Goals either side of half time from player-manager Tony Dolby ensured that the Angels retained the Courier Cup. Unlike last season’s 4-0 drubbing, the contest was much more even this year with both sides coping with the intense heat extremely well at Longmead Stadium on Saturday.

The hosts took the lead midway through the first half when a somewhat shaky Tunbridge Wells defence gave away a rather unnecessary free kick on the edge of the area. Dolby dispatched the ball with relative ease, curling it around the five-man wall to beat goalkeeper Matt Bromby. Tonbridge continued to pressurise the Kent League side’s goal and could even have furthered their advantage, but for some lacklustre finishing from the young strike partnership of Cass and Fuller. The away side never really looked likely to test Jamie Turner in the home goal when in the final third, until they produced a good flowing move that cut open the Tonbridge defence, allowing striker Steve Adams to roll the ball past Turner.

Ten minutes into the second half, sweeper Dolby again popped up to score his and the Angels’ second with the aid of a massive deflection from a Tunbridge Wells defender. The game finished 2-1 to the Blues with skipper Craig Roser collecting the cup for the third successive year.

Report by: Gary Cornwell