Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Sutton United (1) 2
Estimated Attendance: 200
Admission: £5
Mileage: 38/111
FAR FROM DISGRACED
The World Cup produced a dilemma, stay at home for the France v Spain semi-final or stay loyal to Tonbridge Angels and their pre-season friendly with Sutton United. Tonbridge won the argument, lost the game, but overall, I didn’t regret my choice.
Mobile phone charged in full, match alerts on, I was able to view the key moments in Dallas quickly after they had happened as tournament favourites France deservedly fell to defeat against the best side of the last month. The highlights reel emphasised that I had set aside a good game rather than a classic.
National League Sutton United paid Tonbridge the compliment of bringing a strong squad to the Yeomans with Charlie Carter, last season of Dorking Wanderers and David Ogbonna, previously of Slough Town, old adversaries.
Angels manager, Alan Dunne, chose to go with much the same format as Saturday’s opening friendly with only two trialists starting, but plenty to be seen in the second half as the starting XI this time made it to the hour mark.
On a cooler evening, with a nice breeze, the much maligned hydration breaks were ditched.
Sutton showed their quality from the outset and were ahead within four minutes when a pass down the left from Adam Reeves found the visitors only first half trialist who rounded Nathan Harness, who had left his line to advance to the edge of the box. With the goalkeeper absent, the ball was played back to Charlie Bell who unselfishly moved it on to Carter to slot home.
Credit to the Angels who recovered from the setback and were the equal of their step one opposition with efforts from Harry Gardner and a trialist testing goalkeeper Chris Haigh, whilst Sutton rattled the woodwork on 37 minutes.
Sutton doubled their advantage two minutes into the second half when a inch perfect cross following a dribble across the face of the Angels goal from Jermaine Francis found Sam Folarin who headed home.
As the changes rang on both sides, the Angels might have folded but they took the game to Sutton and in the closing moments, a trialist produced a mazy run into the box that was ended when he was brought down. He picked himself up to take the spot kick himself, but his shot was too close to the keeper who saved with relative ease.
Another solid run-out that leaves the impression that things are moving in the right direction.
Picture: David Couldridge
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