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| Saturday, 1 November, 2003: FA Trophy 1st Round. Tonbridge Angels 1-3 Marlow Two late goals saw the Angels crash out of the FA Trophy against their Ryman Division 1 opponents, in a game the home side should really have won. Having overcome Bashley after a replay in the qualifying round, Marlow seemed happy to hang on for the draw until Nicky Ryder put them ahead with the softest of soft goals just three minutes from time. The Angels threw everyone forward, only for John Isaac to seal the visitors progress from the penalty spot following a breakaway. A full strength Tonbridge side had the better of a goalless first half, but couldn't quite click despite some typically neat approach play. Brendon Cass fired over from 15 yards early on following good work from Nick Barnes and Hamid Barr, and Barnes went close again midway through the half after linking up with Sam Tydeman. Ray Powell's cross just eluded Cass in front of goal on the half-hour before Jamie Turner came to the Angels rescue, saving well from Yashwa Romeo after some rare hesitancy from Tony Dolby allowed the Marlow striker to run clean through. Isaac had the ball in the net for the visitors just before the break, but the celebrations were cut short by the assistant's offside flag. Both sides came out with more purpose in the second half. Barr and Powell missed good chances for Tonbridge, before Marlow took the lead when Romeo beat the Angels offside trap to run through and walk the ball in after rounding Turner. The Angels stepped up the pace, putting the visitors under sustained pressure. Dolby and Barr had goalbound efforts deflected for corners before Ryder fluffed a chance to extend Marlow's lead in a rare attack. An equaliser seemed inevitable for Tonbridge, and it came on 73 minutes. Marlow 'keeper Keiron Drake could only parry a fine cross from Cass - Tydeman fired the loose ball goalwards, and substitute Luke Piscina helped it in. Tonbridge powered forward in search of a winner. Marlow's goal remained intact with a combination of desperate defending and near misses until the visitors suddenly struck out of the blue. An innocuous throw-in on the left somehow found its way past a static Angels defence to Ryder, who gleefully thumped it past Turner from six yards. Romeo broke clear again near the end, only to be brought crashing down by Turner inside the box. The Angels 'keeper was lucky to stay on the field, referee Gee producing a yellow card instead of the expected red - but Isaac slammed home the spot kick to finish off the hosts, and send the small but vocal contingent of visiting fans home happy. The game had an ugly end when an incident involving Ryder and Tony Dolby sparked a mass confrontation between both sets of players after the final whistle. Another tireless performance in the middle of the park earned Sam Tydeman the Angels Man of the Match award from Match Sponsors Susan Adams Business Services. Report by: Tony Browne |
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