 |
| MAIN |
| NEWS |
| FIXTURES & RESULTS |
| LEAGUE TABLE |
| SQUAD STATISTICS |
| MATCH REPORTS |
| INTERACTIVE TABLE |
| RESERVES & YOUTH |
| ARCHIVE |
| CLUB DETAILS |
| BLUEBALL LOTTERY |
| AWAY FANS' GUIDE |
| SUPPORTERS' CLUB |
| LINKS |
| FORUM |
 |
| Tuesday, 19 August, 2003: Dr Martens League Eastern Division. Tonbridge Angels 2-1 Erith & Belvedere A lively Angels side completely dominated this match and secured a comfortable 2-1 win over our visitors from South-East London. Erith fielded ex-Angels Ryan Briggs and Scott Saunders but were no match for Tonbridge on a perfect evening for football at Longmead Stadium. Tonbridge put the Deres under pressure from the off. Ray Powell came closest to scoring, his goalbound shot being deflected over the bar by Luke Morrish for one of a succession of Angels corners early on. Hamid Barr volleyed over after Luke Piscina's shot was blocked, and fired over again after being fed by the lively Powell. Erith mounted their first serious attack with 18 minutes gone and should have scored. A fine left-wing cross just eluded the unmarked Akpo Sodje in front of goal, but reached Glen Billenness beyond the far post. Billeness screwed his shot well wide from close in. Peter Overton nearly gave the Angels the lead midway through the half, shaving the top of the crossbar after creating the chance with a clever turn on the corner of the six yard box. Totally against the run of play, it was the Deres who took the lead on 23 minutes. Sodje's neat control and quick turn midway in the Angels half took him clear of the Tonbridge defence to slot past Jamie Turner, making his home debut in goal. Straight from the restart, Turner had to save Briggs' mis-hit drive from the edge of the box following a poor clearance as the shellshocked Angels regrouped. The equaliser wasn't long in coming for Tonbridge. Ryan Royston joined in an attacking move, got goalside of his man close in and was nudged off the ball illegally. Barr converted the penalty. The overworked Deres defence managed to keep Tonbridge out for the rest of the half - Powell coming closest with another goalbound shot deflected onto a post. The pattern of relentless Angels pressure continued in the second half, and what proved to be the winner arrived with nearly an hour gone. Just minutes after coming on a sub for Piscina, Brendon Cass was alertly onto Lloyd Hume's ball behind Darren Penfold. Cass contolled it instantly and and finished clinically past Deres Finnish 'keeper Jari Seitsonen from 12 yards to bag his second comeback goal in as many games following a broken leg suffered early last season. Tonbridge went in search of a clincher but couldn't quite produce the further touch of quality needed. Seitsonen pulled off a fine save from Powell at the near post with ten minutes left but was otherwise relatively untroubled as the Deres defended stubbornly. Nick Barnes took the Angels man of the match award after a hard-working display from the wing back position saw him involved all over the pitch. Report by: Tony Browne |
| Match Report Index |
Squad from:
Goals:
Other: |