Kentish Football 
Tonbridge Angels 3-1 Chelmsford City. Main: I want to turn pro - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS
Tuesday 23rd January 2007
TONBRIDGE ANGELS 3-1 CHELMSFORD CITYRyman Premier League
Tuesday 23rd January 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from Betterview Longmead Stadium
Tonbridge Angels face a fight on their hands to keep 28-goal striker Jon Main at the club.
The 25-year-old scored a breathtaking hat-trick as Tonbridge Angels romped to an impressive 3-1 victory over big-spending Chelmsford City tonight.
Main, who has already attracted attention from two rival Ryman Premier League clubs, has scored his 28 goals from 32 games (including one as a substitute).
But the shy, former VCD Athletic and Cray Wanderers’ pacy striker, revealed EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk that he wants the chance to become a professional footballer.
Main, whose “sticking by” his 30-goal target is “not sure” where his future lies and will sit down with manager Tony Dolby and chairman Nick Sullivan to thrash out his future.
“I still have to talk to Tony and Nick about stuff but we’ll see what happens,” he said.
“I’ve got ambition so I want to do the best I can. Whether I stay here or not, I don’t know yet.”
Chelmsford City arrived in Kent with the possibility of climbing above Bromley and Margate at the summit if they had won tonight.
And all was going to plan as they well and truly showed their class early on, without finding the target.
Tonbridge goalkeeper Aaron Kerr was called into action after eight minutes when he spread himself to deny Jason Hallett, who only had the Irishman to beat.
Kezie Ibe’s corner just four minutes later found its way to skipper Ben Chenery, whose right-footed volley arrowed just over the top of the far post.
And when Ricky Holmes squandered an excellent chance to break the deadlock after 22 minutes, dragging a shot agonisingly past the far post, this was the inspiration that the Kent side needed.
Tonbridge grabbed the lead, against the run of play, and from their first shot on goal, after 28 minutes.
Chelmsford failed to clear the ball out of their penalty area and Ryan Maxwell’s cushion header fell to Nick Barnes.
The right-sided midfielder, whose played for three clubs this season, drilled a shot that was heading wide but Main was on hand to rifle the ball high into the roof of the net from eight yards.
Main doubled his tally after 33 minutes with the first of his stunning strikes.
He pounced on the ball before Spencer Knight could clear the ball away and from 30-yards the ball screamed into the top right hand corner leaving Richard McKinney gobsmacked.
The shell-shocked Essex visitors went close four minutes later when Mario Noto tried to be flash with a right-footed curler, which flew just over the top of the far post.
Any chances of Jeff King’s side getting something from their trip into the Garden of England lasted just 62 seconds of the second half when Main pulled something special out of his locker.
If Main was a Frenchman, wearing a red shirt and playing at a new football stadium in north London, the whole country would be raving about his third goal.
Main used his electrifying pace to latch onto a though ball and unleashed another screamer from 40-yards, that flew into the top corner to send the Angles into eighth place in the Ryman Premier League table – just two points from a play-off berth.
There was concern for Kerr after the 50th minute mark as he suffered from blurred vision.
The former Gravesend & Northfleet goalkeeper was sick before the game but after lengthy discussions with the club’s physio’s he bravely soldiered on following his scare.
With an almost blind goalkeeper behind them, the Angels’ defence were resilient, worked hard for each other and snubbed out any threat from the City slickers – although not many shots reigned in towards goal.
Angels’ youth-team product, Ian Parkes had a couple of audacious attempts at goal that didn’t beat Mckinney as Tonbridge enjoyed their night.
But City gave their vocal fans something to shout about when they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Tonbridge penalty box on the right hand side with ten minutes remaining.
Substitute Dwain Clarke floated his free-kick towards the far post, and with the help of two Angels defenders on the line, costly Jeff Minton bundled the ball home.
The bigger they are, the harder they fall, Mr Dolby? “In this case tonight it certainly was” he replied in an EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk.
“Chelmsford are a very good side, got good players and we set amongst them, got about our job, done it very well and delighted with the three points.”
Dolby explained the latest situation with their Main man.
“There’s been speculation, nothing firm, certainly not from any higher levels so in that respect he’s still a Tonbridge player,” he said.
“He’s contracted but obviously he’s got aspirations and we want to try help him achieve what his ambitions and aspirations are and also helping the club out in the process.”
Dolby admitted he wasn’t sure whether Main will be at the club next season.
“Unless we get a substantial offer from a team who are full-time, which is Jon’s aspirations, then every chance he will (be here next season).
“When you looked at Jon on Saturday (during Tonbridge’s 2-1 home defeat to Billericay Town), I don’t think any club at our level would have taken him but he’s just shown what quality he’s got tonight to bounce straight back with a performance like that.”
And with sixteen league games remaining, Main is expected to eclipse his original target of thirty goals.
Dolby said: “He said the same thing to me (scoring 30 goals) when I signed him (in January 2006).
“I can see the potential in him. I thought this division would suite him. He hasn’t played at this level before (and) we’ve worked hard on his movement and timing of his runs and his finishing and he’s embraced that and taken it to another level.”
Whilst Main grabs the plaudits, Dolby took time to congratulate the rest of their team for keeping Chelmsford to scoring just once – despite having a goalkeeper who could not see properly.
“The back four were tremendous tonight,” praised Dolby. “They really showed grit and determination and weren’t going to get beat.
”I thought that had a lot to do with the midfield who worked hard and had a bite at the front men and made it very difficult for them to have any space.
“I think collectively we defended well as a whole team tonight and obviously we attacked with purpose as well.”
Steve Aris, a member of the fab back four, wants Main to stay at the club next season.
“He’s on fire at the moment,” he said. “Everything he touches is flying into the back of the net.
“Three of his goals tonight were unbelievable – let’s hope we can keep him and if we do we’re guaranteed goals and we can push on.”
The former Fisher Athletic central defender added: “He’s buzzing, absolutely flying at the moment. He’s different class. Everything he touches turns to gold. His pace is unbelievable.
“If we can keep him he guarantees you goals and if you’re guaranteed goals then you’re going to be up there in the league.”
Tonbridge Angels: Aaron Kerr, Scott Gooding, Ray Powell, Robbie Kember, Steve Aris, John Beales, Nick Barnes, Ryan Maxwell, Ian Parkes, Jon Main (Luke Piscina 62), Fraser Logan.
Subs: Mark Green, Adam O’Neill, Michael Power, Mike Cramp.
Goals: Jon Main 28,33,47
Chelmsford City: Richard McKinney, Jay Conroy, Spencer Knight, Ben Chenery, Steve Ward, Chris Duffy, Mario Noto, Jeff Minton, Kezie Ibe, Ricky Holmes, Jason Hallett (Dwain Clarke 62).
Subs: Stuart Ainsley, Bryan Glover, Mitchell Lowes, Ashley Harrison.
Goal: Jeff Minton 80
Attendance: 353
Referee: Mr Ashley Slaughter (Brighton)
Assistants: Mr Gary Croft (Battle) & Mr Dave Spain (St Leonards)
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