Leiston P
Tonbridge Angels P
Wasted Mileage: 240/5,781
Showing posts with label Leiston. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leiston. Show all posts
Saturday, 20 January 2018
Leiston P Tonbridge Angels P
Saturday, 20th January 2018 - Bostik Premier
Leiston P
Tonbridge Angels P
Wasted Mileage: 240/5,781
Match postponed by the match officials at around 2 p.m. when we were within 10 miles of Leiston. Persistent heavy rain that was forecast to continue for the rest of the afternoon.
Leiston P
Tonbridge Angels P
Wasted Mileage: 240/5,781
Wednesday, 8 March 2017
Leiston 2 Tonbridge 0
Match 101/16/1408 - Tuesday, 7th March 2017 - Ryman Premier
Leiston (0) 2 Muir-Merchant 63,66
Tonbridge (0) 0
Attendance: 183
Entrance: £7 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 176/7,126
I take full responsibility, this was an afternoon/evening where everything that could go wrong went wrong from the moment my glasses broke in half while cleaning them, sending me into panic mode to find my spare pair. An accident in Hadlow left me late picking up a friend, but more importantly, also delayed the team coach and then, of course, came the Dartford Tunnel. Best part of an hour to crawl through as a lorry had broken down in one of the bores. We made good time for the rest of the journey, but when a man in a high vis jacket was at the end of Victory Road, with no coach at the ground we feared the worst.
The people at Leiston were very welcoming, there cannot be many places where you are offered a sweet on entry and inside the clubhouse there were no moans about the late arrival of the visitors and the delayed kick-off of 8.30 p.m. Somewhat unusually the tea bar is situated inside the clubhouse which meant that we could sit at a table and refresh ourselves after the horrible journey.
The pitch at Victory Road has suffered several recent postponements and a Leiston supporter described the far side as a quagmire.
The team coach finally arrived at 7.50 p.m. The team sheet showed three players missing, signalling that this was always going to be tough ask despite Leiston's recent poor form. Anthony Di Bernado's injury from Saturday looks to be a lay-off that could end his season and he was replaced by Jonny Henly, on loan from Hemel Hempstead. Luke Allen was suffering from a dead leg which brought Damian Scannell back into the starting eleven as did Ugo Udoji's replacement James Folkes. Alex Akrofi was carrying a knock that relegated him to the bench with Andre McCollin starting.
The delayed start seemed to affect both sides equally in a first half in which chances were very much at a premium. Tonbridge survived an early scare when Jack Parter cleared from the line and it took 15 minutes for the Angels to register a shot, albeit a tame one, from McCollin that was comfortably saved.
A miscued cross from Leiston's right that landed on the top of the bar after 19 minutes proved to be the closest either side got to scoring in the first period.
The second half started with greater urgency, perhaps the players had finally got the delay out of their legs. Joe Francis, a constant menace, cut in from the right and shot wide of the far post and at the other end of the field, McCollin forced a low parrying save to his left out of Jacob Marsden.
The home side were beginning to turn the screw with a couple of efforts before they took the lead just past the hour mark. Niko Muir-Merchant was played in at the right hand edge of the six yard box and finished into the far corner.
Leiston's advantage was doubled within three minutes when Muir-Merchant was allowed to run from the left and plant a shot between Henly and the left hand post.
Steve McKimm responded by bringing Dan Thompson and Tommy Whitnall into the fray replacing McCollin and an injured Parter.
When, with 15 minutes remaining, a long throw from Luke Blewden was only cleared to Tom Phipp, whose shot from 18 yards struck the inside of the far post but came back out to be cleared, it was pretty obvious if it hadn't already been, that this was not to be Tonbridge's night.
Thankfully, the journey home was uneventful, finally pulling on to the drive in Staplehurst at 01:15 a.m., tired and just a little dispirited.
Pictures: Chris Coolbear
Leiston (0) 2 Muir-Merchant 63,66
Tonbridge (0) 0
Attendance: 183
Entrance: £7 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 176/7,126
The people at Leiston were very welcoming, there cannot be many places where you are offered a sweet on entry and inside the clubhouse there were no moans about the late arrival of the visitors and the delayed kick-off of 8.30 p.m. Somewhat unusually the tea bar is situated inside the clubhouse which meant that we could sit at a table and refresh ourselves after the horrible journey.
The pitch at Victory Road has suffered several recent postponements and a Leiston supporter described the far side as a quagmire.
