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| Tuesday, 11 March, 2003: Dr Martens League Eastern Division. Tonbridge Angels 6-1 Spalding United Tonbridge swept aside lowly Spalding with ease in this midweek encounter at a cold Longmead Stadium. The Tulips came into the game fresh from a 9-0 thrashing at the hands of Dorchester on Saturday, and never looked like getting back on track against a confident Angels side. Peter Overton came in for Lloyd Hume at the back, with Craig Roser moving into midfield and Keith Moore getting a rare start at left back. The rout began on 11 minutes. Nick Barnes won the ball in the air for Paul Emblen to set up Ray Powell, who beat Spalding 'keeper John Chatfield with a crisp 15-yard drive for the first of his four goals. It was Powell again on 20 minutes, running through from the centre circle and slotting home after a headed clearance caught the Spalding defence square. Barnes curled a free kick just wide before the Tulips pulled one back. Angels 'keeper Tony Reynolds flapped at a cross in a crowd of players, the ball falling for Liam Harrold to hook in from 8 yards. Spalding briefly threatened to equalise, and John Guiney should have done better with his unchallenged header from a free kick - but Tonbridge scored again on the half-hour. Hamid Barr bambozzled several defenders on a mazy run into the box, where he was felled for a clear penalty. Barr got up and buried the spot kick himself. Emblen squeezed in goal number four at the near post from Barnes' cross soon afterwards. With the Tulips in disarray, Powell crashed a tremendous first time volley onto the inside of the post and out, but soon completed his hat-trick, sweeping the ball past Chatfield from 12 yards after an Emblen shot was beaten out. The half ended with Reynolds tipping a free kick around the post at full stretch to preserve the Angels 5-1 lead. The onslaught continued after the break, Chatfield having to save bravely at the feet of Danny Tingley before Powell notched his fourth and the Angels sixth after being set up by Emblen and Barr. With over 40 minutes still to go, the Tonbridge faithful were wondering what the final score might be - but the overworked Chatfield pulled off several brilliant saves to keep the Angels out. An unbelievable flying save from Barr after Powell had set up the chance was particularly memorable. With the game well and truly won, manager Alan Walker gave subs Kieron Wilson, Luke Piscina and John Sinclair a run-out. A great last-ditch block by Peter Taylor denied Piscina right at the end to save the Tulips from further embarassment. Report by Tony Browne. |
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