Our league campaign ended with an away trip to Uckfield United. With third place already secure and no chance of making the top two places, we were able to rest influential players such as captain Ben Spring, Chris Newbury and goalkeeper Jamie Hards.
The unfamiliar team line-up certainly didn't take long to settle. Max Turner put a great through ball to Ross McCarter, who controlled the ball on his right instep before unleashing a shot. The Uckfield goalkeeper made a save but Oliver Leigh was following up and headed the ball into the net with only 42 seconds gone.
The good start may have lured the players into thinking that they were in for an easy morning, but Uckfield started to get into the game and they levelled the scores after eight minutes. This gave them a confidence boost and they wanted the ball more than the Tonbridge players. When Tonbridge did get the ball, the final pass was always wanting. Ian Dipple seemed particularly out of sorts.
With the scores still level at half-time, Martin Hill was brought on to stiffen the defence, and Chris Phillips was introduced on the right of midfield. Uckfield continued to carry the fight to Tonbridge and spent the early part of the second half camped in our half.
With twenty minutes of the second half gone, Chris Phillips made one of his surging runs down the right wing, and put in the perfect cross for Ross McCarter to end his goal drought. Uckfield continued to press and Oliver Leigh had to make a goal-line clearance, with stand-in keeper Jack Holden beaten, to keep the advantage.
With ten minutes remaining Chris Phillips got down the right again and crossed for Mike Ide, who unselfishly set up Ross McCarter to score the third.
There were some good performances, but Tom Ryan in defence and Greg Byrne in midfield were outstanding and couldn't be separated for man of the match. |