The hosts Bromley settled first in this pre-season encounter at Hayes Lane and took the lead after 9 minutes. Matt Hollyoak, the latest player in Tony Dolby’s continued search for a right-back, was harshly adjudged to have brought down a Bromley arracker in the box, and Allan McLeod converted the spot-kick. Jay May should have reduced the arrears two minutes later heading over from close range from Craig Roser’s corner, and then Danny Lye, usually renowned for his no-nonsense style of play, surprised everyone by rounding two players 25 yards out from goal and shooting from distance. The accuracy of the shot was sadly lacking and the ball went out for a goal-kick.

After 20 minutes young centre-back Richard Shaw had to leave the field with an injury and reserves defender Chris Holmes replaced him, going on to give an assured display belying his ‘rookie’ status. Bromley could have doubled the lead but McLeod’s lofted free-kick was headed over by the former Tonbridge forward Nic McDonnell, who supporters will remember from his eye-catching loan spell in the spring of 2000. Tonbridge then missed their best chance of the half, a long Jerome John kick was headed on by Jay May, then flicked on by Leroy Huggins to Ray Powell, who blasted over the bar on the half-volley with only the keeper to beat. Nick Barnes and Ray Powell missed further chances and at the other end John was called upon to save a long shot from Bromley’s Fraser Logan.

At half-time Bromley brought on another ex-Angel to spice up the front line with Wade Falana partnering McDonnell, who early on had two headers denied, the first was flicked just over the bar and the second saved comfortably by John. Falana then found himself through on goal and tried to slide the ball past John with the outside of the boot, but it went wide. Another Bromley substitute, Barry Gardner, had only John to beat and on the bounce he cracked the shot past John only for it to rebound back off the near post. Gardner made amends on 71 minutes by curling a free-kick into the bottom corner for a 2-0 lead. Falana had further chances to extend the lead but the second-half was lacking in goal-scoring chances for Tonbridge. Notable good performances came from the ever-reliable John Beales and Tim Hambley, but with Beales likely to take the centre-back position alongside Steve Aris this season it is a worry that after ten friendlies we are still struggling to work out our best starting line-up. Aris, Darren Smith and Mike Cramp are the major injury worries at this stage and with two games left to prepare for the season it is hoped a formation and settled side can be found to start picking up league points straight away.

Report by: Dan Couldridge