Tonbridge Angels maintained their position at the top of the Ryman League Division One with a 2-1 win at newly-promoted Lymington & New Milton. A tough test was promised by the home side who have hit a patch of good form recently, and with the Angels’ squad reduced by injuries and two new signings forming the central defensive partnership. Lew Watts from Welling United and Steve May, a Brighton academy star on loan, linked well and both had solid games to kick off their Tonbridge careers.

Tonbridge were clearly in control from the start with Jay May coming close in the first minute and having a later effort saved. Ray Powell also came close with a header before the Angels’ breakthrough goal on 17 minutes. Some good passing football led to Powell gaining possession on the right, linking to May who flicked the ball over a defender then used his strength to get past a second defender before firing with his left foot, goalkeeper Mark Watson could only parry into the net.

The injury problems deepened when Danny Lye sustained an achilles injury and had to be taken off on the half-hour, being replaced by Darren Smith. However this didn’t affect Tonbridge’s hold on the match although it would remain at 1-0 by half-time. Lymington came close to an equaliser when Jerome John had to be at full-stretch to stop Kevin James’ shot, but on 58 minutes the Angels would double the lead. Luke Piscina latched on to a long ball, shrugged off a challenge before firing a low 20-yard shot into the bottom corner, his second long-range effort in as many games.

Lymington managed to get one foot back into the game on 69 minutes courtesy of a Darren Powell header, but a spirited fightback never really surfaced and the Angels cruised to a 2-1 victory.

Report by: Dan Couldridge

Click here to view action photos.