Chatham Town eased into the last eight of the DFDS Kent Senior Cup with what in the end was a comfortable win over National League South Tonbridge Angels. 

The Chats came from a goal behind after Kodi Lyons-Foster gave the Angels an early lead. A glorious equaliser from Ollie Hobden levelled the score against the run of play before Jamie Yila side footed the home side in front on the stroke of half time, with Ashley Nzala’a second half penalty sealing progress for the Isthmian Premier pace setters’ place in the Quarter Finals. 

With both sides putting out reasonably strong starting elevens respecting the competition which must be saluted, it was the Angels who started brightly and in the opening half hour created the better chances. 

They took the lead early on as Lyons-Foster beat keeper Ben Bridle-Card at his near post as the Angels skipper poked the ball home. The Chats keeper then pulled off a really smart save to deny Charlie Pegrum a debut goal following his move to Longmead from Leyton Orient. 

Jordan Higgs fired wide, and the lively Jordan Greenidge was denied by the keeper’s right boot as the home side huffed and puffed without really testing the visitors back-line.

The Chats needed something to kick start their night… and boy did they get it! Full back Hobden picked the ball up thirty yards out and only had one thing on his mind, letting fly with an absolute howitzer that flew beyond a despairing Jonathan Henley into the top corner of the Angels net – an outstanding strike and a sensational goal! 

The home side then stunned their visitors by edging in front on the stroke of the interval as the visitors could not deal with a ball into the box and as the ball ricocheted through the box, Yila was left unmarked at the far post to side foot home. 

The second half was almost the exact opposite of the first half with the home side the dominant. Whilst right back Hobden scoring a candidate for “goal of the season,” his full-back partner – Kristian Campbell – was inches away from his own contender minutes into the second period as his angled thunderbolt beat a flying Henley and his angle of post and crossbar by inches! 

Chatham’s progress was sealed when Nzala was brought down in the box, picked himself up, dusted himself down before rolling the spot kick to the left as Henley dived right. 

The Angels tried to force the pace again but the only time they really threatened the home goal saw Bridle-Card palm over a Francis Mampolo angled drive. 

Last year’s runners-up are the first side into this season’s last eight and now turn their attention to the Isuzu FA Trophy with a weekend trip to Isthmian North side Heybridge Swifts, whilst the Angels will look to kick start their stuttering League campaign when they welcome Hemel Hempstead Town to Longmead. 

CHATHAM TOWN – Bridle-Card, Hobden, Campbell, Brefo, Nzala, Allen, Yila (Dunn), Cooper, Brodie (Robins), Sanogo, Krabbendam (Allsopp) 

Subs – Beckwith, Cheeseman 

TONBRIDGE ANGELS – Henley, Fielding (Mampolo), Lyons-Foster, Gard (Wagstaff), Swift, Higgs, Hinds (Vowles), Greenidge, Meade, Fish 

Subs – Gibb, Puffette 

REFEREE – Mr Dann-Pye 

Picture supplied by Chatham Town Football Club.