Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Babajide 67
Torquay United (0) 2 Moore 58 Morgan 61
Attendnance: 2,026
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/4,979
GULLS FLY AWAY
They came to Tonbridge in their hundreds, adding a swathe of yellow to the Yeomans Community Stadium. They left, as one supporter said, job done.
Torquay United, a giant of a club who really shouldn’t be National League South, arrived in the knowledge that a win could see them avoiding the playoff eliminators whilst defeat could see them fail to make the knockout stages at all.
When Paul Wotton was dismissed in March after a 5-0 home defeat by Chelmsford, this challenge seemed unlikely but the appointment of the ex-Totton manager, Jimmy Ball, has seen a remarkable turnaround in form.
For the home supporters there was a relaxed atmosphere, satisfied with their mid-table finish after a start to the season that shouted relegation from the rooftops. But the nervousness of the Torquay supporters is what we want for ourselves, to be there with something to play for (at the top of the table) on the last day.
Those of a certain vintage will remember final days of the past when keeping in touch with games elsewhere meant having a transistor radio to the ear listening to the updates as a main commentary match continued. Of course these days the smart phone means that a goal scored at Bath City is transmitted within seconds, but this also brings the “fake news” as Maidstone United supporters suffered when, having fought back from two down at Bath to win 3-2, news circulated that a late Hornchurch goal against Maidenhead had secured an unlikely playoff spot, only to have their celebrations cut short.
Torquay brought the sunshine of the English Riviera with them but, in fairness, the Garden of England has been similarly blessed all week. Tonbridge manager, Alan Dunne, gave Scott Wagstaff a starting place in what was likely to be his final game with the Angels.
Perhaps the nervousness of the visitors contributed to a flat first half which saw little goalmouth action with neither goalkeeper seriously tested.
The game turned in the west country team’s favour in the matter of a couple of minutes around the hour mark. Firstly, after 58 minutes, an inswinging corner was bundled home by Deon Moore, a disappointing goal to concede that had echoes of Maidstone’s opener in the Kent Senior Cup Final.
On 61 minutes, Dylan Morgan cut in from the left to curl a shot into the bottom corner and, with results elsewhere, Torquay moved into third place.
Tonbridge didn’t lie down and a spectacular 25 yard strike from Bunmi Babajide reset the ambitions of the visitors who retreated to defend what they had.
Chances came for the Angels, a great one for Alfie Pavey, one-on-one with the keeper, but the custodian came out of top.
But the yellow army wound their way back west, ready to sell out Plainmoor next Saturday and roll on towards the National League. Personally (but selfishly) I hope they make it, with Truro City back on the the fixture list, it is one less long journey to deal with and although Plainmoor is a big ground in National League South, being corralled into a corner with limited facilities isn’t ideal.
But, their good natured supporters who swelled the Angels’ coffers with more than a few pints sunk, deserve it.
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