Tonbridge Angels started a new era in the club’s history as the brand new 3G pitch was being used for the first time and more projects could be on the horizon.
With the team being unbeaten there was buzz around the place but Hampton & Richmond Borough came and spoilt the party with an emphatic win but if you are a Tonbridge supporter don’t worry as this was just a blip.
The game started with Hampton on the front foot & in the 4th minute they took the lead when a corner to the near post was half cleared but only to Ade Shokunbi who from 6 yards with a left foot shot scored.
Hampton were now in charge dominating play, Tonbridge seemed nervous as every pass seemed to go to the opposition. In the space of three minutes Hampton wrapped up the points when in the 45th minute another bad pass went to Stefan Illic who went into the area before passing to Shokunbi who from 6 yards passed the ball into the net, then in the 38th minute Shokunbi became provider when 30 yards out he turned & went forward before putting Tonbridge old boy Tommy Wood & his shot from 10 yards beat Jon Henly.
In the 41st minute Shokunbi put Jake Gray clear but his shot from 18 yards was saved by Henly.
Tonbridge had their first shot in anger in the 43rd minute when Craig Braham-Barrett passed out wide to Joe Turner who cut in & went across the penalty area before seeing his shot go over the bar.
Half time arrived & the team talks would be so different as Gary McCann would say do the same thing while Jay Saunders would have to pick his team up & probably say win the second half.
The second half started with Tonbridge coming out the quickest probably with Jay’s words still ringing in their ears. In the 57th minute the ball ran to Tom Fagg who saw his 20 yard shot go just over the bar.
Tonbridge huffed & puffed while Hampton relied on breaks. In the 71st minute substitute Brandon Barzey on the left cut in & saw his shot from 20 yards go over the bar.
Two minutes later Tonbridge scored what would be a consolation goal when the ball was played across the penalty area before ending up at Louis Collins feet & from the left his low cross to the near post was side volleyed in by Debutant Dylan Gavin ( from Charlton Athletic).
It’s funny how a goal gives a team confidence & Tonbridge started to believe that they could get back into the game & T.Q.Addy on the right cut in & his shot was pushed around the post by Alan Julian.
In the 84th minute Hampton should have wrapped the game up when Illic from 40 yards danced his way into the area & then laid the ball into the path of Temi Babalola but from 6 yards his shot went wide four minutes later & Tonbridge nearly scored another when Mason Saunders-Henry latched onto a loose ball but his shot went wide.
In the 1st minute off added on time Hampton did score when Tonbridge pushing people forward got caught when Alfy Whittingham ran from halfway line went into the area & as Henly came to him passed sideways to Barzey to shoot into an empty net.
TONBRIDGE ANGELS:
J.HENLY 2. J.FIELDING 3. C.BRAHAM-BARRETT (86) 19. E.MAJA (45) 5. S.MILES 7. L.GARD 27. T.FAGG 11. J.TURNER 14. D.GAVIN 18. T.WALTERS (67) 9. L.COLLINS
SUBS USED: 6. B.SWIFT (45) 17. T.Q.ADDY (67) 10. M.SAUNDERS- HENRY (86)
SUBS NOT USED: 13. K.MANUEL 12. B.HERMITAGE
BOOKINGS: 6. B.SWIFT (77) 7. L.GARD (80)
HAMPTON & RICHMOND:
A.JULIAN 2. T.BLOCK 3. R.DONALDSON 4. D.INMAN 6. T.MILLER-RODNEY 9. T.WOOD (76) 10. J.GRAY 11. S.ILLIC 14. C.KURRAN-BROWNE (63) 15. A.SHOKUMBI (63) 22. B.SHROLL
SUBS USED: 7. B.BARZEY (63) 8. A.WHITTINGHAM (63) 20. TEMI BABOLOLA (76)
SUBS NOT USED: 12. J.HINES 17. ZAK FRASER-GRANTE
BOOKINGS: 1. A.JULIAN (57) 20. T.BABALOLA (90+4)
REFEREE: Mr G.LAFFIN
ASSISTANTS: Mr T.OSBORN & Mr M.BALL
ATTENDANCE: 1053