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Terrors gained a second draw in
succession against playoff hopefuls at Imperial Fields. In an unchanged line up the 3-5-2 formation was tweaked by moving Billy Marshall into the middle of the field.
After an uneventful start Tonbridge started to find
space behind the wingbacks, winning a series of corners as Terrors faced a spell of deep defending.
Wescott managed a couple of goal attempts, but neither were
particularly threatening.
It was not until 15 minutes had passed before Paul Vines and Dean McDonald
engineered the first serous home attack with the latter working his way into the penalty area only to be forced
wide to win a corner. Five minutes later Vines headed a deep Howell cross wide,
but soon after managed the first on target shot, which was well saved by
Worgan. Just before the half hour a poor back header almost let in McDonald, but defenders are never far from the pocket dynamo and
he was quickly bundled out of the danger area.
Angels continued find space out wide and racked up a cricket score of corners
through the half, but the Terrors defence gave nothing away until one finally fell at Booths feet
at the back post. Fortunately his shot lacked power and was easily caught by King.
Another Tonbridge defensive mix up following an
incisive Marshall through ball almost let McDonald in
on goal, but Worgan was able to retrieve the situation,
swiftly followed by a full and frank exchange of views with
the culprit Starkey.
Just before the break Andrew Howell ventured deep into uncharted
territory as he elected to cut infield and shoot, rather than deliver one of his trademark pinpoint crosses.
Sadly the pin that would point where the shot landed would
probably have to be placed somewhere in the river
Wandle.
Half Time: Terrors 0-0 Tonbridge
Both sides had an early chance after
the break. Jamie Cade made the most of a rare
mistake by Aaron Goode, forcing Dave king to make a
smart save. Then Marshall, moving into a more familiar
wide slot, provided McDonald with a shooting
opportunity which he could only direct at the wrong
side of a post.
With the game opening up, Cade got free in the gap
where a conventional left back would be. His low cross
was clinically dispatched by Booth, though there was
more than a hint of offside about the move. Joe Vines
gave the ball away almost immediately after the
restart, but recovered to make a superb tackle to
prevent a near certain second goal.
Twenty minutes gone and Howell beautifully anticipated
and intercepted a cross field pass with his head
and then galloped half the length of the pitch, this
time forcing a fine save from Worgan and winning a
corner.
Shortly after Gooding had escaped punishment for a
nasty clattering of McDonald on the edge of his
penalty area Booth motored through the Terrors defence
to make it 2-0, again with a suspicion of offside
about it.
Things looked bleak for Terrors and the visiting fans
celebrated by happily banging away on their tea chest.
Tooting rallied with Paul Vines heading a corner just
wide and then, five minutes from time, Andrew
Howell again appeared in an unexpected place, popping
up at the back post to take delivery of a long cross
which he skillfully guided into the net from the
tightest of angles
As the seconds ticked away Gooding finally got his
just deserts when he conceded a penalty for another
foul on McDonald, who calmly slotted the spot kick
home himself.
A final Terrors raid was cynically stopped in it's
tracks by Storey, who was very lucky to escape with a
yellow card. Manager Warrilow immediately took the
sensible precaution of substituting his skipper immediately.
The point was enough to guarantee Tonbridge with a
place in the playoffs. |
