Tonbridge Angels A 7th Jan Match Thread

[3spirit]

3 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

No time for gradual progress or for the squad to evolve.

If we want to stay in this division we need instant results.

The trouble is the club haven't the money to buy their way out of trouble,so Scott can only tweak the squad. We've picked up 5 points from our last 3 games,which has stopped the rot but it's a pity we have to play Farnborough this Tuesday,as it would have been better for our team to have avoided this game, so other teams around us could catch up with the amount of games played. Still it is what it is, and we have shown this Slough team can score goals and upset higher in the table teams.

I still think the 3 man defence can work but we haven't really nailed down how it functions properly, with Josh and Gabe as wing backs. Getting this right takes time and a lot of work in training[and in actual games] but have we the time to perfect it? with games coming thick and fast and with Slough's ever percarious position in the division.

Against Farnborough it might be wiser to go with a 4-4-2  using full backs that get forward on occasion but defend properly and having our wingers to double up on the flanks when defending. Slough can beat Farnborough and shouldn't have any fear against them but we will need to tighten up and not be gung-ho to stay in this game from the off but currently that's easier said than done.    

[HEAVY TRUCKER]

there is a player overlooked by bakes and unders and is known to scotty  its just convincing him that a move to slough is what he needs to do after his dissapointment in not being able to get in to the squad when he was here beforein the a23s

[3spirit]

5 hours ago, HEAVY TRUCKER said:

there is a player overlooked by bakes and unders and is known to scotty  its just convincing him that a move to slough is what he needs to do after his dissapointment in not being able to get in to the squad when he was here beforein the a23s

My reservation on this is that we are trying to fix our defence with another player unproven at this level or even one tier below, and given that Bakes and Unders were savvy when it comes to knowing what makes a good centre half being that they both were one when they played, it might just be the case that the player you mention isn't up to it yet but I don't know because I'm not sure what player you are talking about.  

Edited January 8, 2023 by 3spirit

[Holyport Rebel]

When we arrived at the ground it was obvious by observing the big flag that flew over the Tonbridge ground, that there was a very strong wind blowing directly down the pitch from one goal to the other.

It seemed ready made for the old cliche a game of two halves.

We started the match  defending the goal with the wind blowing straight into our faces.

My thoughts were that if we could get to halftime still in the game, level would be tremendous, or at least only a goal behind, we would have a great chance of getting a positive result with that wind behind us in the second half.

We started the first half much better than I'd expected.

We were playing some really nice controlled football despite the conditions, and definitely should have been one up in the first five minutes, and soon after had another great opportunity to score.

Neither went in.

Typically, the opposition, who until then had been very subdued, put their first decent cross into our box after about 20 minutes, and fair play to their player, he got on the end of it and put it away.

They took their chance and we didn't take ours.

Tonbridge got more into the game then, as you would probably expect being a goal up, but we didn't help ourselves by giving away good possession and allowing them to launch breakaway attacks on our goal.

Tonbridge's big lump up front was causing a lot of concern whenever crosses came in, but we almost reached halftime in what I thought was a good position, only one down and playing well with a very noticeable goal threat for the Angels to be worried about.

Then just as I'm thinking " keep it out lads, we've nearly reached halftime", we don't just concede one goal but TWO.

One is bad ,two is criminal.

So somehow 3-0 down at the break, which truly changed the landscape of the match. 

I saw that when all the players had trooped off to the dressing rooms at the halftime whistle, Scotty, Togs and Yella stayed on the pitch discussing I guess the approach to take in the dressing room after that late collapse.

I did say to someone at halftime that if we were to score an early goal in the second half, with that wind you never know what might happen, but I wasn't overly optimistic. 

The second half began, and what do you know?

An absolute screamer from Lenchy.

Top right hand corner from 25-30 yards out.

I thought Lenchy played well in the first half, but in the second half he was immense.

So many dangerous runs with the ball  from the halfway line ending up at or in  the Tonbridge penalty area .

An absolutely  superb display from Matty.

Another tremendous strike from Johnny that went into the bottom right hand corner giving their goalie no chance, and another great goal from Francis that he smashed across the goal just inside the far post.

Three fantastic goals giving us a  point after an awesome comeback.

We can't keep on giving silly goals away though.

If we can cut that out, I'm very positive that we can get ourselves out of the precarious position we find ourselves.

I felt Ogo was a good addition to our ranks even though he had an off day yesterday, and Francis looked very dangerous every time he got the ball. 

Some of the turns Francis made yesterday to beat his defenders were great to see, and with his strength and pace he is going to be  real asset in the games to come.

When Elliot came on in the second half I thought he linked up play very nicely, and Louis did well on the wing when he came on too.

With Imran scoring goals now as well, I feel we have a real goal threat in our team now, which we haven't always had !

As a club I feel Tonbridge have a lot going for them.

A nice clubhouse, a good match programme ( albeit costing 3 pounds), decent food outlets around the ground, great cover for the fans behind both goals, and the ground itself is situated in what must be the most attractive environment 

in the league.

It is just a shame that they seemingly employ such "goons" for their match security duties.

I always thought that security people were there to diffuse any incidents from escalating.

The ones Tonbridge use created an unpleasant  situation where there wasn't one.

During the second half one of the Rebel faithfull behind the goal was accosted by several of these " security officials" and told that he was going to be thrown out.

Yes, he had made a few comments to them, but nothing that I heard warranted such a disproportionate response from these little Hitler's.

Some customer/fan related training is required I think, because it didn't look to me as if they had received any previously.

 

 

 

 

  

Edited January 8, 2023 by Holyport Rebel

[3spirit]

Great report Holyport Rebel, and gives a real insight into what happened yesterday for fans on the forum that never made the match. Cheers.

[Reading Rebel]

1 hour ago, Holyport Rebel said:

When we arrived at the ground it was obvious by observing the big flag that flew over the Tonbridge ground, that there was a very strong wind blowing directly down the pitch from one goal to the other.

It seemed ready made for the old cliche a game of two halves.

We started the match  defending the goal with the wind blowing straight into our faces.

My thoughts were that if we could get to halftime still in the game, level would be tremendous, or at least only a goal behind, we would have a great chance of getting a positive result with that wind behind us in the second half.

We started the first half much better than I'd expected.

We were playing some really nice controlled football despite the conditions, and definitely should have been one up in the first five minutes, and soon after had another great opportunity to score.

Neither went in.

Typically, the opposition, who until then had been very subdued, put their first decent cross into our box after about 20 minutes, and fair play to their player, he got on the end of it and put it away.

They took their chance and we didn't take ours.

Tonbridge got more into the game then, as you would probably expect being a goal up, but we didn't help ourselves by giving away good possession and allowing them to launch breakaway attacks on our goal.

Tonbridge's big lump up front was causing a lot of concern whenever crosses came in, but we almost reached halftime in what I thought was a good position, only one down and playing well with a very noticeable goal threat for the Angels to be worried about.

Then just as I'm thinking " keep it out lads, we've nearly reached halftime", we don't just concede one goal but TWO.

One is bad ,two is criminal.

So somehow 3-0 down at the break, which truly changed the landscape of the match. 

I saw that when all the players had trooped off to the dressing rooms at the halftime whistle, Scotty, Togs and Yella stayed on the pitch discussing I guess the approach to take in the dressing room after that late collapse.

I did say to someone at halftime that if we were to score an early goal in the second half, with that wind you never know what might happen, but I wasn't overly optimistic. 

The second half began, and what do you know?

An absolute screamer from Lenchy.

Top right hand corner from 25-30 yards out.

I thought Lenchy played well in the first half, but in the second half he was immense.

So many dangerous runs with the ball  from the halfway line ending up at or in  the Tonbridge penalty area .

An absolutely  superb display from Matty.

Another tremendous strike from Johnny that went into the bottom right hand corner giving their goalie no chance, and another great goal from Francis that he smashed across the goal just inside the far post.

Three fantastic goals giving us a  point after an awesome comeback.

We can't keep on giving silly goals away though.

If we can cut that out, I'm very positive that we can get ourselves out of the precarious position we find ourselves.

I felt Ogo was a good addition to our ranks even though he had an off day yesterday, and Francis looked very dangerous every time he got the ball. 

Some of the turns Francis made yesterday to beat his defenders were great to see, and with his strength and pace he is going to be  real asset in the games to come.

When Elliot came on in the second half I thought he linked up play very nicely, and Louis did well on the wing when he came on too.

With Imran scoring goals now as well, I feel we have a real goal threat in our team now, which we haven't always had !

As a club I feel Tonbridge have a lot going for them.

A nice clubhouse, a good match programme ( albeit costing 3 pounds), decent food outlets around the ground, great cover for the fans behind both goals, and the ground itself is situated in what must be the most attractive environment 

in the league.

It is just a shame that they seemingly employ such "goons" for their match security duties.

I always thought that security people were there to diffuse any incidents from escalating.

The ones Tonbridge use created an unpleasant  situation where there wasn't one.

During the second half one of the Rebel faithfull behind the goal was accosted by several of these " security officials" and told that he was going to be thrown out.

Yes, he had made a few comments to them, but nothing that I heard warranted such a disproportionate response from these little Hitler's.

Some customer/fan related training is required I think, because it didn't look to me as if they had received any previously.

 

 

 

 

  

Jobsworths who think they are more important than what they really are.

BTW another excellent analysis of your day out HR!

[Reading Rebel]

10 hours ago, 3spirit said:

There are players out there that wouldn't cost the earth and it's taking a chance on someone, as we have done with a player like Matt Hall from Met Police. To me we haven't replaced Mark Nisbet since he left. Luca Woodhouse looks to have a bright future in the game but he is a loanee[with little time left at Slough]. Gabe George isn't the answer to this position.

 

And Sam Togwell.

Right from the beginning of the season most supporters said we needed a decent striker or two which never happened.

Hopefully now we have some strikers who can score and hopefully it's not come too late to save our season.

[Reading Rebel]

Interesting video and take on the game from a Tonbridge blogger.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=tonbridge+v+slough+on+youtube&oq=tonbridge&aqs=chrome.2.69i59j46i67i433j69i59l3j69i60l3.5547j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:0755be22,vid:gNMBG8gdWn0

[bonjour]

Excellent report HR.

I have to agree the stewarding was to say well over the top. After just standing behind the goal cheering the rebels on I was just barged out of the way by let's just say the main steward backwards, luckily I didn't fall over onto a dog bowl and cut and bruise my back. I will say that when he moved away after 20 minutes he did apologise for knocking me out of the way.

A special mention to the Tonbridge teenager who decided to rub it in to me that we were 3 down at half time. Hopefully he learnt his lesson, sadly I didn't see him after the game so I guess he had to get home for his tea.

COYR