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Hythe Town win 3-1 on penalties

Tonbridge Topple out the Trophy

Angels travelled to the coast for a second time this week, this time to face Hythe in the FA Trophy. Having been dumped out the FA cup by Haringey, Tonbridge were more than determined to progress to the next round.

Ansu Janneh and Ben Swift both came into the squad and Jamie Fielding (who took an injury on Tuesday) dropped out as did Joe Tyrie

Hythe had the earliest positive moment; a squared ball came in towards goal, but Ethan Sutcliffe was equal to the pouncing forward.

Ansu Janneh a few minutes later, fired over the bar after good combination play from Greenidge and Hinds.

On the twelfth minute, Tonbridge had one of their best chances of the whole game, Tariq Hinds found Jordan Greenidge who brought the ball down and was one-on-one with the keeper who’d come off his line to meet Greenidge. The striker shot but was denied by a good save and his second attempt off the loose ball was blocked by a retreating defender.

On 35 minutes, Sean Shields floated in a long free kick and Ben Swift leaped up to reach it. With eyes only on the ball, Swift collided with the opposition keeper and both went down, feeling the consequences.

Mampolo was heavily involved in the game at the end of the first half. Lewis Gard played the winger in behind, but his touch took him away from goal and gave himself a harder task with a tighter angle, eventually his shot was saved by the keeper. Minutes later, Mampolo shot from the right side on his left foot and struck the crossbar. He tried again on the stroke of half time, but had his shot deflect wide for a corner.

At the break it was 0 – 0.

Out for the second half, both sides got stuck in and due to the muddy state of the pitch, it became a bit of a battle.

Tonbridge dominated the ball in the second period but struggled to find gaps to create good opportunities as Hythe were defending deep and in numbers.

On 67 minutes, Jordan Greenidge scored a header from a cross, but the referee blew his whistle signalling a push, before the ball could stop bouncing in the net. Around ten minutes later, a Hythe header looked to threaten Henly but just lifted over the bar and onto the roof of the net.

In the closing stages, the Angels looked the favourites. Despite not cutting through Hythe, they still had more of the ball and were mostly in the opposition half.

Into additional time, Hythe were winding down the clock. They had a chance in the ninety second minute which required a strong save from Henly and a subsequent clearance by Hinds. In the dying moments a shot from Shields was blocked and Greenidge fired wide.

The whistle to signal the end of the ninety blew and sent the game to penalties.

Jonny Henly gave the Angels hope saving the first penalty down to his right. Sean Shields then stepped up for Tonbridge and had his penalty saved in the bottom right-hand corner.

The next two penalties were both scored keeping the teams level with Greenidge rifling his spot kick into the top right corner.

The following two were missed, Hythe’s flying over, and Tariq Hinds having his saved.

Hythe’s number eleven then scored into the bottom left where, seconds later, Mampolo had his effort saved. Finally, Hythe won the game on their fifth kick sending Angels out the cup.

Published Saturday 18th November 2023