Maidstone United 0-1 Tonbridge Angels - Angels "stop the rot" with smash-and-grab victory

Striker Jamie Cade bundled home the only goal of a hard-fought game with just 82 seconds of this flat west Kent derby left to play.

However, it was the Angels only chance on target in a game that disappointed the largest crowd at Bourne Park this season.

But before Cade scored his second goal of the season, it was Maidstone United that had four good chances to break the deadlock, but on each occasion they were denied by visiting goalkeeper Lee Worgan.

And after Cade’s match-winning strike, the Stones were reduced to ten-men as midfielder Jay Saunders was shown a straight red card for swearing at match referee John Rowbury.

The Orpington official also sent off Lloyd Hume, the Stones’ joint-manager, but this decision was rescinded afterwards, with the official admitting afterwards that he had made a mistake.

Tonbridge Angels gave Chamal Fenelon his debut, having arrived yesterday on a months-loan from Blue Square Premier side Lewes. However, the big striker, 24 next week, failed to impress in a game of limited chances.

The visitors, however, created the game’s first chance, inside the opening six minutes.

Skipper Anthony Storey played a free-kick from midfield to John Westcott, whose cross from the right was punched clear by Maidstone United goalkeeper. Michael Phillips picked up the loose ball and played it down the left to Kirk Watts and after getting the better of Nathan Paul whipped in a near post cross for Leon Legg to plant his header over from six-yards.

But Maidstone United should have broken the deadlock soon after.

Former Angel, John Wilfort, stabbed the ball forward for striker Meshach Nugent to latch onto and his low right-footed shot brought Worgan’s first fine save of the afternoon, diving low to his right to get a strong wrist to the shot, which enabled Legge to clear the rolling ball from inside the goalmouth.

Another free-kick in midfield from Storey presented Tonbridge with their next chance, after 24 minutes, but this time Legge’s powerful header looped just over the crossbar.

Worgan, wearing an all-white strip, shouted at his defence to wait for Ian Selley’s free-kick from outside the penalty area and despite appealing for offside, they were almost punished after 28 minutes.

Saunders retrieved the ball on the left-hand side and his low centre was missed by Nugent but Ian Cox was firstly denied by Worgan, before his second shot was blocked.

Stones’ Paul tried to spark the game into life inside the opening four minutes of the second half, trying his luck with a low drilled right-footed shot from thirty-yards, but this was never going to trouble Worgan.

The game’s best opportunity fell to Maidstone United after 63 minutes.

A free kick from deep from Stones’ skipper Ben Lewis was headed away by the Angels defence only as far as winger Elliot Bradbrook, who cracked a right-footed volley from eighteen-yards, which was destined to fly into the top near corner, but Worgan made a flying save to pull off his save of the match.

With a concern of a number of match balls available as players kicked the ball out of the ground at any given opportunity, it was Maidstone United that seemed destined to win this subdued game.

Bradbrook was again thwarted by Worgan but left-back Roland Edge squandered an excellent chance to give Maidstone United the deserved winner with nine minutes left.

Substitute Lloyd Blackman charged urgently down the left and once inside the Angels penalty area cut the ball back to Edge.

But the former Folkestone Invicta player wasted the chance and blazed over when really he should have tested the former Hastings United goalkeeper.

And when Saunders’ long-range right-footed lob drifted over the bar, the Stones were made to pay.

There were supposed to be only three minutes of additional time, but the winner arrived with 48:38 on the clock.

Bradbrook was penalised for a foul on Westcott and Logan delivered a free-kick from the right some 35-yards from goal.

The delivery caught the Stones defence asleep and substitute Carl Rook knocked down the ball with his head, across the face of goal, and Cade lashed the ball high into the net from just one yard out.



SMASH AND GRAB:  Striker Jamie Cade scores from Tonbridge Angels' only shot on target as they steal three points at arch-rivals Maidstone United today.
Photograph courtesy of David Couldridge - www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/gallery

Saunders was sent down the players tunnel for swearing at the referee and Hume was also sent off as they came to terms with being on the end of a smash-and-grab raid.

Maidstone United: Andy Walker, Nathan Paul, Roland Edge, Ben Lewis, Ian Cox, John Wilfort (James Peacock 67), Ian Selley (Andy Martin 79), Jay Saunders, James Pinnock (Lloyd Blackman 62), Meshach Nugent, Elliot Bradbrook.
Subs: Keelan Mooney, Steve Northwood.

Sent off: Jay Saunders 90

Tonbridge Angels: Lee Worgan, Lewis Hamilton (Phil Starkey 80), Simon Glover, Michael Phillips, Leon Legge, Tim Olorunda, John Westcott, Anthony Storey, Jamie Cade, Chamel Fenelon (Carl Rook 69), Kirk Watts (Fraser Logan 31).
Subs: Tommy Tyne, James Donovan.

Goal: Jamie Cade 90

Booked: Anthony Storey 65

Attendance: 574
Referee: Mr John Rowbury (Orpington)
Assistants: Mr Babatunde Adebayo (Bexleyheath) & Mr James Macey (Bexley)