be welcome.

We've waited 44 years, I've said that too many times already, what's another 12 months.

Pictures courtesy of Ian Clear