Ashford Town 1-3 Tonbridge Angels - Martin demands a contract after two goals sends Angels through

ASHFORD TOWN 1-3 TONBRIDGE ANGELS
Saturday 16^th September 2006
FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) First Qualifying Round
Stephen McCartney reports from The Homelands

Tonbridge Angels’ booked their place into the second qualifying round of the FA Cup by ending Ashford Town’s four game winning streak.

Skipper Steve Aris’ header - his first goal of the season - after just 117 seconds gave the Ryman Premier League visitors the lead.

But striker George Fenwick, son of former Ashford Town boss and England star Terry, headed home his fifth goal of the season to bring the Ryman League Division One South hosts back on level terms on 32 minutes.

However, a brace from Welshman Andy Martin, one a looping header, and a quickly taken free kick, puts the Angels into the velvet back for Monday’s draw.

But Martin, a non-contracted striker, who signed towards the end of the pre-season campaign from Croydon Athletic, would like to settle his future as soon as possible.

“Like I say, from the players (that) the manager’s signed, he’s signed players who are good enough for this division,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk EXCLUSIVELY after the game.

“I’m actually speaking to him (manager Tony Dolby) at the moment about myself. I’m not actually signed onto anything but hopefully today has persuaded him to keep me.”

The 26-year-old, whose scored four goals in four matches, added: “I’m happy to stay at Tonbridge, I’m enjoying it, I feel I’m playing well and I’m scoring goals so the quicker we can start something out the better - I’d love to stay.”

Tonbridge had broken the deadlock from their first corner of the game, when Aris’ nodded home following John Heath’s delivery.

Ashford’s first chance fell to skipper Anthony Allman after 13 minutes, but his right-footed 20-yard drive brought a fine acrobatic save from former Gravesend & Northfleet goalkeeper Aaron Kerr, tpping the ball over the bar.

Aris came close to doubling his tally just three minutes later, heading Michael Power’s corner into the ground but the ball bounced over.

Ashford goalkeeper Simon Overland, who told his management team after the game that he wasn’t feeling well, punched out Heath’s free kick but Power’s left-footed volley flew over from 25-yards.

Tonbridge then had a couple of shots blocked in a crowded Ashford penalty area but Mark Green whipped in a cross from the left, which was hooked wide by Scott Kinch, following a flick on from Adam O’Neill.

But Ashford, playing in front of their largest crowd of the season, levelled proceedings after 32 minutes.

Richard Sinden’s cross from the right hit Green’s hand just a yard outside the penalty area on the right hand side.

Ian Ross, making his 222^nd appearance for the club, whipped in a left-footed delivery towards the far post and Fenwick headed home.

Both sides, however, created good chances on the stroke of half-time.

Overland punched out another free kick from Heath straight to John Beales, whose goal was ruled out and at the other end, Joby Thorogood latched onto a through ball but was denied by a fine block by Kerr at his near post.

But the introduction of Luke Piscina early in the second half had the desired effect as Tonbridge took the lead after 50 minutes - and never looked back.

Martin jumped higher than defender Tom Adlington, following a hanging cross by Power on the right hand side, and looped a header from 15-yards which dropped inside the bottom right hand corner.

This goal knocked the stuffing out of the resurgent home side, as Tonbridge created a whole host of chances, including scoring their third goal, in a dominating 15 minute spell.

Piscina raced down the left hand side and lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper but the ball dropped over.

The home grown striker then brought a fine low save from the former Dagenham & Redbridge, Maidstone based stopper on the hour mark, who prevented the shot rolling into the bottom far corner.

Overland did very well to block Power’s volley but couldn’t do anything about Martin’s second on 66 minutes.

Rochester Referee Mr Ian Cooper  told Martin that he could take his 25-yard free kick quickly, as Overland was setting up his wall, and Overland could only watch as the right-footed free-kick dropped into the bottom corner of his left post.

Martin was desperately unlucky not to net his hat-trick seconds before his substitution, but his free kick from 19-yards bounced off the crossbar and out for a goal-kick.