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| Saturday, 18th October, 2003: Dr Martens League Eastern Division. Tonbridge Angels 3-0 Banbury United Tonbridge cruised to their 11th win of the season against the Puritans, posting a fourth consecutive clean sheet in the process and halting the visitors recent surge up the table. Peter Overton returned to the Angels starting XI in place of Steve Searle (injured in the away game at Chatham), with the rest of the side unchanged from the line-up which beat Stamford and Chatham. After a hesitant start, Tonbridge settled down and began to dominate the game. United 'keeper Simon Tricker was soon called upon, making a reaction save from Lynden Rowland's header on 12 minutes after a flowing Angels move had worked men over in the middle. Tricker sustained a leg injury soon afterwards following a collision with Ray Powell, as both players went for a loose ball in the box after some hesitant Banbury defending - the United 'keeper was able to continue only after lengthy treatment. Tonbridge brought on Brendon Cass during the stoppage, withdrawing Rowland who had picked up an earlier injury. Powell had a near post drive saved by the 'keepers legs before the visitors briefly rallied. Mark Simms was allowed time to set himself for a long range shot which whistled over, then Angels 'keeper Jamie Turner cut out a dangerous cross from Ollie Stanbridge - however, it was the Angels who broke the deadlock with just over half an hour gone. Craig Roser's cross found the unmarked Cass, whose downward header gave Tricker no chance. Tricker saved from Roser, and Jason Allen made a critical block on a Hamid Barr shot as Tonbridge (Powell in particular) continued to give the United defence the runaround. Wayne Blossom was booked for chopping down Powell just before the break, and Banbury were happy to go in just the one goal down. It was two down soon after the resumption. Barr slammed home Sam Tydeman's cross after the United defence failed to pick up his run into the box. Banbury then found themselves starved of the possession they needed to make any comeback, and the best the Puritans managed were a couple of half-chances, both falling to ex-Sheffield Wednesday and Ireland U21 man David Billington. The first was deflected for a corner and Turner comfortably saved the second. Meanwhile, the Angels went in search of a third goal, with Roser, Cass and Overton all having good efforts blocked by defenders. Luke Piscina came on for the tiring Powell with 15 minutes left and continued where "Razor" left off. Tricker had to be smartly off his line to deny the young striker after Barr played him through; the follow-up from Cass flicked off a defender and rolled agonisingly wide. Piscina nipped through a static Banbury defence to complete the scoring in the final minute. Good link-up play and an involved performance in midfield from skipper Peter Overton won him the Angels Man of the Match award from Match Sponsors the Man Of Kent Pub in Tonbridge. Ray Powell gave the Banbury defence a torrid time, and Craig Roser put in another fine performance as Alan Walker's men continue to be rewarded for their enterprising play and excellent teamwork. Report by: Tony Browne |
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