Two goals late in the first half from sub Jay May were enough to ease the Angels past an extremely one-dimensional Burgess Hill side.

With a near full-strength squad to choose from, Adam O'Neill got the nod to start alongside Ray Powell up front. New signing Fraser Logan made an impressive home debut in midfield, with Danny Lye and Luke Piscina starting from the bench. Mikhail Czanner deputised for the injured JJ in goal.

Tonbridge quickly got on top. Logan was unlucky with a 25-yard thunderbolt which crashed against the bar, and a well-worked quick break saw O'Neil head Darren Smith's cross just wide.

The Hillians were intent on playing what could politely be described as "percentage football", hoofing it downfield and hoping someone up front could make something of it. They took the lead against the run of play on 26 minutes when Lloyd Cotton was released down the right, Neil Watts turning in the cross at the near post. Ironically, it was just about the only time I can recall the visitors playing two consecutive balls to feet in the entire game.

The contest turned on a five-minute period before the break. First, Logan worked space for a fine cross which May, on for the injured Lew Watts, nodded in from close range. More good work from Logan saw Nick Barnes jump well to put the 'keeper under pressure on the cross and divert the ball into the path of May, who finished with a low drive.

May had a couple more efforts cleared in the second half as the Hillians persisted with their long ball tactics. They had little effect until a double substitution with 20 minutes left saw a switch to three up front, and the Angels struggled to cope for a while. Steve Aris rescued Tonbridge with a flying header off the line when sub Richard Greenfield's shot beat Czanner with ten minutes to go, but it was the last serious threat the Hillians were able to conjure up.

Report by: Tony Browne