Chatham Town 1 Tonbridge Angels 1 (Angels win 6-5 on penalties)
“Different class that bloke,” said Angels goalkeeping coach Adam ‘Deaders’ Deadman as level-headed matchwinner Matt Rowley headed out of the ground.
Rowley had just pulled off two fine saves in the penalty shoot out to ensure Angels progressed to the final of the Kent Senior Cup for the first time since 2013.
Now just local rivals Maidstone United stand in the way of Tonbridge lifting a Cup they have not won since 1975.
In his post-match interview, Rowley said he had done his homework which helped him save the penalties which won Angels the match.
Angels boss Alan Dunne made three changes from the side which beat Bath City with starts for Matty Warren, Marcus Sablier and Tom Leahy in for Scott Wagstaff, Bunmi Babajide and Frankie Baker.
Chatham were without inspirational skipper Reece Butler and Chats boss Kevin Hake left key playmaker Sam Sene-Richardson on the bench.
In a curiously flat first half, devoid of any real quality, the only real winner was the wind swirling around Chatham’s neat Bauvill Stadium.
The prevailing conditions meant neither side were able to produce football worthy of a semi-final with neither Rowley or Chatham ‘keeper Nathan Harvey properly tested.
Chats best effort came early when ex-Angel Matty MacArthur – one of the more lively players on show – had an early effort which went just over.
Around the half hour mark Angels had a succession of corners from either side taken alternatively by Sablier and Bailey Akehurst but no green shirt could get on the end of them.
On 33, Ricky Korboa won a free-kick in a dangerous position but Bradley Williams’ effort was a yard too high.
At half time Alan Dunne rang the changes bringing on Baker, Babajide and Kyle Smith who replaced Sablier, Leahy and Tobi Omole.
Baker’s pace immediately caused the Chats problems and was instrumental in the opening goal on 54 minutes when the Millwall loanee showed fine anticipation and showed an electric turn of speed to latch on to a wayward ball and finish coolly past the advancing Harvey.
Baker’s pace unsettled Chatham again just before the hour but Babajide’s strong shot was deflected for a corner which was shortly followed by an Akehurst free-kick skimming the top of Harvey’s net.
Dunne replaced Korboa with Sean Shields as the Angels hunted a second but instead it was the hosts who equalised on 78 with a fine, low shot from distance from Simon Cooper which whistled past Rowley into the bottom corner.
With no extra-time, it was straight to a penalty shoot-out which proved to be of remarkably high-quality.
With successful conversions from Akehurst, Shields and Smith, Angels led 3-2 in the shoot-out before Rowley got down to his left to save from Bernie Tanner.
Frankie Baker and Chats’ Kofi Anokye Boadi each then scored to make it 4-3 for Angels. Alfie Pavey then stepped up looking to win the tie but seemed to change his mind mid-penalty enabling Harvey to save to his right.
When Kian Moynes converted it went to sudden death and ‘ice in the veins’ time. Williams, Cooper and Babajide all scored to make it 6-5 before Chats top scorer Tope Fadahnnsi stepped up.
“I had a fair idea which way he was going to go,” said Rowley afterwards as he produced a fine diving save to his right to send Angels through.
“I’m delighted, really, really pleased, buzzing,” said Alan Dunne afterwards, “it was a battle, a roll-your-sleeves up type of game. The conditions were terrible for both sides. Chatham are a good side and we had to dig deep. I said when I came here, I want to give the fans good days and good memories. These are exciting times and we look forward to the final but we also have to focus on the league.”
And so on to Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium on Wednesday 22 April for the final against The Stones.
Angels: Rowley; Sutcliffe, Thompson (cap), Omole (Smith), Akehurst; Williams, Warren, Sablier (Babajide); Leahy (Baker), Pavey, Korboa (Shields)
Sub Not Used: Bakrin
