A direct free-kick and a piece of individual genius was enough to give Tonbridge Angels their first win of the season at Merland Rise. Tony Dolby’s curled set-piece effort and Luke Piscina’s jinking run and finish, both 31 minutes into each half, separated the two sides in a much improved game for entertainment than the Longmead fixture last Saturday.

Player-manager Dolby made amends for Saturday’s tactical errors by bringing in the three players who had been surprisingly left on the bench for the Fleet game. The defence was unchanged while Jon Heath replaced Tim Hambley in midfield and Luke Piscina was deployed ‘in the hole’ behind the front two, with Nick Barnes sitting deeper than usual. Leroy Huggins replaced Jay May up front to partner Warren Haughton.

Ray Powell was immediately in the thick of the action, making a run at goal he lost control of the ball and attempting to hold on to possession clipped a defender’s foot. Referee Mr C Salt set the tone for what was to be an error-prone performance, not just from him but his two assistants as well, by harshly booking the wing-back for his first offence of the game after just five minutes. Powell again made his mark ten minutes later, showing why many supporters see him as the first-choice striker at the club despite his current position in the number 2 shirt. After Warren Haughton rounded a defender on the left both he and strike partner Huggins failed to get a decent shot on goal, as the ball was half-cleared Powell instinctively drove a first-time shot at goal but it sailed just wide.

Banstead were limited to a half-chance midway through the first half with Simon Mitchell bearing down on goal but the strength of John Beales enabled the young defender to shield the ball away from danger. Nick Barnes for the Angels set all the groundwork for the opening goal. On a typically tenacious run he was tripped outside the box and Tony Dolby converted the free-kick, goalkeeper Paul Borg could have done better to prevent the goal but was caught napping and the ball curled away from his outstretched hands to give Tonbridge a 1-0 lead. The goal gave the Angels a new lease of life that we had yet to see in the opening games. Powell rounded his marker on the right and his short cross found Craig Roser who curled his foot around the ball from short range only for it to crash back off the bar.

Luke Piscina then made a run down the left and took a fall just outside the area, the clueless referee blew for a foul in Tonbridge’s favour but Barnes’ free-kick was cleared. With Piscina really in the mood he went on another mazy run outside the area, despite being tripped he carried on and his shot hit the foot of a Banstead defender who somehow managed to flick it into the air and fortunately for him it bounced down onto the crossbar and out for a corner. After half-time the action settled down again and few chances were created, but at the half-way mark Tonbridge began to pick up the pace again. Roser set up Jon Heath from the left and faced with just the goalkeeper Heath hesitated and his shot was blocked by a defender, the rebound fell to his feet and despite having more time Heath managed to balloon the shot over the bar. Nick Barnes was then booked for a tackle from behind before Tonbridge doubled the lead. On a trademark run Piscina danced through the defence and managed to survive two challenges still on his feet and still in possession, taking one look at the target he placed his shot past Borg for a 2-0 lead.

Minutes later Banstead substitute Simon Hockle had a header saved from a corner with his first chance but that was as good as it would get for the home side. On 85 minutes Dolby was denied by an excellent diving save from Borg from a 20-yard effort, and from the resulting corner Haughton was unable to bundle the ball home after a goalmouth scramble. The win lifts Tonbridge up to fifth place in the table and will be a big confidence boost before Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Horsham.

Report by: Dan Couldridge