On an afternoon where the rain came down all game this was a battle to see who could keep their 100% records as Tonbridge had won all their home matches albeit two whereas Maidstone had won all five games in the league.

The conditions did not seem to hinder either side but the passion of a derby was not on the field of play but in the crowd & in the end Tonbridge came out victors in this A26 derby when they got the winner in the 90^th minute.

The game started with Tonbridge having the first real chance in the 6^th minute when Lee Worgan making his return to Longmead saw his clearance was charged down by Billy Medlock on the left side of the area & he picked himself up & saw his shot go into the side netting.

Maidstone had their first chance in the 8^th minute when Jack Parkinson saw his shot from 20 yards deflected for a corner.

In the 14^th minute James Folkes on the right cut inside & seemed to be tripped just outside the penalty area but the Referee played on & the ball was played forward for Frannie Collin making his return who ran forward but his shot from 20 yards went past the post.

A minute later another half chance came Maidstone’s way when Alex Flisher 10 yards out saw his header go over the bar. The game then went quiet as both sides continued to give the ball away but in the 38^th minute Tonbridge were awarded a free kick 30 yards out & up stepped Medlock whose shot beat the wall & flew past the post.

Half time arrived with both managers seemingly ok with the 45 minutes but knowing that they would both have to improve to get the winner.

The second half started with Tonbridge having the first chance when in the 47^th minute a ball into Tommy Whitnell on the edge of the area saw him dummy the defender before shooting & the ball came back to him & this time his shot went wide, that was to be Tonbridge’s last chance until the 90^th minute as Maidstone took control without making Kyle Merson have to make a save.

They did have half chances but that was all, in the 67^th minute Flisher on the left crossed into the area for Matt Bodkin but his header from 12 yards went over the bar.

Six minutes later Flisher again on the left beat two defenders & his low cross caused Ben King to stab the ball just past the post.

In the 78^th minute Jack Parkinson’s quick free kick saw Flisher chest it down & from 15 yards shot wide. As the game was coming to a close Tonbridge scored when in the 90^th minute Flavio Tavares on the right was tackled but the ball rebound to Alex Teniola who from 18 yards shot past Worgan into the bottom left hand corner.

Five minutes extra was played but Maidstone just ran out of steam & their unbeaten record was over.

 

TONBRIDGE ANGELS:

1. K.MERSON  2. J.PARTER  3. B.KING  4. L.CAREY  5. J.SOBERS  6. T.PARKINSON  7. J.FOLKES (79) 8. A.TENIOLA  9.B.MEDLOCK (89)  10. T.WHITNELL  (86)  11. D.OKOJIE

SUBS USED:  16. C.SLOCOMBE  14. F.TAVARES  12. H.TWEDDLE

SUBS NOT USED: 15. Q.BOLAGI

BOOKINGS: 12. H.TWEDDLE (92)

 

MAIDSTONE UNITRED:

1. L.WORGAN  2. S.BUTCHER  3. T.MILLS  4. J.COYLE  5. S.MILES  6. J.ROGERS (79)  7. M.BODKIN (87) 8.  J.PARKINSON  9. A.MILLER (63)  10. F.COLLIN  11.A.FLISHER

SUBS USED:  14. B.GREENHALGH (63)  15. A.BROWN (79)  12. S.WATT (87)

SUBS NOT USED:  16. C.ROBERTSON  21. W.GODMAN

BOOKINGS: 8. J.PARKINSON (77)  11.A.FLISHER (82)  2.S.BUTCHER (90+2)

 

REFEREEE: Mr. G.JERDEN

ASSISTANTS: Mr. A.POPE & Mr. S.TATE

ATTENDANCE: 1,168