Leroy Huggins' crisp finish after just 14 seconds gave Tonbridge a dream start in this one, but the Angels faded in the second half and finished the game happy to edge the points in a somewhat flat encounter.

Danny Lye, Craig Roser and Luke Piscina returned to the side, with Warren Haughton, Tim Hambley and Tony Dolby making way from Saturday's starting XI. Ex-Angel Steffan Ball started up front for Ramsgate.

The Rams were rocked straight after the kick off when Huggins ran onto a simple through ball and beat 'keeper Danny Twyman emphatically from inside the box. Tonbridge continued to have the better of the early exchanges, and it was no surprise when a second goal arrived midway through the half, even if the manner of it was slightly unorthodox.

Nick Barnes got the ball on the byline after a corner was half-cleared, and decided his best option was to fire it hard across the face of the Ramsgate goal. Liam Morris was the unfortunate defender unable to get his head out of the way and the ball flew into the Rams net. The visitors came back into the game before half time, Mikhel Czannar pulling off an instinctive close range save from Shaun Welford, then Welford headed a great chance wide.

Ramsgate always looked the more likely team to score in the second half. Twyman had a very quiet time between the posts, with the Angels unable to build much pressure at all - The Rams' goal came on the hour, when Tonbridge failed to clear a near post corner and James Gregory nipped in to score from close range. The Angels continued to be pushed onto the defensive but had few alarms, John Beales being the pick of a fairly solid looking rearguard.

Welford just failed to get on the end of substitute Shane Suter's cross midway through the half, and Suter's snap shot was saved by Czannar. Barnes picked up a dislocated shoulder near the end, but the Angels saw out the game to bag another three points and begin the season among the early pacemakers.

Report by: Tony Browne

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