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| Saturday, 21 September, 2002: Suburban League. Ashford Town Res 4-1 Tonbridge Angels Res Truly a game of two halves, divided not by halftime but by a bizarre refereeing decision in the 53rd minute. Angels' captain Paul Cardinell was pushed to the ground inside the Ashford box. Referee Walker awarded a penalty that the home side creditably failed to dispute. As striker Rick Bryce settled himself confidently at the top of his run-up, referee Walker ran to his linesman. After a brief discussion, Walker awarded an indirect freekick for offside to Ashford. You won't see that in the Premiership. Until then Tonbridge had marginally the better of an exciting game of football, Bryce hitting the bar in the first minute as the Angels roared out after two comprehensive Cup victories. Although Snell in the Ashford goal was the busier of the two keepers, fending off strikes by Bryce, John Sinclair, Dexley Fidyk, Cardinell and Vojtech Brozik it took an exceptional performance by Matt Clark to bring the teams in level at the break. Afterwards the Angels defended like men in a dream. Keeper Clark pulled off a marvellous reaction save as a huge Cardinell clearance rebounded off Paul Ainsworth's back towards goal. On 63 minutes Ashford scored, Clark making two saves in rapid succession, Steve Johns clearing off the line and the fourth shot scoring. Next the Angels were caught square, vainly appealing for offside as Clark was lobbed from fifteen yards on 70 minutes. A similar break on 83 minutes saw Clark bring down Ashford's da Costa. Clark was on his way back to the dressing room when the amazing Mr Walker called him back to face the penalty, which was converted. The match closed in a shambles, more awful defensive work letting in a startled Ashford centre-back for a one on one with the helpless Clark for goal four and finally Ashford's Simpson turning a Sinclair corner into his own net. It only remained for an embarrassed Ashford manager to apologise for the scoreline. Report by: Robin Peterson. |
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