Tonbridge Angels 4-1 Ashford Town (Middlesex). Second placed Angels get their "just rewards"

TONBRIDGE ANGELS 4-1 ASHFORD TOWN (MIDDLESEX)
Tuesday 17^th October 2006
Ryman Premier League
Stephen McCartney reports from Betterview Longmead Stadium

Clinical Tonbridge Angels finishing saw them storm into second place in the Ryman Premier League table, winning their first ever meeting against Ashford Town (Middlesex) tonight.

Defender John Beales, who only scored once in an Angels’ shirt before the start of the season, netted his third career goal for the west Kent club to give them a tenth minute lead.

Robert Kember doubled their advantage later in the half before two goals in as many second half minutes from fans’ favourite Ray Powell and Welshman Andy Martin ended the contest after 56 minutes.

Substitute Jon Palmer scored his third goal of the season to give the Middlesex side a deserved consolation with the last kick of the game, five minutes into stoppage time to blot Tonbridge’s copybook.

Tonbridge opened the scoring from their first corner of the game after ten minutes.

Alex O’Brien dinked the ball to Martin on the right hand side and his cut back was whipped in first time by Scott Gooding but Russell Canderton headed behind.

Gooding’s right-footed corner was met by Beales who slammed the ball into the roof of the net from six-yards.

Scottish winger Fraser Logan rode a couple of challenges just outside the box and his right-footed drive from 22-yards flashed agonisingly past the foot of the far post.

But Tonbridge deservedly doubled their lead after 26 minutes through Kember.

Kember, sandwiched by two visiting defenders, played the ball to Martin on the right hand side and his low centre was stabbed home by the former Crawley Town defender from six-yards.

Logan came desperately close to scoring after 32 minutes when he received the ball from Jon Main’s cut-back, but his 22-yard right-footed drive bounced off the left upright and fell to Martin inside the box, who was flagged for offside.

But Ashford Town (Middlesex) squandered four chances late in the first half.

Angels’ Northern Irish goalkeeper Aaron Kerr made his first save of the game from Scott Todd’s 25-yard free kick, and then watched in amazement as Gavin Smith and Paul Johnson stabbed shots past his right post when it seemed easier to score.

And on the stroke of half-time Jason Chewins whipped in a cross from the left but Smith’s towering header flew over.

But football is all about taking your chances and this is exactly what Tonbridge did, scoring two goals in as many minutes.

Powell showed his class by bursting into the visitors penalty area, and stabbed the ball across Ben Launder-Dykes and into the bottom left hand corner.

And Martin did exactly the same within a minute, driving across the goalkeeper, and into the same corner to the delight of the Tonbridge faithful after 56 minutes.

The chorus of “can we play you every week” came from the delighted home fans, who then saw Todd blaze a shot over the bar from the edge of the Tonbridge penalty area.

But to their credit the battered visitors dusted themselves down and created chances later in the game.

Canderton’s glancing header was plucked out of the air by Kerr but substitute Kirk Hudson saw his fierce drive from 18-yards sail just over the bar.

But Angels’ defensive players squandered their chance to pick up their clean sheet bonus when substitute Palmer scored with literally the last kick of the game deep into injury time to the delight of the four teenage travelling fans behind the goal.

Tony Dolby, Tonbridge Angels’ manager, was delighted with their seventh league win, especially after losing their last league game - a 5-2 home reverse to Leyton.

“I think it was very important to get three points tonight going into two cup games, having played in a cup game previously,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We lost to Leyton here in our last (league) game so it was very important we maintained the very good start we’ve had, seven wins in 11 league games is no mean feat for us at this level so I’m delighted.”

But had their opponents had their finishing boots on then it might have been a different story.

“I think we were certainly more clinical in our finishing,” said Dolby. “Ashford are a good side, they’ll win games this year there’s no doubt. They passed the ball around very well early doors and then we punished them and we played some fantastic stuff ourselves.

“Make no mistake about it, we worked our socks off and there’s a lot of quality in there tonight and we thoroughly deserved the win.

“They reverted to the longer ball after we went 2-0 up and I think that was testament to the way we were harrying them and forcing them to playing that way.

“Always disappointing when you’re 4-0 up and into the fifth minute of injury time to give a goal away.

“A few boys will be disappointed losing their clean sheet bonus for it. But we remain focused so let’s hope that goal don’t count.”

Dolby is, however, relishing their next two games, at home to unbeaten Ryman League Division One North leaders Harlow Town in the first qualifying round of the FA Trophy on Saturday, before welcoming Nationwide Conference South outfit Newport County in the fourth and final qualifying round of the FA Cup on 28 October.

The last time Tonbridge reached this stage of the FA Cup was 15 years ago when their dreams were dashed by Yeovil Town, who won 2-1 in front of their highest crowd (at the time)at Longmead Stadium.

But you have to go back to season 1972-73 for the last time Tonbridge reached the first round proper of the FA Cup, losing 5-0 to Charlton Athletic at their old Angel ground.

One Newport County fan is already making comments on Angels’ forum insisting his side are “gonna stuff” the Angels.

A slight hint of arrogance, maybe? But Dolby insists his side will concentrate fully on their FA Trophy tie against Harlow Town first before their FA Cup showdown against the South Wales side, which will attract a crowd of at least 1,500 to Longmead Stadium.

“Tonight was my main point of focus and I emphasised that to the lads and I think that showed tonight where our priorities lie at the moment and that is in the league,” Dolby insisted.

“When the time comes to play Newport we’re going to be right up for it and we’re going to give them one hell of a game. If we can be as clinical as we have been tonight, we could provide a shock.

“A home tie, with the home fans as well, it’s an ideal opportunity. We could have been a lot more unlucky in the draw.

“I think this is going to be the best chance we can get, not taking anything from Newport, who are a very good side, but it is a very good chance for us and if we can pull in a big side after getting through, who knows?”

But it’s the calm before the storm on Saturday, and Dolby has done his homework on the Essex side.

“We’ve had them watched, they’re a very tidy side, started off ever so well in their league this year and it’s going to be a very tough game.”

Dolby and his team are getting their “just rewards” as they pile pressure on Bromley at the top of the Ryman Premier League table.

“I’m delighted for the lads, they’ve worked hard and we’re getting our just rewards for it,” he said.

“They’re doing what we’re asking them and we’re playing nice and solid and we’re scoring an awful lot of goals which is a big plus for me.

“It’s very hard work. I put in a lot of time and a lot of effort for it, have done since the day dot really and we’re reaping the rewards of the hard work that Mike (Rutherford) and I put in.

“Eleven games, seven wins and one draw speaks for itself really. At the end of the day we are a very good side, we’re a match for anyone and we’ve got a lot of quality. Hopefully we can sustain what we’re doing and we will see how we go.”