Games ‘best forgotten’
Tonbridge
Manager Steve McKimm wants to forget about a nightmare few days for Tonbridge. Angels had Ugo Udogi and Nick Wheeler dismissed in a 3-0 defeat at Worthing on New Year’s Eve, with McKimm also sent to the stands. Then, on Monday, they were 1-0 up at Billericay only to concede twice in the last two minutes. Back-to-back defeats leave Angels seventh in the Ryman League, Premier Division. McKimm said: “The shenanigans at Worthing and the debacle of the last two minutes at Billericay, combined, meant we got no points. It wasn’t a good weekend, put it that way. It’s best forgotten.” Tonbridge were stunned when Udogi was sent off for going shoulder to shoulder with Worthing’s Omar Bugiel, who scored the resultant penalty. Wheeler saw red after an offthe-ball clash, with McKimm and Worthing substitute Brannon O’Neill dismissed in the aftermath, supposedly for going head to head – which McKimm denies. Bugiel doubled Worthing’s lead with another penalty then missed a third spotkick, although Zack Newton tucked away the rebound. McKimm said: “I don’t want to waste my breath on the gentleman refereeing. I’d rather say how well we played with nine men.” Luke Blewden gave Tonbridge an early lead at Billericay and they also hit the post, while Alex Akrofi had an effort blocked on the line. But their good work was undone when Goldy Capella and Billy Bricknell struck at the death. McKimm said: “We were fantastic for 88 minutes and then a lapse in concentration and they score. They kept coming at us and scored again. “I didn’t say anything after the game. There were things I could have said that would have felt justified at the time but you have to look at the bigger picture and it would have been the wrong thing to do because the boys haven’t done badly.” Tonbridge meet Met Police at Longmead tomorrow (Saturday), followed by a long trip to Needham Market for a League Cup quarterfinal tie on Tuesday. McKimm said: “I’d rather be seventh than 17th but if we don’t start winning, we will be 17th. I don’t care how we do it, we’ve just got to win some games.”