Heybridge Swifts 2 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 52/17/1502 - Tuesday, 31st October 2017 - FA Trophy 1R Replay

Heybridge Swifts (0) 2 Callander 48,58
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Akrofi 81
Attendance: 224
New Ground: 318

Entrance: £4 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 146/3,521

These are troubled times at Tonbridge Angels. They may be only three points off the play-off zone but the style of football has not been to the liking of many and this Trophy defeat at the hands of Heybridge Swifts consigned the club to first round exits in both of the major FA competitions to lower level sides without a penny in prize money.

Saturday’s first encounter brought goals aplenty as both defences failed to cover themselves with much in the way of glory but at least the game was competitive throughout. In this replay, what concerned the travelling support most was their side’s lack of competitiveness. Alex Akrofi scored a goal with nine minutes to go and with four added minutes that stretched closer to six, there was time for a grandstand finish, but it never happened.

Tonbridge were fortunate to get to the break goalless as any hope that Heybridge’s attentions might be set on Sunday’s FA Cup First Round game at League Two Exeter City were dispelled.

Joun Luque set the template for the half when he shot over after five minutes but was to be the tormentor-in-chief for the entire 90 minutes.

Heybridge created a succession of chances with Luque at the heart of everything. He had a shot deflected onto the top of the net; a run and shot-cum-cross that begged a touch at the far post and another that brought a save out of Jonny Henly.

Added to Luque’s threat there was Luke Callender whose 28th minute header was tipped over by Henly and a free header that he steered wide six minutes before the break.

If all that sounds one-way traffic, it was.

Tonbridge’s first half good fortune (or Heybridge’s wastefulness) was not to last long into the second period. Callender rolled the ball across his body, took Callum Adonis-Taylor out of the game and fired into the far corner from a tight angle.

The visitors were sparked into a brief revival with Danny Thompson stretching Danny Sambrook for the first time followed by Xavier Vidal firing over.

But this fightback was brought to a halt when a cross from Harrison Chatting found the unchallenged head of Callender to double the Swifts advantage.

Tonbridge changed the strike force with the introduction of Akrofi and Nathan Elder in an effort to unsettle the central defensive partnership of Ryan Henshaw and Jack Cawley whose evening had been serenely untroubled.

A free kick from Joe Turner found the head of Elder and from the loose ball Akrofi fired goalwards with a defender on the line only helping the ball into the roof of the net.

It should have set-up a final onslaught but Sambrook wasn’t tested in those finals moments.

A dumbfounded Steve McKimm was almost at a loss to find answers for his side’s lack of competitiveness.

A cup defeat always sharpens opinions and losing to a lower league side, albeit that Tonbridge were Heybridge’s fourth higher league scalp of the season, only heightens the criticism. For some the knives are out; for others diamonds (in terms of formation) are not forever. Some good cheer is certainly needed quickly.

This was a first visit to Scraley Road and it was a pleasant place to visit leaving aside the result. The first thing that catches the eye is pitch, which not only looked a good surface but was large. Straddling the half-way line on both sides there are seating enclosures from which the view is probably (I didn't sit down) spoilt by the multitude of uprights supporting the roof. There was covered standing behind the far goal with the clubhouse and dressing rooms behind the other. The car parking was described as ample and I found a space relatively easy but I was actually glad to be hanging around for 30 minutes after the game because the exit looked like it was going chaotic.