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Weather the winner at Longmead |
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Written by Gareth Coates
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Saturday, 01 November 2008 |
 | | Tonbridge Angels | 1 | | Ashford Town (Middlesex) | 0 | | Match abandoned at half-time due to a waterlogged pitch | |
|  | Suburban League Premier Division,
Longmead Stadium, Tonbridge
1st November 2008 | | Despite the desire of both managers to see this game through to a finish, referee Errol Walker made an entirely correct decision to abandon this match after 45 minutes of good-tempered and skilful football which was achieved despite the dreadful conditions although it has to be said that, had this match been at Ashford, it would almost certainly have not even started. The rain was already pouring down as the travelling Tangerines arrived at the much-improved Longmead, although Mr Walker inspected the pitch and found only one problem area. However, between that inspection and kick-off, God turned up the celestial shower and the consensus even before the start of the game was that it was extremely unlikely to reach its end. So gloomy was the sky that the floodlights were turned on during the warm-up! The teams, meanwhile set about their task with gusto and, despite the passes that failed to carry the puddles, the half of a game that was played was entertaining stuff. Alex Daly had a good chance for the hosts, while George Baldock and Martin Jackson went close for Ashford. Jon Palmer also went close for the Tangerines before the Angels were forced to replace the injured Charlie Burgess with Alphonso Jordan. Sonny Russell sent a long distance effort just over, but Tonbridge went ahead in the 35th minute when a Mike McKeown cross was headed home by Steve Cant. Russell hit another shot just over from distance, but with water coming up from the pitch regularly, the decision to abandon the match was the right one, both for the health of the pitch and the safety of the players. |
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Wednesday, 07 January 2009
