Tonbridge Angels’ season reached its lowest point at Franklyn Road in gifting one of the form book’s lowest-ranked sides a comfortable victory. Tony Dolby’s first-half penalty had cancelled out Michael Cayford’s opener for the home side, but a second-half display that could only be described as ‘anonymous’ ensured the Casuals took all three points.

With Jon Heath’s suspension continuing and Luke Piscina still on holiday, the Angels’ squad still had a paper-thin feel to it, but was bolstered by the return from injury of Nick Barnes who started on the bench. Darren Smith and Leroy Huggins were dropped from the starting 11 and sat alongside Barnes, while Youth and Reserves graduate Lee Kennett was preferred to Richard Ponsford at left-back.

The Angels’ looked bright early on but Walton were first to make the breakthrough. A free-kick was curled in from the right and Michael Cayford stretched out a foot to flick on past the helpless Jerome John. Ray Powell had a chance to level immediately but his left foot shot was tipped on to the side-netting by Walton goalkeeper Danny Andrews. Referee Eamonn Smith astounded all by awarding a goal kick, the second time the Angels had been denied a corner by the Woking-based referee. Smith made amends in the 21st minute however by awarding a penalty after a mazy run into the box by loan signing Loui Fazakerley was ended by a foul by a Walton defender. Tony Dolby slotted home the spot-kick for his seventh goal of the season.

Two minutes later another stone-wall penalty should have been awarded to the Angels when Ray Powell was fouled while lining up a cross just inside the area, Mr Smith ignored the incident and play continued. Tonbridge started to up their game and Fazakerley saw the best chance to take the lead go begging when he beat his marker and fired his shot against the far post. Ian Parkes was first to the rebound but his shot was blocked.

After a fairly positive end to the first half Tonbridge looked most likely to get something from the game but it was Casuals who regained the initiative. On 51 minutes Cayford was given acres of space by the Angels’ defence and turned and shot past Jerome John to make it 2-1. The response was to bring on Ponsford and Barnes for Kennett and Parkes but the effect was minimal, as by now Tonbridge appeared to be drained of confidence, motivation and creativity. Only Fazakerley, with his pace and skill on the ball, looked interested enough to try and claw back an equaliser.

After 67 minutes, however, it really was all over as Neil Wicks scored the third goal for Walton. The final quarter of the match was lethargically played out in freezing conditions, and only a save from Jerome John tipping Wicks’ curling shot wide of the post saved the Angels from the embarrassment of another 4-1 defeat away from home.

Report by: Dan Couldridge

Click here to view action photos.