Tonbridge Angels and Folkestone Invicta will need to play a replay on Tuesday night after their FA Cup first qualifying round tie ended in a 1-1 draw.
Both teams have experienced a fantastic start to the young season in their respective leagues. In the Ryman Division One South Folkestone found themselves in first place after nine games and they looked to carry their good run of form and unbeaten record across the county. Meanwhile, one league above, Tonbridge were just three points off the top spot, having scored the most amount of goals in the division, including seven in their last three home matches.
In addition to their similar records in the opening weeks of the season, both managers made two changes to their teams; for Steve McKimm’s Angels side Shaquille Hippolyte- Patrick and Tom Phipp took the places of Charlie Webster and Lee Carey whilst Neil Cugley replaced Ashley Miller with Carl Rook whilst Jordan Wright took the place of James Rogers in his Invicta squad.
Considering the attacking options both teams have, it was surprising for the 574 who made their way to Longmead Stadium that the opening minutes of the game was a tight, hard fought 10 minutes as both teams looked to establish themselves in the game.
The opening chance of the game fell to Tom Phipp when, after a pass was brought down by Nick Wheeler, the midfielder put his half volley wide of the target.
With less than fifteen minutes gone Folkestone were able to work through midfield for an opportunity for themselves, after a series of delicate passes between Ian Draycott and Ronnie Dolan allowed the former through on goal, only to watch as his shot clipped the outside of the post.
The visitor’s attacking pressure was rewarded almost ten minutes later with Dolan involved in the build up again. Despite appearing offside, Ian Draycott was found by the midfielder before calmly sliding a shot past Anthony Di Bernado, giving the underdogs a one goal lead.
Just moments after Tonbridge kicked off to restart the game, they could have equalised after Phipp hit a powerful free kick goalwards, but Tim Roberts did well to force the effort away from his goal.
With half an hour on the clock Tonbridge were able to find the equalizer they needed thanks to a piece of fantastic play from Nick Wheeler. The left sided midfielder beat three players during a skilful run down the wing before being controversially fouled by Frankie Chappell, allowing Tom Phipp to step up and convert the penalty.
Just before half time Tonbridge were nearly able to complete the turnaround when Tommy Whitnell’s chipped shot was brilliantly cleared off the line, keeping the score level as half time approached.
Tonbridge carried their pressure from late in the first half into the second and after just two minutes Luke Blewden’s shot from the edge of the six yard box was incredibly tipped over by Tim Roberts.
The afternoon got worse for Invicta when, just five minutes into the second half, Cark Rook was sent off after an incident away from play, forcing both teams to calm down in a high tempered, physical affair and forcing the visitors to play the remaining forty minutes with ten men.
This one man advantage gave Tonbridge more space to move the ball around as they continued to create chances, first Shaquille Hippolyte- Patrick linked up with Tom Parkinson to fire a shot across goal just wide and son after Nick Wheeler’s improvised cross fell onto the head of Tommy Whitnell who directed his looping header back into the area, only to see it go out for a goal kick.
Folkestone looked to try and play the game out in the hope of being able to force a replay on the counties’ east coast and, after some desperate defending, they succeeded, meaning a replay will be needed to separate the two teams as well as to determine the location of the financial prize from the FA- a huge source of income.
This replay will be held on Tuesday 15th of September with the winner becoming one of the 116 teams to go on to the second qualifying round as well as the £3,000 from the FA’s prize fund.
Tonbridge Angels: Di Bernado, Folkes, Parter, Parkinson, Ball, Miles, Hippolyte- Patrick (Webster), Phipp, Blewden (Brown), Whitnell, Wheeler
Subs not used: Milham, Sobers, Mici
Folkestone Invicta: Roberts, Vincent, Blanks, Friend, Chappell, Newman, Starkey, Dolan (Wraight), Draycott, Rook, Wright (Miller)
Subs not used: Pilbeam, Stanford
Referee: Mr N West
Assistants: Mr S Marr and Mr Brett Grant