Tonbridge Invicta Under 16's v Coney Hall

CUP EXIT

CONEY HALL 4 TONBRIDGE INVICTA 0

27.10.02

We cannot blame everything on factors outside our control for this Cup defeat, but it's hard not to focus on some of them. However, let if first be said that generally we did not seem to have the same will to win as the opposition, and we failed to use our passing game to effect for much of the time.

Nonetheless we were undoubtedly the victims of some very poor refereeing, which at best was "laissez faire", and at worst downright bias! The opposition used every foul means possible to unsettle us and the man in charge largely ignored their tactics. Consequently many of the appalling challenges, often involving aggression after the ball had gone, went unchecked. This had a serious impact on the game..

While Coney Hall were very committed to closing us down, the bulk of their success in winning the ball was down to foul play. Since this went unpunished we were not allowed to get a foothold in the game. The swirling gale force conditions also worked against our style of football.

By half time we had held out well, despite the above, and the scoreline was 0-0. For 10 more minutes of the second half we managed to deal with what the opposition were allowed to throw at us. Then Coney Hall with the wind behind them forced a corner. A well hit ball was made almost impossible to defend as it curled viciously towards our goal. Ben Fitzer was clearly impeded as he went for the ball, but the referee awarded a goal as it found its way into our net direct from the corner.

Coney Hall were clearly buoyed by this success and now began to press harder. We managed to keep the difference down to 1-0 for another 15 minutes or so, but we rarely looked like threatening their goal. Then an unfortunate error by keeper Ben Fitzer, who in other respects had another outstanding game, gifted them a second and this seemed to kill the game off for us.

As we desperately tried to go forward in search of some success of our own, and we did create a couple of chances, we inevitably opened ourselves up at the back and Coney Hall were unfortunately able to capitalise on this in the last 15 minutes and netted another two goals to make the result look comfortable for them at the end. For much of the game it had been quite an even contest, but we were up against 12 men and not 11. Andrew Jarrett had a very good game in defence and was named our Man Of The Match.

There is no doubt that Coney Hall do not deserve to win football matches, so disgraceful is their approach to the game. However, we must quickly put this first defeat behind us and be even more determined to get back to winning ways next week. We may be out of the Cup, but we now have the shield to compete for and we are, after all, still top of our League.