Tonbridge won their first Bostik Premier game with a hard fought victory over a hard working Hendon side.
This was a typical first game of the season with both sides being a bit cagey as they didn’t want to lose but Tonbridge showed glimpses of what they can do whilst Hendon were probably disappointed with their performance especially the missed penalty which could have won them the game.
The game started with Tonbridge having the first half chance when in the 4th minute a Luke Blewden long throw into the area found Nathan Elder who flicked it on for Dan Thompson on the back post but his header went wide.
In the 12th minute Jonathan Henly came to the Angels rescue when a free kick into the area was headed sideways for Zak Joseph who turned quickly & from 6 yards saw his goal bound shot blocked by Henly & cleared. Hendon had a period when they enjoyed a lot of possession & in the 22nd minute Ries Stanislaus was put through in the area & his cross shot was deflected away for a corner, five minutes later 25 yards out Stanislaus saw his shot saved by Henly.
A minute later Tonbridge nearly scored when a ball forward was partially cleared but only to Chris Kinnear who’s shot from 20 yards went past the post. Two minutes later & it could have been one – nil when a free kick into the area saw the keeper Tom Locklock come for it, miss it & the ball came out to Craig Stone whose scissor kick from 15 yards flew agonisingly by the post.
Another chance went a begging when in the 37th minute Stone’s cross into the area found Elder who set Kinnear up but his shot went wide. In the very next minute Hendon could have taken the lead when a cross into the six yard box by Joseph saw Keegan Cole’s diving header go wide of the post.
The second half took a while to get going but in the 57th minute a ball into the Tonbridge area found Joseph who was fouled by Liam Friend to concede a penalty, up stepped Matthew Ball who blasted it straight down the middle but it hit the crossbar & flew over for a goal kick.
This suddenly woke the Angels up & in the 59th minute a free kick into the area found Elder who headed it down for Thompson whose snapshot went just past the post.
In the 62nd minute Steve McKimm made a tactical substitution when he took off Friend as he had already been booked gave the penalty away & looked a little lost out there. In the 74th minute another half chance came when another long throw into the area saw Elder again flick on for Sonny Miles whose first time shot going through a collection of players went just wide, the Tonbridge faithful would have been concerned if they were going to score or lose to a breakaway.
They did not have to worry as in the 77th minute Jay Svai & Thompson on halfway combined leaving Svai to charge forward & his cross into the 6 yard box saw Elder head home.
The last few minutes saw Hendon have a go with a few corners but apart from one moment in the 83rd minute when a Sam Murphy corner was headed goal wards by Substitute David Diediou but Henly tipped it over the bar.
The final whistle went & it was relief all round Longmead but a win is a win & McKimm will tell you that they will play better & lose.
TONBRIDGE:
- HENLY 2. C STONE (DEBUT) J.SVIA ( DEBUT ) 4. L.SMITH (62) 5. S.MILES 6. G.BEAVON 7. L.BLEWDEN 8. C.KINNEAR( DEBUT ) 9. N.ELDER 10.D.THOMPSON 11.T.WHITNELL (74)
SUBS USED: 12.T.BEERE (62) 14.D.WELSH (74)
SUBS NOT USED: 15. C ADONIS-TAYLOR 16. R.McFARLANE 17.S.COPELAND
BOOKINGS: 2. C.STONE ( 9 ) 4. L.SMITH (19) 8. C.KINNEAR (39 )
HENDON:
- LOVELOCK 2. J.EGGLETON S.MURPHY 4. L.TINGLEY 5.R.BRAY 6. A.LEE 7.K.COLE (81) 8. M.BALL (75) 9. Z.JOSEPH 10. N.MUIR 11. R.STANISLAUS (85
SUBS USED: 12. K.IBE (75) 15. L..LUIS DeCARVAHLO PEDRO (85) 18. D.DIEDIOU (81)
SUBS NOT USED: 14. C.CURRIE 17. A.NATHANIEL GEORGE
BOOKINGS: 2. . J.EGGLETON (61)
REFEREE: Mr. M.RUSSEL L
ASSISTANTS: Mr. T.HOLDEN & Mr. T.MOISEY
ATTENDANCE: 496