What a great advert for the Kent Reliance Senior Cup as both sides served up great entertainment in difficult conditions.

The first 28 minutes were forgettable but then the match seemed to start, in the 29^th minute Marvin Williams ran down the left wing & his low cross found Tommy Whitnell who from 15 yards screwed his shot wide.

Four minutes later Sittingbourne took the lead when Hichem Akhazzen ran from halfway then his side rule pass into the area found Ellie Kayembe running onto it & beating the keeper James Steele to it & dinking it over him.

In the 37^th minute it was two when a Tom Brunt free kick on the right went to the back post where George Crimmen was & he headed back across the goal for Jono Richardson to smash home from 1 yard.

Tonbridge looked out of it but in the 41^st minute they got a lifeline when the ball was crossed into the area for Williams who from 8 yards hooked in past Sean Bazell.

The half time whistle went & both managers would have different emotions with Nick Davis annoyed they gave a goal away so soon to half time whilst Steve McKimm would have been delighted at getting back into the game.

The second half started with Tonbridge on the attack & in the 46^th minute a Ben King corner to the back post saw Alex Teniola’s header go wide.

In the 53^rd minute Tonbridge thought they had equalised when King passed to Jack Brivio who passed straight away to Teniola whose first time shot from 10 yards was superbly pushed over the bar by Bazell.

Three minutes later Whitnell saw his shot go over the bar from 20 yards.  Another half chance came in the 59^th minute when Brivio in the area on the right saw his low cross shot evade everyone.

Finally with all this pressure came the equaliser when in the 65^th minute Williams running forward passed out wide to Dee Okojie who jinked inside & then his curling effort from 15 yards hit the back of the net.

Tonbridge were now in total control but still had to be on their guard as Sittingbourne were now relying on breakaways, in the 77^th minute Williams on the right cut across the area before shooting but it went wide.

In the 84^th minute Williams again causing problems passed to Teniola in the area & his shot from 10 yards was deflected for a corner, with time running out & a penalty shoot out on the horizon Tonbridge were attacking & Sittingbourne hanging on & then joy or disaster depending which team you supported as the watch moved towards 90 minutes Flavio Tavares battled for the ball 25 yards out & passed to Jack Parter who from 20 yards saw his shot beat Bazell to give Tonbridge the victory.

 

SITTINGBOURNE:

1. BAZELL 2. T.BRUNT   3.  J.RICHARDSON  4. M.HARDEN  5. G.CRIMMEN  6. O.BANKOLE  7. B.MILHAM
2. O.BROWN (79) 9. E.KAYEMBE (62)  10. E.IZOKUN (67)  11. H.AKHAZZAN

SUBS USED:  12. D.ABE (62)  17. V.MILLER (67)  14. B.CULLEN (79)

SUBS NOT USED:  15. D.FLEMMING   16. B.BALL

 

TONBRIDGE ANGELS:

1. STEELE 2. C.SLOCOMBE   3. B.KING  4. J.BRIVIO (77)  5. J.SOBERS (55)  6. E.MONTHE  7. F.TAVARES
2. N.CAMPBELL 9. A.TENIOLA  10. T.WHITNELL (62)  11. M.WILLIAMS

SUBS USED:  12. L.BALL (55)  14. D.OKOJIE (62)   16. J.PARTER (77)

SUBS NOT USED:  15. C.McCARTHY   17. O.KABODI

BOOKING: 6. E.MONTHE (62)

 

REFEREE: Mr S.KAY

ASSISTANTS:  Mr C.BURTON  & Mr J.FAGG

ATTENDANCE: 119