Tonbridge Angels 3 Ebbsfleet United 2

Match 4/17/1452 - Tuesday, 11th July 2017 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (1) 3 McCollin 29, Trialist 57, Thompson 86
Ebbsfleet United (0) 2 McQueen 61, Kedwell 75
Attendance: 355

Entrance: £5 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/328

Money is splashing around the newly rebranded Bostik Premier with the well publicised excesses of Billericay and Margate and suspicions that there are big budgets at several other clubs. This alone lowered expectations at Tonbridge Angels and a perceived lack of signings only added to the sense that this coming season could see the club among the also-rans.

So, whilst taking the usual caveat that pre-season results are not to get too upbeat or downcast about, this performance against newly promoted to the National League Ebbsfleet United was highly encouraging.

After the heatwave of the past few weeks, the weather gods decided that the evening of Longmead's first match of the season would be the perfect time to drop a month's worth of rain in a couple of hours.

The rain added slickness to a fresh green baize and a competitive game with a few challenges from both sides belying the title of friendly match.

Tonbridge fielded their three new signings, Jeyasiva Sivapathasundaram (who will be for the rest of his Tonbridge career referred to on this blog as simply Jay Siva), Craig Stone and Chris Kinnear, each brought a wealth of experience to the line-up. Siva looked comfortable on the ball and consistently picked a pass short or long; Stone, playing in the centre of defence which probably is not the position he was brought to the club for, was solid in the face of Danny Kedwell, Darren McQueen and Aaron McLean, strikers with high reputations whilst Kinnear brought a steely edge to midfield that was lacking last season. Also appearing were two unnamed trialists.

As would be expected with the visitors having arrived on the back of a training camp in Portugal, Ebbsfleet opened the stronger and James Behan, standing in between the sticks for the holidaying Anthony Di Bernardo, touched over an effort from Anthony Cook following good work on the left.

An eye-catching move after 20 minutes opened up the Angels but Behan was once again equal to the task touching over Cook's rising shot.

Somewhat against the run of play, Ebbsfleet fell foul of an old Tonbridge ploy of long throw from Luke Blewden, touched on at the near post by Nathan Elder for Andre McCollin to stab home from close range. McCollin looked particularly sharp, and having missed almost all of last season with a serious injury, it is like a having a new signing.

Tonbridge went 2-0 up after 57 minutes when the trialist wearing number 11 cut in from the left and curled a splendid shot into the top corner from 20 yards. It was certainly a way to announce yourself and say sign me now.

With no substitutions being made by either side at half-time there was a plethora of them on the hour and whilst Tonbridge readjusted, Ebbsfleet pulled a goal back with another super hit, this time from Darren McQueen into the top corner giving Behan no chance.

Ebbsfleet were now firing on all cylinders and it took a monumental saving block from Liam Smith to preserve the Angels' lead.

However, after 75 minutes, the visitors did equalise after opening up Tonbridge down the left with the final cross leaving Kedwell a tap-in.

Just when a wish was for the Angels to hold out for an honourable draw they found a winner. Alex Akrofi wriggled his way into the box but his shot was blocked by Kenny Clark only for the ball to loop up into the air for Dan Thompson to head home.

A very wet evening had seen a wonderfully competitive game and given Angels' supporters much encouragement.