Tonbridge Angels 3 Sittingbourne 2

Match 24/18/1617 - Tuesday, 21st August 2018 - Kent Senior Cup

Tonbridge Angels (1) 3 Read 3 (pen), 49, 58 (pen)
Sittingbourne (0) 2 Adebayu 49 Caney-Bryan 65
Attendance: 218

Admission: £7 Senior
Programme: £1
Mileage: 38/1,159

The County Cup is a relic of a previous being in football, but one that the relevant County Football Association’s strive to maintain its importance. In Kent, presumably in other counties, league games can be postponed as a County Cup game takes precedence. A quick goggle shows that the major powers in Liverpool and Manchester still enter a side, however strong that might be, but in London, none of the Premier or Football League clubs take part. In Birmingham, Wolves, West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham have all competed in the Final in the last four years.

Personally, with the reduction in League fixtures this season, I think there is a case for the Kent Senior Cup. Even if the crowd, on this occasion a respectable 218, is small a few will drink or buy a burger in addition to their entrance fee, which was set at full price.

Steve McKimm seemed to be thinking along my line as he fielded a surprisingly strong eleven whilst experimenting with a different shape.

The game was an entertaining affair with visitors Sittingbourne probably going home slightly aggrieved to have exited the competition.

In the Sittingbourne ranks were five ex-Angels including Nathan Elder, who takes the blame for me missing the opening goal after just three minutes. The amiable striker was doing the rounds of shaking hands with his old friends (myself included) when the Angels were awarded and scored a penalty through Alex Read, all of which passed me by!

Some good link play between Read and Tom Beere ended with Liam Smith being brought down by the goalkeeper, Harry Brooks, but the spot kick from Read was saved.

Tonbridge totally dominated the opening half-hour and, in truth, should have put the game beyond the reach of Sittingbourne, but having spurned the chances, just before the break, the visitors equalised. Jonny Henly’s punched clearance from a long throw to the edge of the penalty area was met by Izzy Adebayu who returned with a shot that went through the mass of bodies an into the net.

Tonbridge went back in front within five minutes of the restart when a a shot from Read appeared to have been cleared from the line but a follow-up header from Joe Turner was also clawed away by Brooks, this time seemingly from behind the line. A goal was given, but it was not until later that it was confirmed that it had been Read’s effort that had counted.

The referee awarded the Angels a third penalty when Reiss Crimmen who clumsily brought down Read. The striker dusted himself down to complete his hat-trick, a rather curious one in as much it contained three penalty attempts and a goal which nobody, at the time, was sure was his!

With nothing to lose, Sittingbourne threw bodies forward and were quickly rewarded when substitute Ira Jackson, for whom I had my card marked by a Sittingbourne supporter prior to the game, produced a dazzling run before setting up Johan Caney-Brian with a close range finish.

Sittingbourne tried to desperately to retrieve the tie with Jackson continually catching the eye, but Tonbridge saw the game out. The visitors can certainly take heart and expect to have a good season in Bostik South.