Oxford United 0-0 Tonbridge Angels - Tonbridge chairman hails his "magnificent" Angels
OXFORD UNITED 0-0 TONBRIDGE ANGELS
FA Carlsberg Trophy First Round
Saturday 15th December 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from Kassam Stadium
Tonbridge Angels chairman Nick Sullivan hailed the club’s heroic players’ as they earned themselves a lucrative and winnable home replay - by holding Blue Square Premier giants Oxford United to a goal-less draw at the stunning Kassam Stadium.
Roared on by their passionate supporters throughout - 227 made the pilgrimage from west Kent - the Angels players’ out-fought their full-time opponents, and deserved their second chance on Tuesday night.
It was such a shame that the Oxfordshire public decided to stay at home - or do their Christmas shopping - as this game was watched by their lowest home crowd of the season.
But the weakened Kent underdogs almost grabbed the winner with fifteen minutes left when substitute Hamid Barr agonisingly struck the foot of the left-post with a twenty-yard shot that beat Billy Turley.
SO CLOSE: Oxford United goalkeeper Billy Turley is relieved to see Hamid Barr's 75th minute 20-yard drive strike the foot of the post.
Photographs courtesy of David Couldridge - www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/gallery
Such was their heroic display against full-time players, who play two divisions above them, the Angels are more than capable of joining Ebbsfleet United in the second round.
The Fleet booked their place in the second round with a 4-1 win over Ryman Premier League side Carshalton Athletic, whilst Blue Square South side Bromley were dumped out by Blue Square Premier outfit Crawley Town, as Magno Vieira netted the only goal of the game at Broadfield Stadium.
Tonbridge Angels, meanwhile, were without three players who had already played in this competition; strikers Kwasei Edusei (East Thurrock United) and Carl Rook (Horsham) and winger John Westcott (Horsham).
But Fraser Logan and Kirk Watts caused Oxford United all sorts of problems during the first-half as the Kent side dominated proceedings, stunning their hosts.
Oxford United goalkeeper Turley, who misses the replay through suspension, rushed off his line to thwart Anthony Storey, who cut in from the left, and Tommy Tyne couldn’t capitalise in the middle - inside the opening two minutes.
And in the tenth minute, midfielder Storey squared a free-kick to full-back Matt Lovell, whose drilled shot was stabbed wide by central defender, John Beales.
It took another five minutes before Oxford United could muster a shot at Matt Reed’s goal.
But Yemi Odubade skied his shot over from ten-yards, after his strike partner, Rob Duffy delivered a first time cross from the left.
With Tonbridge Angels stunning the home faithful to silence, the home side were more than capable of hitting their visitors’ on the break.
Alex Jeannin whipped in a first time cross from the left, which sailed over Duffy’s head, unmarked at the far-post.
Duffy, however, brought a smart low save out of Reed from sixteen-yards, and the pink shirted goalkeeper was relieved to see Duffy stab agonisingly past the foot of the near post, after Jeannin whipped in a low cross from the left.
With the deadlock still unbroken, Storey wasted an excellent opportunity for the Kent side after 34 minutes.
The Eastbourne based central midfielder sent his right-footed free-kick from 22-yards high over the bar - to the delight of the quiet Oxford United faithful.
Another chance fell the Angels’ way when central midfielder Scott Kinch unleashed a right-footed half-volley from the edge of the box, which was gratefully cleared off the line at the left-post, following Watts’ corner.
But Oxford United should have scored after 39 minutes when Odubade skipped past three Angels players and with only Reed to beat, rolled his shot agonisingly past the far post with a right-footed shot from ten-yards.
Jeannin drove a fierce shot from twenty-yards, which whistled past the near-post, but the half-time whistle blew to discontent from the home fans’.
Oxford United took just 57 seconds of the second half to test Reed, who was equal to Odubade’s shot and the follow-up from Joel Ledgister.
But Tommy Tyne, partnering Ray Powell up front, missed a gilt-edged chance for the Angels soon after.
Lovell, bravely playing despite wearing a face mask to protect his fractured cheekbone, linked up well with Scottish winger Fraser Logan.
And Lovell whipped in a low cross from the left, and Tyne nipped in front of his marker, only to flick the ball agonisingly past the near-post from close in.
CHANCE: Tommy Tyne (red) flicks the ball past Billy Turley - but also agonisingly wide of the foot of the near post as Tonbridge Angels held giants Oxford United to a goal-less draw at a sparse Kassam Stadium
The Oxfordshire side upped the tempo and urgency during the second half and substitute Gary Twigg turned to shoot over after Turley’s free-kick was knocked down, before former Gravesend & Northfleet right-winger Ledgister drilled wide.
With 63 minutes on the clock, former Dover Athletic star Tyne unleashed a right-footed drive from 25-yards, which brought a comfortable low save from Turley.
Reed spilt a shot from Luke Foster and was relieved to see the ball spin towards safety as Tonbridge Angels could sense a shock result going into the last twenty minutes.
But they almost grabbed victory with 15 minutes remaining, courtesy of substitute Barr.
Latching onto Lovell’s ball up field, the former Fisher Athletic star picked up the ball before cutting in along the penalty area.
And from twenty-yards, he drove a right-footed shot, which beat Turley, but agonisingly bounced off the foot of the left-upright.
Reed was twice called into action to thwart substitute Danny Rose and Ledgister as Oxford United tried to prevent embarrassment.
With the game entering the final ten minutes, Angels’ central defender James Donovan headed Storey’s free-kick into Turley’s grateful arms.
And Logan got in behind the Oxford defence inside stoppage time, but his shot, from an acute angle along the by-line, was beaten out by Turley at his near post.
But it was Tonbridge Angels who left the 12,500 all-seater Kassam Stadium with the plaudits, and according to Mr Sullivan, left their mark on Oxford United’s former boss, and now director, Jim Smith.
Speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk in the players’ tunnel afterwards, the Angels chairman was beaming with pride as he looks ahead to a lucrative home replay.
He said: “Magnificent! Every single one of them! Considering we’ve got people cup-tied, every person who came in, ten out of ten - fantastic!
“Talking to Jim Smith at half-time he thought we was the better side first half.
“He’s just come up from the boardroom and he’s just been so complimentary about our team.”
And on Tuesday night’s replay, Mr Sullivan added: “Tuesday’s another day, let’s enjoy today - it was magnificent.
“We’ll anticipate a big crowd, it’s a different game. They showed us the utmost respect, that was the best side that they could put out."
He added: “Let’s enjoy tonight and we’ll worry about Tuesday on Monday morning.”
Meanwhile, the Angels will be without suspended pair Storey and Powell for the replay, but are more than capable of causing an upset if they emulate today’s performance.
Oxford United: Billy Turley, James Clarke, Barry Quinn, Luke Foster, Alex Jeannin, Joel Ledgister, Eddie Hutchinson (Danny Rose 68), Carl Pettefer, Phil Trainer, Rob Duffy (Ashley Barnes 52) Yemi Odubade (Gary Twigg 59).
Subs: Michael Corcoran, Sam Warrall.
Tonbridge Angels: Matt Reed, Robbie Kember, Matt Lovell, Scott Kinch, John Beales, James Donovan, Kirk Watts (Kirk Husnu 90), Anthony Storey, Ray Powell (Richard Harris 62), Tommy Tyne, Fraser Logan.
Subs: Dan Bowles, Charlie Sharman.
Booked: Ray Powell 57, Matt Lovell 60, Anthony Storey 89
Attendance: 1,508
Referee: Mr Andrew Rodda (Devon)
Assistants: Mr C Williams & Mr M Russell
Fourth Official: Mr W Christie