Tonbridge Angels & Hendon served up a great game which is a credit of the Ryman Premier League, it was end to end which either side could have nicked it, but a draw it was.

Tonbridge started on the front foot carrying on from last week & in the 4^th minute Billy Medlock on the left wing cut inside & let fly forcing Ben McNamara to parry it away.

Hendon’s first chance came in the 11^th minute when James Fisher controlled a clearance & from fully 40 yards saw his shot saved by Kyle Merson but in the very next minute they took the lead when Andre De Costa in the area saw his cross deflected up into the air for Lee O’Leary six yards out to head in with Merson only able to help it into the net.

In the 14^th minute it could have been two when O’Leary won a tackle in his half & then released Leon Smith who outpaced the Tonbridge defence but his shot from 18 yards went over the bar.

It did become two in the 23^rd minute when a ball forward saw Smith latch onto it & go into the area before shooting from 12 yards forcing Merson to push it away onto the post & as the ball rolled along the line Smith was first to it & smacked it into the net.

Tonbridge were shaken by this & needed to compose themselves or it could get worse.

In the 29^th minute Dee Okojie who would end up being a thorn in Hendon’s side received the ball 20 yards out & his shot was saved by McNamara & then two minutes later he hassled Fisher of the ball & passed to Harrison Tweddle who from 20 yards shot over the bar.

In the 35^th minute Tonbridge had a glorious chance to get back into the game when Okojie on the left got to the by-line & his low cross found Tom Parkinson but from 6 yards out he missed his kick.

Another chance came Tonbridge’s way in the 39^th minute when Parkinson 20 yards out saw his shot parried away by McNamara but in the next minute they got a goal back when a corner was half cleared & Jerome Sobers on the right was free & his delightful cross into the area was by Medlock who headed home from 6 yards, he has been the best signing in England so far scoring 9 goals in 5 games which is better than Diego Costa of Chelsea.

Tonbridge levelled the game in bizarre fashion when a short corner to Okojie who crossed into the area for Parkinson whose header was saved by McNamara but under pressure he dropped the ball over the line which cause Hendon’s players to lose the plot for 30 seconds as they rounded on the referee but the goal was given & both McNamara & Elliott Braithwaite were booked for their protests.

The half time whistle went & Steve McKimm would be the happier of the two managers as Tonbridge had shown great character to get back into this game against the team who were 3^rd in the table.

The second half was only 3 minutes old when Tonbridge took the lead scoring 3 goals in 8 minutes, a Jack Parter free kick into the area saw McNamara punch away but only to Sobers who controlled it & passed to Okojie who from 12 yards delicately chipped into the net.

Five minutes later it could have better for Tonbridge as Okojie on the right crossed into the area for Tweddle who acrobatically volleyed just past the post.

In the 58^th minute Hendon got the equaliser when Smith on the left crossed to the back post where it came back to Casey Maclaren picked up the ball & from 15 yards smashed it into the net game on.

Three minutes late Hendon could have gone in front again when Sam Murphy on the left crossed to the back post where Dave Diephiou was but unopposed his shot went over the bar, then the luck went Tonbridge’s way as in the very next minute Flisher on the left saw his cross come back of the crossbar.

In the very next minute a ball forward saw Smith get to it & his shot from 15 yards was pushed away by Merson who got up quickly & pounced on the ball before Smith could get there.

In the last moments of the game either side could have won it but the chances went a begging & a draw was the result.

 

TONBRIDGE ANGELS;

1. MERSON 2. J.FOLKES  3. B.KING  4.L.CAREY  5. J.SOBERS (70)  6. J.PARTER  7. H.TWEDDLE (58)
2. T.PARKINSON 9. B.MEDLOCK (74)  10. T.WHITNELL  11. D.OKOJIE

SUBS USED:   14. A.TENIOLA (58)  16. N.CAMPBELL (70)  12. F.TAVERES (74)

UNUSED SUBS:  15. C.SLOCOMBE

 

HENDON:

1. McNAMARA 2. C.SEEBY  3. S.FLEGG  4. J.FISHER  5. E.BRAITHWAITE  6. D.DIEPHIOU  7. S.MURPHY
2. L.O’LEARY 9. L.SMITH (87)  10. A.MORGAN (45)  11. A.DE COSTA (56)

SUBS USED:   14. C.MACLAREN (45)  12. R.WORRELL (56)  15. P.DEAN (87)

SUBS NOT USED:  13. K.MACLAREN  16. B.HAZLETT

BOOKINGS:   1. B.Mcnamara (44)  5. E.BRAITHWAITE ( 44)

 

REFEREE: Mr T.RAMSEY

ASSISTANTS: Mr M. JARVIS & Mr D.TREGASKES

ATTENDANCE: 405