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| Tuesday, 22 October, 2002: Dr Martens League Eastern Division. Tonbridge Angels 0-1 Eastbourne Borough Both teams came into this match looking for the 3 points needed to put themselves right among the leading pack at the top of the table. A pulsating early-season encounter between the teams had seen the Borough take a narrow 3-2 victory at Priory Lane, but this time a single goal was enough to overcome a rather disjointed Angels performance. The pattern of the game was set in the very first minute, Eastbourne attacking in numbers down the right and getting in a decent cross. Matt Crabb's header was harmlessly wide, but the Borough continued to work openings for a succession of right-wing crosses. Scott Ramsey and Ben Austin went close with headers for Eastbourne before the Angels' first attempt on goal, Craig Roser badly miscuing a long-range lob of Borough 'keeper Dean Lightwood after the goalie's weak clearance. Borough continued to dominate as the first half went on, and Ryan Royston just nicked a cross away from Matt Smart in the 6-yard box on the half hour. Daren Pearce then fired over from John Westcott's cross when well placed. The Angels first goal attempt came on 36 minutes. Kenny Pavey's shot from the edge of the box was comfortably saved by Lightwood, and Tonbridge were relieved to go in at the break with the game still scoreless. The teams emerged into steady rain for the second half, and Tonbridge belatedly started to put pressure on the Eastbourne rearguard - however, Borough were still getting men over down the Tonbridge right. Smart headed Austin's cross wide from 8 yards, and Royston just cut out another dangerous Westcott cross for a corner. The inevitable happened on the hour, Borough central defender John Price heading Westcott's cross beyond Joe Radford and into the net for a deserved lead. Eastbourne sat back a little to protect their lead, and the Angels began to come back into the game. Sub Nick Barnes blazed over after a weak clearance from a corner gave him a shooting chance on the edge of the box, and Borough left-back Stuart Tuck was at full stretch to divert a Barnes cross for a corner with Steve Portway lurking. A Pavey cross was a fraction too high for Portway, and Tonbridge nearly forced the equaliser when Pavey's bullet drive was cleared from what must have been the back edge of the line by Pearce with Lightwood beaten. Pavey was cautioned for his subsequent protests to the assistant referee. Lightwood dived to his left to keep out another Pavey shot on 89 minutes, but it was all too little too late for the Angels. To add to the Angels woes, Lloyd Hume, Wade Falana and Mark Greatorex all had to come off with injuries in the second half. Report by: Big Tone |
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