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| Tuesday, 10 February 2004: Dr Martens League Eastern Division. Tonbridge Angels 4-3 Histon What A Game! Tonbridge came out on top of a seven goal thriller against their promotion rivals on a perfect night for football at Longmead, reclaiming top spot in the process. Who needs the Premiership when the Doc Martens Eastern Division can produce football like this? Tony Dolby changed things around a little after Saturday's poor effort against Burnham. New signing Mike Rutherford came into the centre of a three-man midfield, with Nick Barnes returning to right back and John Beales moving into central defence in place of Martin Clarke. Jamie Turner returned from suspension in goal, and Luke Anderson continued at the back for the still-suspended player-manager. Histon swarmed into the attack straight from the kick off. A succession of shots flew towards Turner's goal in the opening five minutes, but Tonbridge went ahead in their first attack. Luke Piscina broke down the inside-right channel and rifled a fine low drive across 'keeper Paul Barber and into the far corner. Turner saved Steve Holden's header to preserve the lead, and Sam Tydeman couldn't quite control Piscina's pass in a promising move at the other end. Histon continued to attack in numbers and put the Angels goal under heavy pressure. Jamie Barker shanked his shot after being played free on the left, then Beales' brave block denied Neil Andrews. Andrews dragged another chance wide under pressure from Beales, but the assistant's flag would probably have ruled it out anyway. Adrian Cambridge went close with a 20-yarder, and Ian Cambridge's cross just eluded Neil Kennedy in front of goal. Turner got down well to save from Kennedy, and Holden was close with another header. Barnes' cross was just too high for Brendon Cass as Tonbridge responded, before Matthew Haniver's control let him down from a good position inside the Angels box. Tonbridge desperately needed to relieve the pressure, and did so with a cracking goal. Barnes won the ball deep in his own half, checked inside and started a sharp exchange of passes with Tydeman. Barnes - Tydeman - Barnes -Tydeman - Piscina - one touch - Bang - top corner, 2-0 after 42 minutes. Barker set up Ian Cambridge right on half time, but Craig Roser got across to block his effort and leave the visitors wondering how on earth they were two down at the break. The frantic action continued in the second half, which was more of an even see-saw contest. Turner comfortably saved Barker's curling free-kick before Tonbridge went three up with another superb goal. A 15-pass, probing move eventually freed Tydeman down the inside-left channel. The Angels midfielder whipped in a cross which Piscina couldn't quite force home at the near post, but the ball broke loose for Cass to clip home following up. That should have been that, but Histon got a boost straight from the restart when Kennedy nipped through a horribly statuesque Angels defence for a simple sidefoot finish. Kennedy's next effort seemed goalbound until it deflected to safety off Ryan Royston, who knew little about it. Turner then acrobatically plucked a cross off Colin Vowden's head. Barber claimed just in front of Royston at the other end, and Roser wasn't far away for Tonbridge with a rasping 30-yarder. Histon won a corner midway through the half. Vowden nodded in at the far post to make it 3-2. Panic. Turner and Royston both failed to clear when they had the opportunity in Histon's next attack, allowing Kennedy to stroll through for another simple sidefoot finish. The visitors were level just 15 minutes after going 3-0 down. Tonbridge could have caved in at this point, but instead rediscovered their appetite for the contest. Great work from Piscina set up Rutherford, but Barber clawed away his shot. Barker's shot was deflected out after more panicky Angels defending, Vowden this time heading the corner kick wide under pressure from Beales. With 11 minutes to go, Barnes whipped in a wicked free-kick from the left. Neither forwards nor defenders could get a touch, and the ball went beyond Barber's despairing dive into the corner of the net to make it 4-3 Tonbridge. Ian Cambridge headed too close to Turner when well placed, then Piscina blazed wide after a fast Angels break. Andrews just failed to get on the end of another dangerous cross for Histon, but Tonbridge, roared on by a feverish crowd, dug deep and held the visitors out comfortably for the final eight minutes. Four moments of quality won the game for the Angels. Histon, for all their pressure, couldn't produce the same quality when it mattered. Now, if we could just find a way to stop gift-wrapping goals at the back ...... Angels Man of the Match? Nick Barnes got involved all over the pitch. John Beales flung himself into crucial blocks and tackles. Brendon Cass ran himself into the ground and thoroughly deserved his goal. Craig Roser was his usual assured self down the left. Steve Searle played possibly his best game so far in an Angels shirt, and Sam Tydeman played himself back into form - but one man made the difference on the night. Two quality finishes and a fine all-round performance saw Luke Piscina duly awarded the bubbly by Mike Nevitt of Match Sponsors Active Vehicle Consultants, Ramsgate. Report by: Tony Browne Pyramid Football Report |
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