Wealdstone (2) 3 Tiehi (o.g.) 15 Clifford 50 Noel-Williams 90+1
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Theobalds (pen) 59
Attendance: 866
New Ground: 337
Admission: Pass
Programme: £3
Mileage: 170/2,826
This was a first visit to Grosvenor Vale, a decent enough ground even if it is a little bits and pieces in its construction. There is a reasonably sized seating area behind the far goal that strangely goes from a corner to the far post and then stops for a separate piece of covered terracing. Another area of seating straddles he halfway line whilst opposite there is a third seated area but much smaller. Behind the other goal is a covered terrace that once more goes from a corner to the far post and stops for an area of flat uncovered standing.
The welcome was friendly, which was almost unexpected following the reports from fellow National South clubs and, although it is easy to do when you are top of table and have ultimately won the game, the home support gave the Tonbridge side generous applause as they left the field at the end of the game.
Tonbridge were left with effectively only two named on the bench following a suspension to Khale Da Costa and unavailability. Jared Small returned to the starting 11 for Da Costa and there was a first start for Christ Tiehi.
The visitors struggled to contain Wealdstone down the flanks in the opening half but strangely accumulating a lot of corners of their own, four in the opening five minutes that came to nothing.
Jonny Henly was the first goalkeeper called into action saving from Jacob Mendy Mendy (so good they named him twice) after 10 minutes and making a better stop, low to his left to deny the very impressive Dennon Lewis four minutes later.
But the problems that Wealdstone were causing in the wide area bore fruit for the home side a minute later when a cross from Michee Efete was turned into his own net from Tiehe.
After 27 minutes, Wealdstone’s central defender Connor Stevens spurned a good chance after a corner had been headed into his path by Jerome Okimo.
But in the final five minutes of the half the Angels came back into the game and forced another four corners before Jack Rudoni forced the Stones’ goalkeeper, Aston Oxborough into a fine save with the rebound being sent wide by Joe Turner.
Five minutes into the second period, a soft-looking penalty, albeit viewed from the length of the field, was awarded to the home side after Rudoni was adjudged to have brought down Lewis. Billy Clifford’s initial spot kick was well saved by Henly but the taker followed up to into the roof of the net.
But Tonbridge fought back and reduced the deficit 10 minutes later when D’Sean Theobalds scored from the spot after Tom Derry had been brought down by Okimo.
Tonbridge pressed hard for an equaliser, that could be argued they deserved, and after 66 minutes Turner headed at the goalkeeper and a shot from Rudoni was deflected wide. But the chance for some reward came with nine minutes remaining when a cross from Small found the diving head of Derry whose contact was almost too good directing the ball into the grateful hands of Oxborough when a misplaced header would probably have found the net.
With the visitors throwing bodies forward in search of a goal, it was almost inevitable that they would get caught on the break and in the first minute of added time, a breakaway led to substitute Dejon Noel-Williams firing into the bottom corner to seal the points.
So miracles only come in one’s but at least the country was rejoicing the morning’s event.
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