A seven-minute goal spree saw off the Angels in an enthralling contest at Longmead. The hosts led 2-1 with 20 minutes, but an equaliser from the penalty spot and then three goals in the last seven minutes were enough for the Brighton & Hove Albion XI to secure a 5-2 victory. By that time most of the Tonbridge first-team had departed the field and the losing margin should not cloud the good performance put in by the home side. Another formation was tried out with Ray Powell and Jon Heath operating as wing-backs, and Tony Dolby as sweeper. The Brighton line-up was officially their Under-19s squad, but it was a 22-year old, Chris McPhee, who gave the Coca-Cola Championship side the lead. With his back to goal, the striker turned and unleashed a curling shot into the top corner which gave the young rookie Shayne Goldsmith no chance. McPhee has already been snapped up with the announcement on the day of the match that he will be starting a month’s loan spell with Aldershot Town this Saturday.

The Seagulls continued to attack the Tonbridge goal, the number 9 being put through by a perfect defence-splitting pass but shooting wide, and McPhee getting past his marker only to shoot over. Goldsmith was again kept busy by the Brighton attack and after 20 minutes got down well to tip 11’s first-time shot round the post. The Angels began to get back into the game, with Nick Barnes at always at the forefront of their attacks, and when Barnes was tripped up outside the box Tony Dolby was on hand with the free-kick, but his shot went wide. Tonbridge managed to draw level on 42 minutes, Barnes calmly volleying into an empty net after the Brighton goalkeeper had collided into Warren Haughton trying to reach a cross.

In the second half Brighton had a goal ruled out for offside before Tonbridge, continuing to improve as the game went on, took a 2-1 lead. Luke Piscina had joined the action at half-time and in a new role playing behind the front two strikers had been tormenting the Brighton defence with his pace and ball control. Making one such run he freed the impressive Jon Heath down the left, although his initial shot went across the goal it was only half-cleared back out to Heath again, his shot was blocked and landed at the feet of Haughton who laid the ball off to the waiting Dolby outside the area. Dolby hit a first-time shot with the outside of his boot and it found the corner of the net.

Brighton pulled level on 72 minutes, the number 11 converting a penalty after Steve Aris had brought down a player in the box. Haughton had a shot blocked by the Brighton goalkeeper before the visitors killed off the game in the final minutes. A direct free-kick by the same player gave Brighton the lead before he completed his hat-trick with an absolute beauty of a shot from out on the wing and then got a fourth by rounding Goldsmith to finish, the 5-2 scoreline perhaps flattering the visitors.

Report by: Dan Couldridge

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