Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Trialist 40
Biggleswade (0) 0
Attendance: 352
Admission: £5
Mileage: 38/73
GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME (ALMOST)
On the face of it the summer has been very productive for Alan Dunne and Tonbridge Angels. The signing of Maidstone United’s captain Sam Corne opened the door and the players that have followed have dropped a few jaws and heightened expectations.
The first pre-season game brought a cooling breeze that took the edge off the stifling heat of the third heatwave of the summer. Thoughts drift to a freezing Tuesday evening in December at the Yeomans and it almost sounds appealing.
The newly-installed tannoy boomed out the team line-ups in crystal clear clarity, lottery tickets at the ready boys and girls, you will now hear the winning number!
On the pitch, Alan Dunne chose to field a strong first half team whilst his second half troops were made up of nine trialists. alongside Bradley Williams and Lexus Beeden, the latest recruit from the A26 neighbours against Biggleswade of the Southern League Division One Central.
Given the heat, the tempo and the pressing was eye-catching with Corne pulling all the strings in the middle of the park. Bunmi Babajide had a shot cleared from the line on eight minutes and a good combination between Corne and Frankie Baker ended with the visiting goalkeeper making a save.
On 38 minutes, Harry Gardner won the ball in midfield, spotted the goalkeeper off his line and was unlucky from 35 yards to see his effort strike the post.
Tonbridge took the lead on 40 minutes when Corne crossed from the right with pinpoint accuracy to find the Angels only first half trialist at the far post to finish well.
The second half with the multiple changes saw much of the momentum taken out of the game and, right at the death, Biggleswade fashioned an opportunity to return home with an honourable draw but the effort narrowly cleared the bar.
A couple of the trialists probably did enough to earn a second or third look, but nine trialists thrown together is a tough ask.
Pre-season for a supporter is about getting back amongst friends, chewing the fat over summer signings, and of course, the World Cup, in the surroundings of the green, green FIFA approved surface of home.
Picture: Dave Couldridge
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