The team coach finally arrived at 7.50 p.m. The team sheet showed three players missing, signalling that this was always going to be tough ask despite Leiston's recent poor form. Anthony Di Bernado's injury from Saturday looks to be a lay-off that could end his season and he was replaced by Jonny Henly, on loan from Hemel Hempstead. Luke Allen was suffering from a dead leg which brought Damian Scannell back into the starting eleven as did Ugo Udoji's replacement James Folkes. Alex Akrofi was carrying a knock that relegated him to the bench with Andre McCollin starting.
The delayed start seemed to affect both sides equally in a first half in which chances were very much at a premium. Tonbridge survived an early scare when Jack Parter cleared from the line and it took 15 minutes for the Angels to register a shot, albeit a tame one, from McCollin that was comfortably saved.
A miscued cross from Leiston's right that landed on the top of the bar after 19 minutes proved to be the closest either side got to scoring in the first period.
The second half started with greater urgency, perhaps the players had finally got the delay out of their legs. Joe Francis, a constant menace, cut in from the right and shot wide of the far post and at the other end of the field, McCollin forced a low parrying save to his left out of Jacob Marsden.
The home side were beginning to turn the screw with a couple of efforts before they took the lead just past the hour mark. Niko Muir-Merchant was played in at the right hand edge of the six yard box and finished into the far corner.
Leiston's advantage was doubled within three minutes when Muir-Merchant was allowed to run from the left and plant a shot between Henly and the left hand post.
Steve McKimm responded by bringing Dan Thompson and Tommy Whitnall into the fray replacing McCollin and an injured Parter.
When, with 15 minutes remaining, a long throw from Luke Blewden was only cleared to Tom Phipp, whose shot from 18 yards struck the inside of the far post but came back out to be cleared, it was pretty obvious if it hadn't already been, that this was not to be Tonbridge's night.
Thankfully, the journey home was uneventful, finally pulling on to the drive in Staplehurst at 01:15 a.m., tired and just a little dispirited.
Sunday, 27 September 2015
Leiston 3 Tonbridge 1
Match 25/15/1230 - Saturday, 25th September 2015 - FA Cup 2QR
Leiston (1) 3 Jefford 17, Sands 48,73
Tonbridge (1) 1 Phipp 2
Attendance: 212
Entrance: £7 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 248/1,544
New Ground: 281
Match Report
Somewhere upstairs the God of the FA Cup looks down and makes his choices as to who benefits from Lady Luck. Through the mists of time, Tonbridge must have really pissed him off, Tonbridge and the FA Cup go together like chalk and cheese. A year ago at Redhill I was labouring the same old story, sometimes it is misfortune, other times Tonbridge need no intervention from above, they can mess it up all of their own accord.
This latest exit, at the hands of a newly acquired bogey team, Leiston, was not unexpected, and it has to be said, the home side were deserving of their victory, but, once again, it was laced with misfortune.
On arrival at Victory Road, home of the Suffolk-based hosts, I was greeted with a warm welcome and was immediately taken with the beautiful playing surface. There was a nice sized clubhouse but the rest of the facilities were a bit sparse. A small seating enclosure straddles the half-way line opposite the clubhouse and behind one goal there is what can best be described as a bus stop. On the clubhouse house side there is a further length of covered terracing.
The Tonbridge line-up revealed the absence of Tommy Parkinson, a loss of one of their most influential midfielders.
Tonbridge's FA Cup misery was encapsulated within the opening two minutes of the game. They started brightly with an encouraging surge forward from James Folkes that signalled intent. The ball was recycled to Lee Carey who planted a sublime cross to the far post that met the head of Tom Phipp who gave the goalkeeper no chance. Immediately, there was distressed signals to the sidelines as Nicky Wheeler and the goalkeeper urgently summoned the medical team. Initially, from my position I thought that Phipp had collided with the post as he landed but it was far more serious than that. He was heard from behind the goal saying that his knee had "popped". A five minute delay ensued whilst his knee was encased in a splint and stretchered away.
So, having been shorn of one midfielder before the start, now they were two light in a matter of minutes. Sadly, worse was to follow.
Tommy Whitnell replaced Phipp, and for a while they appeared to make light of the setback. But, in the 17th minute a free kick floated to the far post was met with a towering header from the Leiston skipper, Joe Jefford. It was a set piece that, in truth, was poorly defended by the Angels.
Ashlee Jones, the Leiston keeper who was ultimately handed the man of the match accolade, did well to tip over an effort from Wheeler and was grateful when a shot from Nathan Elder was steered into his hands.
