Say what you like about Tony Russell’s teams – and Lord knows that’s got me in trouble once or twice – but they always keep things interesting.
First-season Tony was a constant dalliance with the play-off spots that faded away at the end.
Second-season Tony were slow starters but were agonisingly close to nicking a play-off spot in the run-in.
And now Tony MK III are threatening to nibble their way into the play-offs once more.
After last week’s brain fart at Billericay, the lads needed three points here to prove it was just a blip in an otherwise strong patch of form, and they did just that. From the moment Kalvin Lombombo-Kalala stroked the ball home in the 8th minute, it felt like there was only ever going to be one winner. Although, of course, we kept it interesting.
First a word about KLK, who’s fast becoming the latest addition to the stable of Russell Wingers who really could go on to better things. He started the season like a house ablaze, with six goals by early September. October, November and a good chunk of December were pretty barren for KLK, but since nodding home that late equaliser at Hornchurch he’s added another six to his tally in January.
He scored a brace here, his second a textbook piece of calm finishing into the side netting, and really should have claimed the hat-trick when he was set clean through late on by a lovely Gondoh pass. Thus, instead of taking home the match ball, he had to settle for some veg from Brad’s Pit. How do you like them onions?
KLK’s opener was followed by a Tommy Wood cameo just before the half-hour. The hard-working striker had his ankles swept away in the box, and he dusted himself down to take the spot-kick himself, giving the Rooks a more comfortable cushion than those Wembley seats.
Romping off into the lead is boring, though. We like it interesting round these parts, and so we half-handed Margate a lifeline. I felt the stocky Margate forward, Steve Cawley, bundled Sam Oguntayo to the floor in the build-up to this one, but the ref saw nothing wrong and Cawley was allowed plenty of time to get a shot off that I think Nathan Harvey tipped on to the post. Vinnie Bowman gobbled up the rebound from a tight angle and Margate were back in it, only five minutes after we’d looked to have put the game safe.
Indeed, Margate could well have equalised a moment or two later, when a whipped ball from the left found Cawley unmarked in the six-yard box, but his header was straight at Harvey.
The scare seemed to jolt the Rooks back into life, and soon we were 3-1 to the good. Ola Ogunwamide led his full-back a merry dance down the right, before pulling the ball back for Whelpdale to pivot and shoot with his left peg, comfortably past Harry Seaden.
And when KLK added that cute fourth at the start of the second half, it really did feel like it was time to crack open the Radox and put on the Enya album. But that wouldn’t be interesting, and so we gave Margate a little bit of encouragement once more. Cawley’s strike from the edge of the box was a belter, although the post mortem might at least consider why he was given so much room to pick his spot to make it 4-2.
The final half-hour remained competitive, then, but we were never in any real danger of crumpling. This team is in the groove at the moment, and Tuesday’s home match against fellow play-off pushers Carshalton will give us a better indication of our ability to nudge our way into the top five.
Can we make the play-offs at the third attempt? We’ve scored as many goals as third-placed Billericay, but we’ve conceded more than relegation-haunted Concord. Whatever happens, it’s going to be interesting.
Lewes: Harvey, Ming, Elliott, Vint, Oguntayo, Penney, Whelpdale, Sablier, Ogunwamide, Lumbombo-Kalala, Wood
Subs: Tamplin, Pritchard, Murtagh, Olukoga, Gondoh
Supporters Club man of the match: Tough one. Whelpdale, Ogunwamide and Oguntayo were all strong contenders for the onions, but it’s hard to quibble with KLK getting the prize. That boy’s got magic feet.
Video highlights from Your Instant Replay:
Boyesy’s brilliant photos:
