The Angels stretched their unbeaten run to six league games following a thrilling Kent derby against high-flying Ramsgate at The Southwood Stadium on Saturday. Goals from Nick Barnes, Jay May and Ray Powell were enough to earn the solitary point, cancelling out efforts from Shaun Welford, Stuart Vahid and Lee Minishull for the home side.

Goalkeeper Dean Neil made his Angels debut between the sticks, after signing from East Thurrock United just that morning. Apart from the single change in goal, the Tonbridge starting line-up was exactly the same as that which grabbed maximum points against Cray Wanderers on Boxing Day. With Leroy Huggins still not yet match fit, Tony Dolby surprisingly filled the last remaining seat on the subs bench with former Tunbridge Wells goalkeeper Matt Bromby. He was named alongside Luke Piscina, Adam O’Neill, Jon Heath and Dolby himself.

The Rams’ highest attendance of the season (449) were nearly treated to a spectacular start as David Cory fired his effort against the crossbar after just 44 seconds. 10 minutes later, the Angels took the lead via a Nick Barnes penalty kick. Home defender Liam Morris was adjudged to have handled in the area following a tussle with Ray Powell, leaving Barnes to send Jurgen Wild the wrong way and give his side the perfect start. On 17 minutes, Ramsgate levelled as Stuart Vahid stabbed home from close range after an enormous throw in from Simon Pettit.

In a game that was becoming increasingly enthralling with both sides creating chance after chance, the visitors once again gained the advantage to go ahead for the second time. Darren Smith whipped in an inviting cross for striker Jay May to head home his eighth goal of the season, past the floundering Wild. Just before the break, the hosts had two glorious opportunities cleared off the line each time by left-back Danny Glozier, before actually levelling on the stroke of half-time. Shaun Welford picked up the ball in a deep position and drove at away skipper Steve Aris. Aris stood up his man and seemingly did enough until Jon Beales uncharacteristically dived in, giving away a needless penalty. The prolific Welford himself stepped up to successfully convert the spot kick to end an amazing first half.

The second half began in the same fashion with both Ramsgate and Tonbridge having good opportunities to grab that all-important third goal. Welford had the ball in the back of the net but was deemed to have fouled keeper Dean Neil whilst Jay May and Ray Powell had half chances for the West-Kent outfit. It was The Rams that went ahead 3-2 in the 70th minute as Jim Ward’s inspired substitution send the home support into raptures. Moments earlier Michael Yianni was replaced by Lee Minshull, and the replacement paid dividends as the youngster scored his very first senior goal. The action was not over as the scores were levelled for the third and final time as Ray Powell rifled the ball into the back of the net.

Angels Man Of The Match went to hard-working striker Ray Powell for his lethal finishing in front of goal and his workhorse-like ethic.

Report by: Gary Cornwell