The Angels continued their flying start with a hard-earned but deserved victory over a never-say-die Croydon outfit. For the most part, Tonbridge had the better of a high-tempo game - but the visitors also had their chances to get something from the fixture.

With Steve Aris having his broken nose fixed earlier in the day, Ray Powell took the skipper's armband. Dobla decided to move Danny Lye back into central defence with Mike Cramp on the bench, Darren Smith filling Lye's midfield position in a team otherwise unchanged from the one that posted excellent away victories against the Met Police and Fisher Athletic.

Luke Piscina gave Tonbridge a dream start with just six minutes gone. A swerving right foot shot from well outside the box seemed to catch Croydon 'keeper Luke Garrard off balance, beating his despairing dive to find the corner of the net.

Tonbridge began to get on top. Jay May tried to be precise with a free header from a corner but just missed the far angle of the goal. Leroy Huggins couldn't quite find May with his cutback after getting behind the Rams defence. Jerome John was largely a spectator - but reminded everyone of his quality in the 35th minute with a stunning save when Eben Allen met Matt Howard's cross with a textbook header. "JJ" somehow sprung to his left and brilliantly tipped the ball round the post.

This seemed to turn the game on it's head, and Croydon dominated the ten minutes before the break. Allen swept home a cross from the left, but his celebrations were cut short by the sight of the assistant's flag - then JJ did well to tip over Howard's well-struck 25-yarder.

Tonbridge started the second half with renewed purpose. A John Beales header was cleared off the line by James Gibson, then Garrard spread himself well to deny Huggins before Dolby put the Angels 2-0 up on 54 minutes. The Rams 'keeper handled outside the box, but seemed to have been reprieved when the Referee kept his cards in his pocket - Dolby had other ideas though, dispensing justice of his own with a sweetly struck free-kick into the top corner. Tonbridge unfortunately lost Beales through injury just past the hour, Cramp coming on as a natural replacement but leaving the Angels with neither of their first-choice central defenders on the field.

Despite their two-goal deficit, Croydon heads never dropped and they should have pulled one back midway through the half. The impressive Allen fed Ronald Green, who drew JJ but clipped the ball just wide of the far post. Garrard went full-stretch to keep out a Craig Roser shot after good work from Huggins, but the Rams set up a frantic finale when sub Jamie Byatt was played thru to finish emphatically with five minutes left. Allen's spectacular volley dipped just wide with JJ scrambling, but Tonbridge survived without further alarm to make it an impressive six League wins on the spin and reclaim top spot in the table.

Report by: Tony Browne

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