Luke Piscina's 30th minute strike proved enough to dump our Southern Premier League opponents out of the Trophy on an unseasonably warm and sunny afternoon at Longmead.

Teamwise, the experienced duo of Steve Aris and Lew Watts filled the central defensive positions with John Beales starting at right back, freeing Ray Powell to partner Leroy Huggins up front. Jon Heath kept his place at left back, and Danny Lye returned from injury to bolster the midfield.

Cheshunt had the first opening, skipper Nicky Gyoury heading over from a corner, but it was Tonbridge who forced the pace in the early going without quite being able to find the quality of ball required to unlock the visitors defence. The pressure began to mount however - Powell headed just over Martin Peat's crossbar with 20 minutes gone, then a Dobla free kick flicked off the wall and fell into the path of Aris following up. Unfortunately, the Angels skipper couldn't get a clean strike on it and Peat saved comfortably.

Piscina put Tonbridge ahead with a sweet left-foot drive after good work from Nick Barnes and Lye created the opening. Watts rescued the Angels when Dewayne Clark dispossessed Aris and cut in on goal, but play was still mostly in the Cheshunt half. "Razor" Powell made good ground to arrive on the near post when Barnes freed Huggins to provide the cross, but mis-hit his finish and Peat was once again grateful to collect.

Cheshunt came more into it after the break. Michael Deane's cross just eluded Clark, and Beales denied Lloyd Opara with a timely block. Jerome John beat out a Clark effort, but Gyoury had to be sharp to close down Beales' shot following a Tonbridge corner.

JJ was able to drop on Clark's hesitant finish from a great chance on 77 minutes, sub George Gregorio supplying the cross, but that proved to be the visitors last hurrah as the Angels closed the game out well.

Both sides had to cope with some puzzling decisions and general fussiness from Referee Jerden, who nevertheless managed to keep his cards in his pocket throughout the game.

Report by: Tony Browne

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