The Old Tonbridgians opened the account with a sublime 3-1 win against the Old Boars XI. It was the first meeting between the two teams and the stakes were high. In what must have been the youngest squad the OTs have put out for a long time, the oldest member weighing in at 25, the team was riddled with youth. The Old Boars arrived with the larger, more physical group of players but after the first five minutes it was apparent that the OT XI was the more skilful and energetic of the two teams. The Old Tonbridgians created a delightful move down the right wing where James Lockwood slipped in Dixie Cook who was then scythed down in the box by the central defender’s mistimed sliding tackle. Dixie himself stepped up and side footed into the right-hand upright. Giles Binnie then took on a sumptuous dribble down the left and blazed a left-foot strike a whisker over the bar. The OTs were in the ascendency and it seemed inevitable that a goal would come. It did come after 15 minutes, Atkinson got the ball on the left just inside his own half, passed forward to Binnie who then thread it through to James Lockwood, then to Spurling, he drove into the box shifted the ball from his right to his left and slotted into the bottom right of the net – keeper had no chance. 1-0. There is never a good time to lose a player to injury, especially when a player is dominating the midfield to the extent that Ed Cloke was before he hurt his ankle in a challenge. Understanding that a second goal was vital, The OTs pushed on and Cook, Spurling and Lockwood were involved again as Spurling rolled the ball through to Lockwood and Dixie Cook managed to control a fast moving cross and slipped the ball through the keeper’s legs with his second touch.

Then came the moment of madness from the skipper, Atkinson, caught in two minds outside his own box blasted the ball past Ollie Durrell into the top of the net. 2-1. The Old Boars took the initiative and produced 10 minutes of heavy pressure in which Sam Colley, Josh West and Rory Brandt showed their quality, the Boars were camped outside the box and only managed to fire off two shots on target. Durrell was outstanding and prevented a 2-2 score line. Jamie Ball was a big presence up front and came into his own by holding up the ball and waiting for the midfielders to get into position before laying the ball off to them and running into space, he also injured himself and was sorely missed. The OTs then broke away with James Lockwood and when his shot was saved Charlie Powell, the supersub calmly picked up the ball and eased past the goalkeeper with a wonderful piece of skill. 3-1. It was time to close out the game and the midfield dominated with Alex Clarke and Will Bryant tiring out the Old Boars with their never-ending energy.

In conclusion, it was a super start to the season and it bodes well for the rest of the season. The team was dominant in defence, midfield and attack and if it had not been for a silly mistake at the back the OTs would have finished with a clean sheet. A big thanks to everyone for their efforts and congratulations on a very well deserved win.

Man of the Match – Rory Brandt