A crowd of 135 saw a highly entertaining contest as Tonbidge inflicted a first home defeat of the season on Metropolitan Police at the Imber Court Sports Club, by three goals to two. After a goal-feast of a first half which finished 2-2 the Angels stepped up a gear for the second half and by the end of the game 3-2 flattered the home side after a beautiful spell of passing football from Tony Dolby’s men.

Tonbridge started the game with Danny Lte back in midfield after being rested against Ashford, and Ray Powell returning to right-back with Jay May back up front. The first chance of the game fell two minutes in, Luke Piscina making space for himself before firing straight at the Met Police goalkeeper. Tony Dolby then screwed a shot wide after a Craig Roser cross was headed out. However Met Police were also looking dangerous and the Tonbridge defence was caught napping on 17 minutes when Rob Haworth half-volleyed home after a nod down from a left-wing cross. Undeterred the Angels fought back immediately and Dolby had a shot tipped round the post after a speedy counter-attack down the right involving Piscina. The first corner was cleared away behind the goal by the defence but the second found Jay May at the far post, his shot cracked the bar and fortunately for the Angels rebounded straight onto the knee of Danny Lye and bounced into the net, a fortuitous but deserved equaliser.

The home side were still looking dangerous, creating all sorts of problems down the flanks, and Haworth should have scored his second heading over from a right-wing cross. Haworth did eventually regain the lead for Met on 32 minutes, a defensive clearance appearing to cannon off his boot looping over the stranded Angels goalkeeper Jerome John. The fighting spirit in the Tonbridge side once again showed through as an equaliser was imminent. On 36 minutes Tonbridge won a free-kick just outside the area, rather than strike for goal Dolby laid the ball off to his right where the on-loan Lee Carey hit a beautiful 25-yard bullet that found the bottom corner to make it 2-2.

Tonbridge proceeded to dominate the second half playing some of their best football seen so far this season. Craig Roser and Leroy Huggins both missed chances before Dolby came closest to putting the Angels in front – hitting the bar after a run and cross from the seemingly unstoppable Piscina. At the opposite end John was on hand to save from a 5 header and Jay May blasted over for the Angels in a frantic spell of football. On 66 minutes the Angels were finally in the lead, a corner was cleared only as far as the edge of the area, centre-back Steve Aris flicked the ball over his head to Huggins who calmly side-footed a volley past the helpless goalkeeper.

Tonbridge continued in search of a fourth goal to kill off the game, and with the Met resorting to cynical trips outside the area Dolby had several chances to score from a dead-ball, firing three efforts inches high, wide and straight at the wall but unable to find the net on this occasion. A scare was narrowly avoided late on as the home side’s top goalscorer Kevin Cooper skipped past John and curled his shot wide of the post, but the referee soon blew for time to give Tonbridge their fifth league win in succession, an 11th competitive game unbeaten and maintain their position at the top of the Ryman League Division One.

Report by: Dan Couldridge