Just prior to the break, Whitnell fell to the ground and was unable to continue. The Tonbridge midfield had now been almost totally decimated.
In the time added on at the end of the first half, Anthony Di Bernardo made a magificent, low diving save to turn to safety a shot from Jefford.
The second half was always going to be an uphill task for the visitors and it became a mountain after just two minutes. Elder was robbed in the centre of the field, I say robbed but he was clearly fouled. Leon Ottley-Gooch strode forward into the huge gap that had opened up in front of him, rode a couple of insipid challenges and as Di Bernardo advanced he unselfishly passed to his right to allow John Sands the luxury of an open goal to touch the ball into.
A fine move after 72 minutes cut through the Tonbridge defence with a cross from the right finding Sands to steer home the decisive goal.
Tonbridge pressed on in the final minutes attempting to retrieve a hopeless situation and Jones produced a flying save from a deflected shot that probably influenced the sponsors decision for man of the match. He was one of the most vocal goalkeepers I've come across, giving a virtual tactical commentary.
Reading this back, perhaps disappointment got in the way of balance, that is the curse of the FA Cup. It has been with me for 43 years and I fear it will never leave me.
Leiston (1) 3 Jefford 17, Sands 48,73
Tonbridge (1) 1 Phipp 2
Attendance: 212
Entrance: £7 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 248/1,544
New Ground: 281
Match Report
This latest exit, at the hands of a newly acquired bogey team, Leiston, was not unexpected, and it has to be said, the home side were deserving of their victory, but, once again, it was laced with misfortune.
On arrival at Victory Road, home of the Suffolk-based hosts, I was greeted with a warm welcome and was immediately taken with the beautiful playing surface. There was a nice sized clubhouse but the rest of the facilities were a bit sparse. A small seating enclosure straddles the half-way line opposite the clubhouse and behind one goal there is what can best be described as a bus stop. On the clubhouse house side there is a further length of covered terracing.
The Tonbridge line-up revealed the absence of Tommy Parkinson, a loss of one of their most influential midfielders.
Tonbridge's FA Cup misery was encapsulated within the opening two minutes of the game. They started brightly with an encouraging surge forward from James Folkes that signalled intent. The ball was recycled to Lee Carey who planted a sublime cross to the far post that met the head of Tom Phipp who gave the goalkeeper no chance. Immediately, there was distressed signals to the sidelines as Nicky Wheeler and the goalkeeper urgently summoned the medical team. Initially, from my position I thought that Phipp had collided with the post as he landed but it was far more serious than that. He was heard from behind the goal saying that his knee had "popped". A five minute delay ensued whilst his knee was encased in a splint and stretchered away.
So, having been shorn of one midfielder before the start, now they were two light in a matter of minutes. Sadly, worse was to follow.
Tommy Whitnell replaced Phipp, and for a while they appeared to make light of the setback. But, in the 17th minute a free kick floated to the far post was met with a towering header from the Leiston skipper, Joe Jefford. It was a set piece that, in truth, was poorly defended by the Angels.
Ashlee Jones, the Leiston keeper who was ultimately handed the man of the match accolade, did well to tip over an effort from Wheeler and was grateful when a shot from Nathan Elder was steered into his hands.
Just prior to the break, Whitnell fell to the ground and was unable to continue. The Tonbridge midfield had now been almost totally decimated.
In the time added on at the end of the first half, Anthony Di Bernardo made a magificent, low diving save to turn to safety a shot from Jefford.
The second half was always going to be an uphill task for the visitors and it became a mountain after just two minutes. Elder was robbed in the centre of the field, I say robbed but he was clearly fouled. Leon Ottley-Gooch strode forward into the huge gap that had opened up in front of him, rode a couple of insipid challenges and as Di Bernardo advanced he unselfishly passed to his right to allow John Sands the luxury of an open goal to touch the ball into.
A fine move after 72 minutes cut through the Tonbridge defence with a cross from the right finding Sands to steer home the decisive goal.
Tonbridge pressed on in the final minutes attempting to retrieve a hopeless situation and Jones produced a flying save from a deflected shot that probably influenced the sponsors decision for man of the match. He was one of the most vocal goalkeepers I've come across, giving a virtual tactical commentary.
Reading this back, perhaps disappointment got in the way of balance, that is the curse of the FA Cup. It has been with me for 43 years and I fear it will never leave me.
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