Gravesend edged out the Angels in an entertaining and open Kent Senior Cup tie at Longmead. The 'Fleet had the better of the early play, but Tonbridge came back well and merited an extension of the game with their second half performance.

Following the pattern of recent seasons, the Angels team had a somewhat unfamiliar look about it for this competition. Michael Cramp and Danny Lye formed the central defensive pairing in a 4-4-2 formation, with Keiron Wilson and new loan signing Steve McNamara the full backs. Luke Piscina played on the right side of midfield alongside Craig Roser and Gareth Street. Ex-Fleet man Steve Sodje completed the midfield four, tasked with containing the dangerous Moussa Sidibe down the Tonbridge left. Brendon Cass and Jay May were the Angels strikers. For their part, Gravesend fielded four players from their youth system alongside established players from the Conference squad.

The Fleet started fast and put Tonbridge under pressure early on. Jamie Turner did well to smother a 12th minute follow-up effort from Graham Porter when James Pinnock's curling free kick caused all sorts of problems in the Angels box, but Gravesend went ahead on 16 minutes when Pinnock was first to a loose ball, slotting home from ten yards with Turner stranded.

Turner got down well to hold Pinnock's drive on the half-hour when Sidibe skinned McNamara and cut the ball back, but Tonbridge began to pose some threats of their own towards the end of the half. May's turn and shot from 25 yards finally brought Fleet 'keeper Paul Wilkerson into action, and Wilson's fine run from inside the Angels half unfortunately ended with a shot scuffed harmlessly wide. The referee finally lost patience with Sodje five minutes before the break, showing a yellow card for a second crunching challenge on Sidibe.

Tonbridge picked up the pace in the second half and caused the visitors defence plenty of problems. May set Cass free down the right on 50 minutes to cross into the path of Sodje, but Wilkerson was out quickly to block the shot. May was involved again three minutes later, beating Wilkerson and his defence to a ball over the top only to direct his flicked shot just wide. Sam Groombridge then did well to block out May after the Angels striker twisted and tricked his way into the box.

Gravesend could have settled it on the hour, Tonbridge fortunate there was no one to tuck away Ben Surey's cut back from a far post cross. May and Cass combined to beat the offside trap with 20 minutes left, but Cass took too long to set himself, allowing Porter to slide in and clear.

John Sinclair replaced May on 75 minutes, freeing Sodje to join Cass up front. Sodje nearly levelled for the Angels with six minutes left when Piscina played him through but Lee Gledhill made a great saving tackle for the 'Fleet. With time almost up, Wilkerson flung himself high to his right to tip away Roser's well-struck 30-yarder, and the Angels were out.

A creditable performance all round from Tonbridge, particular mentions to Michael Cramp who acquitted himself well on his first-team debut and Steve McNamara, who showed his pedigree with a classy and composed display. It's also nice to be able to report an excellent job done by Referee Mr McCoy.

Report by: Tony Browne