Tonbridge Angels (0) 3 Babajide 48,57 Trialist 54
Dulwich Hamlet (1) 1 Mico 41
Attendance: 362
Admission: £5
Mileage: 38/298
THAT'S BETTER!
At half-time my waining sense of preseason optimism had further evaporated as visitors Dulwich Hamlet had taken advantage of another lacklustre performance from Tonbridge Angels and, four minutes from the break a simple pass into the right channel from Sean Bonnett-Johnson sent Gaspar Mico clear to slide in his shot into the far corner from a relatively tight angle.
But, the half-time team talk had the desired effect and produced the best 45 minutes from the home side this season with three goals in the opening 12 minutes to reverse the ills of the first period.
Dulwich Hamlet are old foes from our Isthmian days when they were always seen as one of the giants of that division and are probably still considered that by their present day counterparts. Last season, despite a ninth place finish, five points adrift of the play-offs, they still managed an average attendance of 2,226 with gates of over 3,000 for the visits of Welling United, St Albans City, Chichester City, Billericay Town and Burgess Hill Town. Much was always made of their clusters of craft ale drinking groups seemingly unaware that a football match was taking place behind them, but the club that has survived endless battles with the Champions Hill stadium owners and Southwark Council now have in place planning approval that will secure their future and, with the depth of support they hold, drive the club forward.
Indeed, on a hot afternoon that brought a necessary return of the hydration breaks, the south London club brought a decent following for a preseason friendly.
Dulwich should have gone in front on seven minutes when David Smith put a shot wide when well placed and further chances were spurned as they controlled the half, despite losing a player stretchered off on the half-hour.
On 38 minutes, the Angels produced their first chance of note when Jephte Tanga struck a post before Dulwich took the lead.
A different Tonbridge side emerged from the dressing rooms, not necessarily in personnel, but in attitude and that brought early reward as they were gifted an equaliser when the goalkeeper, under pressure, cleared only a few yards to the feet of Bunmi Babajide, who had the simple task of scoring from close range.
After 54 minutes, a pinpoint free kick from Bailey Akehurst found the head of a trialist to put the Angels in front and three minutes later a third was added when Babajide dribbled his way into a shooting position to find the bottom corner.
After a second half of mostly Tonbridge dominance, Dulwich produced a final five minutes of pressure that saw a shot from Nyren Clunis come back from the inside of the post and a shot, also from Clunis, that Nathan Harness turned over the bar.
Altogether a second half that restored optimism as we enter the final fortnight of preseason.
Pictures: Dave Couldridge
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