What a Christmas cracker this was for the fans but maybe both managers would disagree.

The game ebbed & flowed as first Tonbridge were in charge then Harrow came back & took control only for Tonbridge to come back & gain a deserved point.

The first chance of the game came in the 10^th minute when Conor Hudnott miskicked his clearance up in the air for Josh Webb who chested it down but it went towards goal & Simon Turner making his home debut latched onto it got to the by-line & his low cross found Nathan Elder but under pressure he guided his shot wide of the post.

Tonbridge by now were in charge of possession with Harrow relying on breakaways. In the 27^th minute James Folkes on the right crossed into the area for Elder but his header from 8 yards was easily saved by Hudnott.

Four minutes later in a breakaway Marc Charles-Smith passed to Lewis Driver who then passed out wide to Harry Newman in the area & his shot went over the bar.

In the 36^th minute Tonbridge nearly took the lead when Sam Rents saw his in swinging corner nearly catch Hudnott out & he ended up punching it clear.

In the 40^th minute Tonbridge took a deserved lead when Folkes again saw his cross to the back post dropped by Hudnott & Tom Parkinson was the first to react & shot home from three yards. Right on the stroke of half time Harrow nearly equalised when Newman in the area saw his shot from 10 yards palmed away by Di Bernardo & cleared but in the first minute off added on time they did equalise when Josh Webb was fouled in the area & a penalty was awarded, up stepped Charles-Smith who shot into the bottom right hand corner.

This shocked Tonbridge as they had been the better side & then in the 3^rd minute off added on time a Rents free kick near the corner flag forced Hudnott to push it onto the crossbar for a corner.

Harrow came out the quicker of the two teams & in the 50^th they took the lead when Josh Webb was found in the area on his own & from 15 yards saw his shot go in via Di Bernardo’s legs.

This sparked Tonbridge into action & in the 54^th minute a Nicky Wheeler free kick 25 yards out was curled around the wall forcing Hudnott to palm away but only to Charlie Webster whose first time shot from 20 yards was palmed away again by Hudnott.

Four minutes later disaster struck for Tonbridge as Harrow increased their lead when a short corner to Michael Bryan who then got to the by-line & his low cross was stabbed in by Newman from 3 yards.

Tonbridge only need three minutes & they were back in the game when a short corner to Webster who’s cross into the area was knocked in by Luke Blewden. Tonbridge were now pressing for an equaliser which could see them light at the back & in the 68^th minute Charles-Smith was put through although he did look 5 yards offside he raced towards goal & chipped the onrushing Di Bernardo but it hit the cross bar & landed in Di Bernardo’s hands.

Harrow were now trying to get another goal & in the 73^rd minute Charles Smith on the by-line saw his shot parried out by Di Bernardo but only to Driver but his shot was pushed away & cleared.

Time was running out for Tonbridge as they poured forward for the equaliser & in the 80^th minute they got it but a bit controversial when Wheeler received the ball out wide on the right & he went into the area beating the defender & his shot was blocked but went straight to Luke Allen whose shot hit the post & according to the referee went over the line.

Tonbridge were now looking for the winner & in the 1^st minute off added on time Wheeler on the right twisted & turned before seeing his shot saved by Hudnott’s legs.

The final whistle went & both teams should be congratulated for a great game although both managers will have mixed feelings about the result.

 

TONBRIDGE:

1. DI BERNARDO 2. J.FOLKES  3. S.RENTS  4. T.PARKINSON  5. J.SOBERS (69)  6. L.BALL  7. C.WEBSTER (69)  8. A.RIVIERE 9. N.ELDER 10. S.THOMAS (59, HOME DEBUT)  11. N.WHEELER

SUBS USED:  16. L.BLEWDEN (59)  14. T.WHITNALL (69)  15. L.ALLEN (69, HOME DEBUT )

SUBS NOT USED:  12. E.GREEN  17. J.PARTER

BOOKINGS:  5. J.SOBERS (20)

 

HARROW BOROUGH:

1. HUDNOTT 2. JOSH WEBB  3. M.BARIMA  4. S.PREDDIE  5. M.PEACOCK  6. JOSHUA WEBB  7. M.BRYAN  8. M.McLEOD (74) 9. M.CHARLES-SMITH 10. L.DRIVER (76)  11. H.NEWMAN

SUBS USED: 16. D.TAYLOR (74)  14. F.OKENABIRHIE (76)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. S.McCALL  15. J.WALDRON  17. D.CASCOE

BOOKINGS:  8. M.McLEOD (22)  11. H.NEWMAN (45+2)

 

REFEREE:   Mr A.AJIBOLA

ASSISTANTS: Mr O.BENTLEY & Mr M.EDWARDS

ATTENDANCE: 527