Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Maidstone United (0) 1 Leahy 80
Attendance: 2,260
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/1,154
THAT'S THAT DONE!
It’s done. Once a year the circus rolls into town, they grab a result and leave, hopefully peacefully, allowing us to go about our business for the rest of the season.
I loathe this fixture, its chaotic, stressful and seemingly the outcome is always the same. Financially, 2,260 through the doors on a Tuesday night is fantastic, but it is the antithesis of what non-league football is about. Segregation, all ticket, car park full 90 minutes before kick-off, there is nothing to recommend it unless, of course, you support Maidstone United and know that your return journey home will be with another smug smile.
Not for 12 years, Teniola Time, has that smile been wiped from their face. Yes, we’ve had success at the Gallagher, but it just doesn’t happen at Longmead.
Maidstone didn’t deserve that smile, but took their chance with a screamer of a goal whilst Tonbridge faltered in front of goal, wasting so many opportunities.
With eight players on the pitch who have played for both clubs it was inevitable that one would be the villain of the piece to one set of supporters and Tom Leahy was the man of the moment.
A wet day had subsided into a pleasantly mild evening but one that necessitated a coat for the first time this season. Alan Dunne selected an unchanged side for a third consecutive time.
The game was what you expect from a derby, helter-skelter with no quarter asked and no quarter given. Certainly a game that needed an experienced referee, and although Craig Barnett didn’t get everything right, he controlled the game whilst allowing it to flow.
Tonbridge threatened their visitors goal within in the first minute when a scramble in front of goal ended with Lamar Reynolds’ shot clearing the bar.
The home side were fully in ascendancy and it took 25 minutes for Maidstone to register a shot on goal with Leone Gravata tamely testing Nathan Harness.
After 41 minutes, Tonbridge had the ball in the net through Frankie Baker, but it was disallowed for offside, a decision that was later questioned.
Maidstone certainly showed greater intent from the outset of the second period with Harness turning a Riley Court free kick over the bar at full stretch.
Although Maidstone were dominating possession in the second half they were creating very little in terms of shots on goal and, after 79 minutes, it was Lennie Holden’s turn to turn over a lob from Lex Beeden.
But, from the resultant corner, Maidstone made a lightning break down the left, partly aided by a challenge from George Fowler that went unseen by the referee, with Gravata who slipped the ball inside to Leahy, who from 18 yards picked out the top corner for an immaculate finish.
Whilst the Angels threw bodies forward in search of an equaliser, Leahy rattled the bar in the last minute of regular time.
Two chances fell the way of the home side in time added with Ethan Sutcliffe and substitute Alfie Pavey both heading over when well placed to find the target.
A draw would have been a fair result with each side having the better of a half, but as Dunne commented after life, let alone football, isn’t fair.
When I read this back, it’s going to come across as bitter, but ask anyone from north London to Glasgow, Milan to Istanbul defeat to your local rivals is always bitter.
Picture: Dave Couldridge
No comments:
Post a Comment