Dorking Wanderers 0 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 66/18/1659 - Saturday, 1st December 2018 - Bostik Premier

Dorking Wanderers (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Miles 90+6
Attendance: 526

Admission: £7
Programme: £2
Mileage: 120/3,998

The celebration on the field, and off it, told the story. November had been difficult, but now it had passed and December had immediately offered hope of a fresh start. And there was a sense of karma in Sonny Miles’ 97th minute winner that had triggered the elation.

Three weeks ago, same time, same place Tonbridge slipped out of the FA Trophy at Dorking in a somewhat unfortunate manner but worse was to follow as it became the first of, in effect, five successive defeats. Steve McKimm’s patience had been stretched to breaking point and changes were to be made. As it was, a couple of non-contract players, Sammy Knott and Liam King, were shown the door but, it was obvious, that these not the only ones that were in the manager’s sightline.

What was required was a reaction and that was what the manager got and a little bit more.

The week’s trading brought one new arrival, Michael West on loan from Eastbourne Borough and he went straight into the starting eleven with Craig Stone rested to the bench.

The pent-up frustration of November was very nearly eased within the first minute as Alex Read was sent clear by West but the nemesis of the Angels in that Trophy defeat, Dorking goalkeeper Slavomir Huk, saved at the feet of the striker.

Dorking’s first opportunity fell on three minutes when Tom Tolfrey’s scuffed shot was comfortably saved by Jonny Henly and a minute later, Reece Hall’s shot took a deflection on its way over the bar.

Good interplay between Liam Smith and Joe Turner ended with the striker’s shot drifting over and there was a scare for the Angels after 23 minutes when Tolfrey’s intended cross for an unmarked Jason Prior was deflected away for a corner.

The first half’s big moment came just past the half hour mark when a lofted clearance from Dorking’s Chris Boulter came down at the feet of Turner, whose first time shot took a wicked deflection but Huk brilliantly readjusted to plunge low to his left and push the ball away for a corner.

The end of a well-contested first period came with a Turner free kick that Huk gathered at the second attempt and a shot from Read that the goalkeeper saved at his near post.

A 30 yard drive from Tom Beere that cannoned off the chest of Huk opened the second half but Dorking’s best chance of the game came on the hour when, following a right sided free kick the ball arrived at the feet of Prior, whose shot from a couple of yards was brilliantly saved by the right hand of Henly at his near post.

Twice in a matter of moments Huk attempted to display the skills of a midfield ball player but was found wanting with Tonbridge failing to take full advantage.

A melee in the Tonbridge technical area following the ball going off for a throw-in saw Steve McKimm ordered off as the player’s became embroiled in a unnecessary bout of handbags.

A wild miskick from Huk, an awesome shot stopper, probably illustrated why he is not playing at a higher level. Turner flashed a shot across the face of goal as the game drifted seemingly towards its inevitable end as a goalless draw.

But, with the clock ticking towards the seventh minute of time-added, a Tonbridge corner from the right was delivered, probably overhit, to the far angle of the six yard box from where Sonny Miles hooked the ball over his shoulder and to the far post from where Huk, under pressure from Read, was only able to help the ball into the net and cue the joyous celebrations.

Country Roads pulsated out of the Tonbridge dressing room and the few Dorking supporters left grumbled that “anybody would think they had won the league.” After the month that has been endured from the manager through to the supporters, it felt like we had.