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| Saturday, 29 November, 2003: Dr Martens League Eastern Division. Tonbridge Angels 2-1 Fleet Town Tonbridge made it 16 wins from 17 league games this season, despatching a Fleet side that came into the fixture on the back of three heavy defeats with 14 goals conceded in the process. Cold, wind and rain made conditions miserable for players and fans alike at Longmead, but the victory was in the end more comfortable than the scoreline suggests. Luke Piscina and John Beales kept their places in the Angels side at the expense of Lynden Rowland and fit-again Ryan Royston, both starting from the bench. Tonbridge played the first half with the wind at their backs. Fleet 'keeper Calvin Sparshatt was quickly in action, diving to his right to push Sam Tydeman's stinging 25-yarder round the post with just two minutes gone. Royston soon had to replace the unfortunate Beales, who limped off after only 13 minutes. The visitors were happy to defend in numbers and soak up Tonbridge pressure, but the Angels probing football always looked likely to force a breakthrough. It came on 27 minutes - the ball spun free out of a challenge to Piscina, who turned and rifled home a low right-foot drive from just inside the box. Fleet's top scorer Shaun Hale missed a great chance to bring Town level, heading weakly wide from close in after Craig Leworthy's wind-affected cross deceived the Angels defence. Ray Powell then got himself on the shortlist for miss of the season, tapping wide of an open goal after fine work from Piscina had stranded Sparshatt and set up the chance. Tydeman extended the Tonbridge lead in spectacular fashion on 37 minutes, unleashing another 25-yarder which dipped into the top corner giving Sparshatt no hope. Both sides had further chances before the break - Fleet's Ed Hare nodded Steve Whitcher's cross wide from a good position, and Powell shot straight at Sparshatt after being played through by Piscina and Hamid Barr. Piscina set up Powell again early in the second half, Sparshatt this time pulling off a great save with his outstretched foot to keep his team in the game. A good effort from Piscina was then deflected for a corner with Sparshatt scrambling. Now playing against the wind, Tonbridge seemed to settle for what they had, and there was little excitement in either penalty area as the game wore on. Fleet substitute Toby Bax gave the visitors hope six minutes from time with a goal out of the blue, taking advantage of non-existent marking and communication to head past a stranded Jamie Turner - but Fleet couldn't make anything of the lifeline, and Sparshatt had to pull out another great save from Nick Barnes' fierce cross-shot to keep the margin at one. Luke Piscina's incisive play and hard work up front caused the Fleet defence problems throughout the game, and he deservedly won the Angels Man of the Match award, nominated by "birthday girl" Lorraine Parks. Report by: Tony Browne |
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