 |
| MAIN |
| NEWS |
| FIXTURES & RESULTS |
| LEAGUE TABLE |
| SQUAD STATISTICS |
| MATCH REPORTS |
| INTERACTIVE TABLE |
| RESERVES & YOUTH |
| ARCHIVE |
| CLUB DETAILS |
| BLUEBALL LOTTERY |
| AWAY FANS' GUIDE |
| SUPPORTERS' CLUB |
| LINKS |
| FORUM |
 |
| Saturday, 25th October, 2003: Dr Martens League Eastern Division. Tonbridge Angels 2-0 King's Lynn An Eastern Division season high crowd of 782 were attracted to this clash of the top two at Longmead Stadium, and saw the Angels deservedly extend their lead to 14 points with a goal in each half. Tonbridge were missing Nick Barnes (suspension) and Steve Searle (injury). Lynden Rowland began the game against his old club on the bench, having not fully recovered from the injury picked up against Banbury. Brendon Cass got the start in his place. Lynn's leading scorer Robbie Harris was out injured but the visitors fielded Mark Camm, their recent loan signing from Lincoln City's first team squad. The Linnets were quite late arriving for the match, only getting to Longmead some 40 minutes before kick off. Things didn't improve much after the game started, and the Angels were in front after just 11 minutes courtesy of a howler from visitors 'keeper Steve Wilson. There appeared to be little danger when a hopeful ball came in from the right after Lynn half-cleared a corner. Wilson came out to collect but inexplicably dropped the ball - Ray Powell was quickest to react and sidefooted home for 1-0. Mark Burrows made a timely block to deny Powell soon afterwards after John Beales' long throw caused problems in the box, but Lynn came close to an equaliser midway through the half when miscommunication between Tony Dolby and Jamie Turner needlessly conceded a corner. David Staff delivered a dangerous ball in, which Andy Larkin had to hurriedly clear from close to the line. Neither side were playing their best football in a game which was often scrappy, but Tonbridge continued to have the better of the exchanges and came close to extending their lead 10 minutes before half time. Linnets skipper Glen Fuff made a diving block to deflect the ball for a corner after a fast Angels break set up Hamid Barr for a shot from well inside the box. Wilson was relieved to see a fine effort from Beales fly just over the Lynn crossbar at the start of the second half. Jamie Turner's first serious action came on 67 minutes after Barr gave the ball away, allowing Camm to send in a rasping 25-yarder which the Angels 'keeper held at the second attempt. Tonbridge extended their lead with 20 minutes left. Peter Overton drew two defenders on the edge of the box, neatly beat both of them and crossed perfectly for Cass to clip beyond Wilson. It was the final touch of the game for Cass, who was immediately replaced by Rowland in a pre-planned change. The visitors also made immediate substitutions, bringing on Malcolm Ndekwe and Richard Woodrow up front in an attempt to salvage something. The Linnets did gain more possession and territory, but the best they could manage was a 25-yard free kick from Staff late on which Turner had to go full stretch to parry - then still managed to block Ndekwe's follow-up. Another solid team performance from Tonbridge. Tony Dolby's accomplished work at the back won him the Angels Man of the Match award from Match Sponsors Panacea Systems, London. Ryan Royston was also superb in a Tonbridge defence which has now gone more than nine hours without conceding a goal. Report by: Tony Browne |
| Match Report Index |
Squad from:
Goals:
Other: |