Tonbridge Angels’ hopes of automatic promotion suffered a telling blow falling to a two-one defeat at fellow play-off contenders Dulwich Hamlet at Champion Hill on Easter Monday.

Despite Storm Katie having been and gone through the south-east of England overnight, Tonbridge Angels were blown away by an opening ten minute salvo by home debutant ‘Dipo’ Akinyemi.

Not only did The Angels suffer defeat but they lost both centre-backs to injury – Jerome Sobers seemingly with a groin strain early on whilst Sonny Miles’ injury looked far worse stretchered from the field with his arm well supported and deep pain written all over his face.

The Angels got off to the worst possible start as the hosts blew their defensive doors wide open down both flanks.

In only the third minute Jordan Hibbert broke down the left, unchallenged, crossing the ball to an unmarked Akinyemi who had the simplest of tasks to poke home from inside the six-yard box.

Worse was to come for The Angels as the hosts this time broke down the right hand side – Nyren Clunis, unchallenged, crossed to the again unmarked Akinyemi – His header six-yards out in front of goal, well saved and onto the post by Anthony Di Bernardo, fell straight back to the feet of the striker to tap the ball home.

Despite plenty of possession The Angels registered little on the home goal. When they finally warmed the hands of Preston Edwards Luke Allen’s tame 20-yard free-kick failed to really test the home shot-stopper meanwhile on the stroke of half-time Tom Parkinson’s close range header was on target but tipped over the bar with ease.

The Angels were lucky not to go three-down just shy of the hour-mark as a poorly executed free-kick was intercepted by Akinyemi. The striker, on the edge of his own box, showed electric pace advancing into The Angels’ half.

Releasing Clunis the wingers’ strike on goal was well parried by Di Bernardo. The subsequent free ball fell to the feet of the advancing Akinyemi and as he seemed certain to score Luke Blewden got in a goal-saving block.

Needing to get back into the game The Angels began to make possession pay with chances on goal. Nathan Elder’s physical presence was beginning to take effect and the striker was unlucky not to score as he saw a goal-bound header hit the post – Preston smothering the rebound.

With the pressure mounting in the home third The Angels made the breakthrough as substitute Charlie Webster ghosted into the penalty area on the right-hand side finding Allen who poked the ball home from close range.

Were The Angels about to make an almost customary comeback and snatch at least a share of the spoils?

Sadly for the visitors not on this occasion although with the game petering out Elder again used his physical strength but was unable to get enough of his head to the ball as it fell the wrong side of the post.

Hopefully the injuries to the centre-back pairing of Sobers and Miles will see either of them missing for only a short time as it looks increasingly likely The Angels vie for promotion in the end-of-season play-off lottery this season.

 

Dulwich Hamlet: Edwards, Nelson, Brown, Dixon, Drage, Pinnock ©, Clunis, James, Akinyemi (Murrell-Williamson, 82), Michael-Percil (Moss, 73), Hibbert

Subs not used: Sankofa, Sow, Thompson

Goals: Akinyemi (3, 10)

 

Tonbridge Angels: Di Bernardo, Folkes, Parter, Parkinson, Sobers © (Ball, 18), Miles (Webster, 63), Riviere (Whitnell, 59), Allen, Elder, Blewden, Wheeler

Subs not used: Woods-Garness, Brivio

Goals: Allen (70)

 

Att: 1,434