Tonbridge Angels 1 Burgess Hill Town 0

Match 23/18/1616 - Saturday, 18th August 2018 - Bostik Premier

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Turner 26
Burgess Hill Town (0) 0
Attendance: 409

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/1,121

Before Sky invented football in 1992, I don’t remember people using the word momentum in the context of football matches, now it is used in the jibber-jabber of punditry as often as goal.

There is something about the act of momentum though in as much as you can lose it as fast as you acquired it and such was the case with Tonbridge in this game against last year’s relegation Houdini act Burgess Hill.

For 38 minutes, Tonbridge played some sparkling stuff, went a deserved goal to the good and were looking a safe bet to go on and win the game with plenty to spare. But Tommy Parkinson went down with a head injury and a 10 minute delay ensued following which, despite the midfielder returning to the action, that momentum was lost and never recovered.

Tonbridge were still good value for their win but a comfortable three points turned into a bit of a slog.

The home side opened well with Tom Beere and Jack Parter combining well before the ball was deflected away for a corner and Craig Stone firing at shot at the Josh James in the Burgess Hill goal.

After seven minutes a free kick from Joe Turner was met with a header from Arthur Lee that struck the bar with the rebound being cleared from the line.

Tonbridge finally broke through after 26 minutes when a superb through ball from James Folkes allowed Turner to cut in from the left and bury his shot past the advancing James.

After 31 minutes, Parkinson challenged for a header from a corner and was left prostrate on the ground. After a long break, the skipper was back on his feet, head bandaged Terry Butcher fashion and able to continue.

But with that delay the momentum seemed to drain away. The game continued to be largely one-way traffic but the sparkling stuff of the opening period had somewhat disappeared.

Burgess Hill created their one real chance of the game after 51 minutes when a clever free kick by Connor Tighe opened up an opportunity for Ben Pope but he shot wide.

With a slim squad at Steve McKimm’s disposal it was worrying to see Turner limp out of the game with a dead leg with 20 minutes to go.

Eight minutes remained when a corner from the left was headed back across the face of goal by Sonny Miles for substitute Liam King to plant a header onto the top of the crossbar.

Three games in, seven points on the board and no goals conceded whilst sitting fourth in the embryonic table is a very good start with or without momentum.

Picture: Wes Filtness