Match Preview: Tonbridge Angels (A) – Saturday 10th December 2022 – 15:00
The Terras are back on the road tomorrow, searching for back to back away league victories, as we face Tonbridge Angels.
Here’s manager Bobby Wilkinson’s thoughts on tomorrow’s clash:
On preparations and team news: “This week has gone well with the players we’ve had in training, unfortunately we’ve picked up another injury on Tuesday, we’ve also got Luke Nippard out for tomorrow, he’s got an issue with his back. But that’s football, we’ve managed to get our new signing in today, so that helps us out a bit. But we’re looking forward to the challenge, we go there tomorrow to try and beat them, which will give us those points that we need.”
On Tonbridge: “We’ve watched them twice, they’re a very organised side. We’re in for a difficult game, but we go there full of confidence, like I say it’s going to be a tough place to go, they get some good crowds there. But it’s another challenge and one we’ll relish.”
On keeping this unbeaten run going: “Well we’re certainly playing with some confidence. If we can go there tomorrow and get three or even just the single point that would be great. We have a tough run of fixtures coming up away from home – probably the hardest ones you can get. So we’re aiming to see whether we can pick up a point, or anything we can really, to keep momentum going.”
On David Sesay’s arrival: “I’m delighted to bring David in. He brings a good level of experience in, as a defender which is exactly what we’ve been after. I want to thank Wealdstone on behalf of the club to get him here as part of the team.”
@TerraStatman’s Facts of the Match
This weekend’s fixture marks the first “return game” of the season as we have already played “The Angels” on the first day of the campaign. (Ironically that fixture should have been the away game but it was reversed at short notice due to the Kent side’s new 4G pitch not quite being ready in time.) That game finished 3-1 to Tonbridge, O’Connell scoring our consolation goal.
Formerly a regular Southern League opponent, this will be our 50th meeting in all games, during which we have the slight edge with a W22 D12 L15 record. In the 1950s, 60’s & 70s we faced Tonbridge in the league over many occasions until but only sporadically since.
The stellar list of some other players who have turned out for both teams today is…
Tony Bimpson, Graham Carr, Marcel Gaillard, Jordan Greenidge, Colin Guy, Robert Heffer, John Keirs, Stephen Lovell, Bob Lucas, George Putman, Tommy Simpson, Monty Stevenson, Ray Tumbridge.
Greenidge is currently on loan at Tonbridge from Hemel Hempstead and seems to be having better luck than during his six appearances with us last season when he failed to make the onion bag rustle.
Avoiding defeat today would mean four unbeaten in the league for the first time since the truncated end to the 2019/20 season – pre-pandemic! Scoring on the road for the fifth game in a row in league and cup would help achieve that, as we seek to climb the table and out of the relegation places for the first time this calendar year.
