Walking Football Update

Kings Hill O60 0-1 Angels O60 Greens

The Over 60 Greens travelled to Kings Hill for their last game of the season on Saturday. It’s been a difficult season with 2 wins and 7 defeats so everyone hoped for a win in the last game. 

Kings Hill are always difficult opponents and tried hard from the start to push our defence back. But excellent discipline coupled with our short passing possession game frustrated them and led them to a number of running offences. At 13 minutes a penalty was awarded but a great save from Kevin Chivers’ shot kept the score at 0-0 at halftime.

In the second half the Angels were facing directly into the Sun, but if anything this galvanised them and our pressure began to tell. Frequent shots on target were met with an excellent performance by the Kings Hill goalkeeper but gradually the pressure told and Kings Hill gave away another penalty. Hoping that with five minutes to go, we could put ourselves ahead Karl ‘Grinner’ Day took captain’s responsibility but unfortunately missed the target.

It didn’t affect our confidence and once again short passing interspersed with long cross field balls dragged the Kings Hill defence around the pitch. When we could, we moved forward quickly with Alan Kane now as the centre forward pivot. The Kings Hill defence was struggling to mark our players and when two converged on Alan, it gave us a free kick 3 metres outside the area. It was the last minute and two powerful shots from Grinner were charged down but the ball broke to Kevin Chivers who with virtually the last kick of the game nearly broke the net as he took out his frustration from that missed penalty. A thoroughly well deserved 1-0 win doesn’t really change much in league positions but the second half of the season has shown a tremendous improvement in our play and results have been much closer and a positive team attitude has transformed this team.

Report from Glyn Hollands

Maidstone O50 3-3 Angels O50

The Over 50s travelled to Maidstone on Valentines Day morning not expecting much love from the opposition. The corresponding home fixture in December didn’t end well with a disputed penalty that gave Tonbridge victory, so revenge was definitely in the air.

The team were told to play it tight, pass and move, plenty of communication and no silly “Hollywood” balls. The first half was exactly as envisaged, both teams having spells of play but mainly cancelled out by minor offences spotted by the Ref. 

The game sprung into life when Tonbridge gave away their fourth run after 12 minutes and Maidstone were happy to convert the resultant penalty. Things got worse when a well worked Maidstone attack resulted in a second goal just before half time.

The half time talk was upbeat, Maidstone were on 3 runs and therefore we expected to get a penalty at some point, we had peppered the Maidstone goal in the first half and had long spells of control.

Straight from the start Tonbridge were positive, Controlling the pace of the game and passing well as a team. This soon resulted in a great pass into Darren Cray who delivered with a great shot past the keeper. After a further 4 minutes the awaited fourth run from Maidstone resulted in a penalty which Darren Cray duly converted. The game was now finely balanced at 2 all, both teams having spells but regrettably Maidstone scored again with 7 minutes to go. 

But there is now a belief in the Tonbridge team and within a couple of minutes Darren Cray found himself wide on the right hand side of the Maidstone goal and somehow managed to squeeze a powerful shot between the keeper and his near post. A deserved equaliser. Maidstone weren’t finished and with minutes to go, Mark Cornish in the Angels Goal made the save of the season, diving full length to his right to tip a shot just past the post, what a save.

Thanks to Will Burns and Craig Knowles on the subs bench.

A tight Game played in good spirit which is something you don’t always hear in games between Maidstone and Tonbridge

Report from Craig Knowles