VCD will be glad to see the back of their visitors this season, as Tonbridge Angels eased to a 3-0 win; their third victory over the Crayford side in four months.

Goals from Dee Okojie (number 11 in the photo), who was outstanding in the first half, and Alex Teniola within the first 25 minutes ensured it would be a comfortable afternoon for the men from Longmead. As in the FA Trophy tie between the two sides three weeks ago, Flavio Tavares came off the bench and created a memorable moment of his own. In the Trophy, Tavares scored his first senior goal. This time, it was a scorching 20-yarder into the top corner to seal the win.

With manager Steve McKimm leaving quickly to support his son at a boxing tournament, Angels’ first team coach, Justin Luchford said “we didn’t start particularly well, but once we got the first goal we settled down and started to press them a bit more. From that moment on, I think we ran the game. We knew what their strengths are – trying to keep the ball and move it well – but with the pace we’ve got in the side, we can break well and that is going to cause any team problems.”

The Angels’ were forced into an early change, with Chris Piper replacing Marvin Williams. But the side showed no signs of disruption, and if anything, the change worked in Tonbridge’s favour. Luchford added, “We lost Marvin early doors, and we thought that might hurt us as he was the most likely to run in behind. But Tommy (Whitnell) has moved inside into an area where he was really hard to pick up. He held the ball well, and the only criticism is that he didn’t let fly more often.”

“I think people are starting to see what we are about now that we are getting a settled side, and I think that will pay dividends for us. We are in good form, but we cannot be complacent. Having Jerome (Sobers) back alongside Laurence (Ball) gives us stability, and a good side needs a stable defence.”

Tonbridge’s high pressing game caused VCD problems all afternoon, and as early as the 8th minute, Alex Teniola blocked Orlando Smith’s attempted crossfield ball. Tommy Whitnell fed the ball into the path of Dee Okojie, running in from the left wing, and his shot slid past the left hand post.

In the 11th minute, Okojie made sure of his finish to give the visitors the lead. A long clearance from Tom Hadler fell to the feet of Okojie. He played a 1-2 with Teniola that put Okojie into the area, and as Ben Payne slid in with a challenge, the Tonbridge winger calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner past Nick Blue.

On 15, Elliott Cox and Ellis Green combined on the right wing to allow Cox to put a low cross into the box. The ball rolled right through to Ahmed Deen on the opposite side of the ‘D’, whose first time shot flew high over the bar.

Tonbridge doubled their lead in the 25th minute, although Teniola had a stroke of luck as his initial shot was blocked back into his path. Nathan Campbell won the ball in his own half, and as VCD were appealing for a foul on Sean Roberts, Whitnell fired a pass into James Folkes’ path. The full back put a low cross into the box for Teniola, whose initial shot was well saved by Blue, only for the rebound to fall at the feet of Teniola, who was able to steer it into the right corner.

Okojie had a shot blocked by Payne as Tonbridge continued to press, but the Angels’ defence made a mistake on 31 to allow Leigh Bremner in for VCD’s best chance. Jerome Sobers slipped under pressure, allowing Bremner to run in from the left side, past Ball, but the VCD striker’s shot hit the side netting.

In response to his side’s start, VCD manager, Tony Russell, made two changes; withdrawing Ahmed Deen and Ellis Green. In truth, it probably could have been any two players, as Russell explained “that performance was disappointing. I didn’t think there were problems with our desire, but there are some players in there who probably aren’t good enough for this level. We’ve made two jumps very quickly and most were with us in the Kent League, but today was a day when it really struck home. We’ve got to get people in who can score goals. It’s sad that I’m in a position where I might have to let four or five people who are friends go, but that’s football.”

“Tonbridge are a decent side and thoroughly deserved their win. We’ve got 2 centrebacks out (Nick Reeves suspended and Lewis Tozer injured), so we’ve changed the team round. But that’s not the concern. It just wasn’t working today, so rather than watch another 60 minutes, I changed it round. Ben Payne hasn’t played for a while and I wanted to give a young lad, Taylor McDonagh, a go.”

McDonagh’s first touch saw the young defender slip, which almost created a chance for Teniola, but the defender’s block did take the pace of the shot to make Blue’s save a lot easier. But the keeper had to be at his best to deny Tom Parkinson on 39, as the midfielder was set up by Okojie’s run, and his shot was arrowing into the top right corner, before Blue’s flying tip over the bar.

At the interval, VCD switched their formation to match Tonbridge’s 4-4-2, and this had an impact on 52, as Karl Dent drove in behind Sobers, Dent laid the ball into the middle where Bremner’s shot was blocked by Ball. Grant Basey then put a freekick into the area, where Ben Payne headed out to Smith, but the winger’s shot was another that flew into the netting behind the goal.

After a scrappy 15 minutes, Okojie found space on the left wing and was able to run unchallenged into the left side of the area. His ball back to Teniola allowed a shot on target, which was blocked by Payne, but the ball ran loose to Chris Piper, whose shot was well saved at point blank range by Blue.

On 76, Teniola robbed McDonagh and released Whitnell in for a shot that was blocked for a corner. From the set-piece, Parkinson had a header on goal that Blue was able to claim safely.

Tonbridge gave Okojie the last 10 minutes off, bringing on Flavio Tavares, whose pace was an immediate threat for the VCD defence. His first run burst through two defenders and allowed Parkinson to get a shot away that flew high over.

Tavares’ second involvement on 88 sealed the three points for Tonbridge. The winger picked up the ball on the left touchline, cut across the face of the VCD area, and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top right corner; Blue could only watch as the ball flashed across him.

In stoppage time, Tonbridge could have made it four, as Tavares’ pace saw defenders back off. Tavares played the ball into Teniola, whose shot was blocked by the legs of Blue for a corner. From this, Ball escaped the attentions of his marker to head just wide.

 

VCD ATHLETIC: Nick Blue, Elliott Cox, Ahmed Deen (Taylor McDonagh 31), Grant Basey, Ben Payne, Lea Dawson ©, Sean Roberts, Michael Power, Leigh Bremner (Lewis Perkins 62), Orlando Smith, Ellis Green (Karl Dent 31).

Subs not used: Charlie Penfold, Ray Powell.

Bookings: Lea Dawson 62, Orlando Smith 69.

TONBRIDGE ANGELS: Tom Hadler, James Folkes, Jack Parter, Nathan Campbell, Jerome Sobers © (Ben King 69), Laurence Ball, Marvin Williams (Chris Piper 2), Tom Parkinson, Alex Teniola, Tommy Whitnell, Dee Okojie (Flavio Tavares 79).

Subs not used: Emmanuel Monthe, Jack Brivio.

Goals: Dee Okojie 11, Alex Teniola 25, Flavio Tavares 88.

Bookings: Tommy Whitnell 40, Laurence Ball 59, Tom Parkinson 72.

Attendance: 208
Referee: Mr Peter Conn
Assistants: Mr Rhys Battye and Mr Gary Baker