| Cup Run |
OLD BOARS MATCH REPORT
Old Boars FC versus Tonbridge Invicta
Venue and date: Sundridge, 20th March 2005
Six years ago the Boars, then a division four side had reached their first cup quarter final. Our last cup run (we have not been past the first round since) saw some of the great Boars’ matches. The 2-4 away win at Coopers Arms in October 1998, deep in Ashdown Forest, marked for me a lasting memory of football in ‘the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ (Keats). Goals from Luke Croome, James Mitchell, Ceri Jones and a goal of quite sublime brilliance from Howe capped a great all round team performance that thrilled the travelling fans. Gary Mitchell, Lucy Schofield and Howard Scofield were those privileged to be present. In the next round an assortment of Boars’ legends and stalwarts ventured to the leaders of Division 2. Playing against Pembury Sunday Reserves on an Ice Rink, another scalp was added to Boars’ list. With Jonathan Lee-Kemp in central defence alongside Nick Waite, Tom Smitham in goal (he crippled three of their players), the Boars’ ran out three nil winners. Parker had scored the first, Howe had a second ruled out for off-side by referee Rod Jones and the Boars absorbed incredible pressure until Mike Davis found the left midfield artiste, a.k.a Howe, who sent Tennant free with a world class pass. Tennant’s lob over the advancing keeper with five minutes left, lead to wild celebrations and Parkers second and the Boars’ third in the last minute completed another fantastic away day for the club.
These days have achieved legendary status amongst the club’s rank and file. Sunday mornings see new faces such as Hill, Moxon (junior) and Shales listen intently to the exploits of Leale, Evans, Waite and co. In years to come perhaps it will be these new faces that relay stories and great matches to a new fold of recruits. Old faces such as Howe, Mitchell and Schofield will look on from the touchline like Skywalker, Kenobi and Yoda as the new crop ask who the old men with wives and children are and what kind of car is a BMW 323 convertible old, old , old , old shape? Is it a classic, can he still get parts, does he have to pay road tax?
Our ¼ final that year saw us drawn against Foresters. Foresters were a strong (violent thugs) team that had replaced Pembury at the top of Division Two. The Boars’ fielded one of its strongest ever line ups, the starting eleven were as follows.
Howe, LB - Leale, CH - Waite, CH - Leamon, RB - Elmore, LM – Parker, CM – Mitchell J, CM – Side N, RM – Tennant R, ST – Jones, ST – Matty Neal. Subs = Side J, Williams J(B), Mitchell T.
The night before saw all the team congregate in the Oak Hotel Sevenoaks. Faces had made journeys long and tiring, Side and Neal from Durham and Aberdeen, Howe from his estate in Barbuda. A jovial (miserable git) and plump (liked food and beer) Geordie (thick idiot) called George Duncan was given the honour of referring the game – he was late and very immobile. The Boars started like an express train, Parker, Side and Parker again could have put the Boars 3-0 up, and all within the first twenty. Then with the wind howling and swirling keeper Howe was elbowed and despite frantic attempts to keep the ball out by Waite and Parker, Foresters took the lead. Howe less motionless, concust in the sand filled goalmouth blood oozing from his mouth. A worried blonde tustled with and even more attractive brunette to reach the injured hero and administer first aid. With players and supporters looking on (some kneeling in prayer) Howe pulled himself to his feet, groggy and disgruntled, he reached into the goal mouth to retrieve a hip flask containing a 1936 Mcallan single malt and was ready again for the battle.
The second half saw the Boars battle in vain against twelve men (referee being totally intimidated). Neal tried and acrobatic overhead and then fifteen minutes from time Richard ‘Dickie’ Tennant skipped through from right midfield to equalize. The finish was clinical, but to the amazement of player, team mates and supporters the flag had been raised by a very biased linesman who laughed, bristles and black teeth in abundance, smiling at his blatant attempt to avert justice. The Boars were deflated and three goals in the last 7 minutes put an end to a great cup run. The last five minutes saw a young, shy 18 year old from Woodland Rise ushered onto gain some experience, six years later the very same 18 year old lead his team to out against Tonbridge Invicta. This time the Boars were not going to be denied by anyone and that included opposition linesmen!
The Boars were determined that the 21st march would see them looking forward to their first Wesk Kent Sunday Football League Cup Semi Final. The opposition were Tonbridge Invicta, top of the division and senior cup semi finalists after their extrememly impressive 0-2 away win at Division One leaders Gardeners Arms.
The Boars had faced Invicta twice this season in the league, twice defeated, 3-2 and 1-2. The Invicta linesman was not popular with the Boars and both Tom ‘Keown’ Mitchell and Howe were similarly not on Mr Bill Warner’s Christmas Card list. Howe and Mitchell had attended a league appeal meeting in April 2004, the three man panel included Warner. Howe and Mitchell working as a tag team had shredded his argument leaving the wrinkled class warrior, frustrated and humiliated. The two men had claimed victory over their accusers, and the High Brooms Working Mens Club witnessed the first successful appeal since 1984. Warner held a grudge and had no intention of losing again to the ‘silver spooners’ and their array of gleaming convertible motor cars.
The team assembled early, all players changed and ready by 10am, a situation almost unheard of in Boars’ history. The team that had faced Simla Hoppers a week earlier was much changed. Many of the players had made the long journey to Eton college a day before, the disappointment of a 3-0 defeat marked on their faces, the 70 degree temperature, hard ground and hot sunshine would have taken its toll on lesser men. Old Boars and Old Tonbridgians two teams linked by a common heritage and a desire for success.
The team that strode with purpose onto the pitch under an overcast sky were as follows. In nets, the 6ft 3 giant of a keeper, agile, vocal, a leader of men – Howe. At right back, Guy ‘Chopper’ Porritt, his reputation for hard tackling, driving forward runs and team motivation unrivalled. At left back Ed ‘Fabregas’ Hill, 17 year old legend and stylish passer. The Centre halves, man mountain Tom ‘Keown’ Mitchell – a man who any soldier would want alongside him in the trenches, strong, superb in the air, second to know one in the tackle. His comrade in arms was Bell, a great reader of the game, barking orders to his fellow defenders, snapping at the heels of opposition players, an Old Boar through and through. Left midfield was Paul Schofield. It was he that had introduced Howe into the Boars’ fold on a damp and foggy Sunday morning in October 1997, the complete player with the ability to fulfil any position from sweeper to central midfield dynamo. On the right William ‘Its double barrelled’ Lee-Kemp, a fearsome competitor, electric pace and shot to match. The two lads in the centre of the park were Boars from birth. Jonathan ‘Robbie Savage’ lee-Kemp, a shock of burning blonde locks. Skill, pace and the ability to conjure up magic and seething hatred alike were just two of his attributes. His partner was James ‘Miami Mickey’ Mitchell. A cheeky 25 year old veteran of the team, it had been his goal against Sevenoaks United in November that had set up this ¼ final clash of the Leviathans. His vision and aerial ability complimented the trickery of Jonathan. The strikers, Shales – a Boars legend in the making. It was his debut, just 17, with a style and build of a young Wayne Rooney. He had made his way from Dorking via East Grinstead to the home of the Boars, the stories he had heard from Hill playing no small part in his decision. He had the perfect foil, that man Tennant! The 23 year old who had been denied the equaliser 6 years ago brought his conjurer’s wand to the field of conflict. Destined for Boar’s greatness ‘Dickie’ has scored many crucial and spectacular goals for the team, would today exorcise the demons. The bench held Theo ‘the giant’ Davies a 7ft goliath of a man, Samson like hair a team man if ever there was one. Dave ‘Disco’ Bartlett, the ‘joker’ his twenty year thuderbolt at Capel in Round One had set the Boars’ on their cup run, his silky skills and defence splitting passing were on hand if required. Finally Jules ‘ fella’ Foster. He alone had partied until the early hours, a grin always on his face he had made the journey from the Upper Dunton Green home of Verity ‘Madam Sin’ Hall where he had left a bevy of beauties to the disappointment of breakfast alone.
By 10.30 am the terraces behind the goal were packed. A travelling support from Invicta of over 6,000 packed the ‘Coombe Bank End’ and the giant stand alongside the pitch. The Boars’ fans (three girls, a cheeky chappy from London Town and a dog) made themselves comfortable in the vast, open and empty terracing at the ‘Stream End’.
The match got underway, but the referee was Clive Allard. He had stepped in for Peter ‘ No Show’ Beadle, Allard a witty and unique individual had the whistle and the game in his hands.
The Boars huddled, then broke they faced the slope, a deficit of one goal would have been satisfactory at the break. As Bill ‘Flag Happy’ Warner had said to Howe prior to the match ‘We always score’, well nearly always hey Bill!
From the first five minutes it was clear who wanted victory the most. The Boars could have been ahead within 45 seconds. Schofield ghosted into the area, but an annoying bobble saw his shot go high and wide into the massed travelling support. The Boars began to out perform, out jump, out tackle and out everything that their lauded opponents could muster. Yet Invicta, a team of undoubted pedigree still threatened, only sporadically of course. It was twenty minutes before Howe first was called into action. Moments earlier Miami Mickey had made a connection which was ‘too good’ his goal bound shot blocked a yard out, yet the Boars could have been one down, Howe a great reader of the game was off his line in a flash, his dive fearless at the feet of the onrushing striker. Five minutes later he made a stunning save, but to his annoyance found it to be worthless as the flag had been raised for offside. This was in the 33rd minute, it says much for the ten men in front of their keeper, that it was the last save he would have to make!
