Tonbridge Angels 0 Dartford 2

Match 73/18/1666 - Saturday, 15th December 2018 - Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Dartford (0) 2 Noble 81 Sheringham 90
Attendance: 66

Admission: £5 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/4,332

Jim Rowe reported: With a gap in competitive fixtures, Steve McKimm took the opportunity of arranging a friendly fixture with National South Dartford also without a game due to FA Trophy ties.

The Angels boss fielding a slightly changes formation although with largely the same personnel will claim that it was useful learning exercise and with another three training sessions before the Boxing Day fixture there is the opportunity for further refinements.

That said the more discerning Angels supporters who escaped Christmas shopping and braved the appalling weather conditions will still be asking the question “how is our team to score more goals?” McKimm’s plans were hardly helped by the squad’s only recognised striker Alex Read having to pull out just before kick off with hamstring issues sustained during the warm up.

As to the game itself it had the look and feel of so many recent Angels matches with plenty of hard work carried out in defence and through the midfield areas but get anywhere near goal and more often than not any half chance that might have been created was wasted.

Perhaps the best moment for the Angels came on the stroke of half time when Tommy Whitnell’s fierce shot was only held at the second attempt by Darts keeper Bradley Vose.

As for Dartford a penalty award in the 27th minute was wasted as a result of Angels stopper Jonny Henly’s save. It was Henly again who kept the game scoreless at the break by minute pushing Dan Darbyshire’s effort round the post.

The 58th minute saw perhaps Tonbridge’s best moment when Jared Small’s on target shot from the edge of the area appeared to be goalbound with Vose probably beaten only for the ball to be blocked inadvertently by Tom Parkinson. When goals are hard to come by these incidents conspire against you it seems.

On 68 minutes Angels substitute Tom Beere saw his shot scrape the post but unfortunately from his point of view the wrong side.

Eventually on 75 minutes McKimm brought on some of the younger players and whilst they showed some endeavour with their paces and touches, it was Dartford who made the breakthrough basically because of home defensive errors.

Experienced Lee Noble opened the scoring in the 81st minute and Dartford made the game safe in the 90th minute with a late strike.

Afterwards, Steve McKimm said: “I thought the young payers did well but they will also have learnt from their mistakes.”