Tonbridge Abgels 0 – 1 Wealdstone

Tonbridge Angels

0 - 1

Wealdstone

KO: 0:00 | Sat 13th Nov ’04

After an accident closed the M25, Stones arrived in dribs and drabs to this game, the majority of the side not arriving until 3 o’ clock, this resulting in a 3:25 start to the match.

With no time to properly warm up stones set their stall early on to kill the gam and contain their opponents, then to slowly bring themselves on, and that is pretty much how the game panned out. An even start saw Stones actually create the best of the chances, with Alexander (twice) and Jolly going close, while Ryan Cahill and Robin Tucker returning after nine months out with an injury held firm and limited the home side to half chances from distance.

The second half saw Stones a little more progressive and again having the best of the chances – Jolly was unlucky on 55 minutes after being put through by Jones when the home keeper saved, but a similar move 1 minute later brought a better result with what turned out to be the only goal of the afternoon and Jolly took the ball round the keeper and slotted home.

A minute later, and Stones were reduced to ten men when Jones was sent off apparently for kicking an opponent on the ground (he was laying on the ball) and this gave the home side some heart, but Stones defence held firm as the match evened out an  encounter.

Ten minutes later and Tony Dolby, the Tonbridge player manager, on as a sub was sent off for an elbow on Tommy Williams off the ball and this just about ended the match as a contest.

Tonbridge could have equalised when a shot cannoned off of the top of the crossbar, and Alexander, Jolly and Beckford could have extended Stones lead, but 1-0 was enough to take all three points.

Ten bookings and two sending’s off gave the Referee the image of a poor dealer in a poker school, as it really wasn’t a dirty game…