Half time saw William Lee-Kemp in the ref’s book, dissent! ‘That’s Lee-kemp, its double barrelled!’ His older ‘more mature’ sibling had nearly seen red when raising his hands after a two footed lunge. Jonathan is a marked man in West Kent football, we have never worked out why!!
The boys were together at the break, they took up their full five minutes unlike Invicta who were arrogant enough to stop, chat and stroll back on after 3. We had seen the whites of their eyes.
52 minutes and the moment that defined the last six years and the match itself. Linesman Warner had raised his flag time and time again in the previous two league matches and all the way through the first half. Referee Allard was ‘suspicious’ and suddenly Shales was away. To the fury of the Invicta players, Management and rabid fans, Allard ignored the raised flag and waived play on. The ball broke to Tennant who fired a right foot shot low and into the net. The players ran to congratulate Tennant, he punched the air and looked skywards. A mini pitch invasion by Invicta fans delayed the restart as stewards and police in riot gear struggled to restore order. In the ensuing melee, Warner was dismissed from his ‘flag’ duties, foul mouthed and abusive he had been well and truly done!
In all honesty not a great game of football but what a battle. The Boars dug in for the expected onslaught but Invicta just could not find a way through. The midfield gave every ounce of energy, draining every sinew, Shales and Tennant ran and ran, into the channels. Shales had the ball in the net twice, two exquisite finishes, both fell foul of the linesman. Shales was learning fast, he found a enemy who began to leave his foot in, Shales shrugged it off, he had no time for such tactics. But it was the back four, marshalled by that man Bell, constantly bickering, encouraging he was the unit commander! If there was anyone though it was Tom Mitchell, 44 headers, 44 won, he seemed to have a traction beam that drew it to his forehead ‘That’s no moon that’s a space station!!’
It was Mitchell who ensured the score remained one nil, a floated mis-hit cross drifted to the far post, Hill put the left midfielder under enough pressure to see the ball clip the inside of the post and bounce along the goal line. Mitchell was there, controlled it and smacked it clear. The Boars nearly made the game safe when JLK tried and audacious back flick, but the keeper saved well!
The Boars’ had to deal with a number of dangerous free kicks as the time wore on, then with five minutes left, bingo! Ed Hill found Schofield who released Shales his shot from the touchline evaded the keeper and hit the far post. Invicta complained, foolish as they called before the shot was taken for a throw in. The Throw in went back to the Invicta keeper, who not possessing the ball control of his opposite number decided to try and juggle the ball, Tennant appeared like a phantom, stole the ball and as every Boars’ player held their breath as one, side footed home from ten yards. A roar of delight, emerged from the lungs of the players, one roar, but with the sounds of very player. They came from all sides, Schofield, the Mitchells, Hill, Shales, Lee-Kemps, Bell, Porritt and the youngster Shales. Tennant was mobbed, jubilant scenes. The four supporters chanted ‘we can see you sneaking out’ as the Invicta hordes departed, closely watched by riot vans and mounted police.
Allard’s whistle was blown and the Boars’ punched the air, embraced and ran to congratulate Tennant, a brace from him had secured the victory. Gracious in triumph the Boars’ offered their hands to the disconsolate losers and wished them well for the rest of the season. For Howe, Tennant and the Mitchell brothers, the four survivors from the ¼ final agony six years earlier the ghost had been laid to rest. The ‘band of brothers’ march on, Biggin Hill away – surely the travelling support will be greater than the home support!
A fantastic triumph, matched only by the genius of the match report! Well done lads
Result: Old Boars 2 – Tonbridge Invicta 0
Attendance: 11,004
Scorers Tennant, R 2
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Player |
App |
Sub |
Gls |
Red |
Yel |
POM |
Ave |
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At time of archiving your fixtures table was either blank or pointing to an alternative site.
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| Team |
P
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W
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D
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L
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F
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A
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GD |
Pts |
| The Old Boars Football Club |
0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0 |
0
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| Armada |
0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0 |
0
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| Paddock Wood United |
0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0 |
0
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| Dormansland Rockets Reserves |
0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0 |
0
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| Whitehill Tavern |
0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0 |
0
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| FC Sporto |
0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0 |
0
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| Charcott |
0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0 |
0
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| Biggin Hill |
0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0 |
0
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| Insulators Reserves |
0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0 |
0
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| Pembury Sunday Reserves |
0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0 |
0
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| Rusthall Rangers |
0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0 |
0
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| Southborough |
0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0 |
0
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TEAM CREST
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Most 'Player of the Match' Awards
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Most Consistent
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