Tonbridge Angels moved top of the table today with a win over Folkestone Invicta, but the Angels were unlucky to not have scored more.

Steve McKimm fielded an identical XI to the one that beat Margate on Saturday, with Liam Smith named on the bench after returning from an ankle injury.

The opening ten minutes were relatively even, with both sides having chances on goal, but neither being able to make them count. The Angels made it 1-0 in the 14th with a corner from Joe Turner running through to Sonny Miles whose shot ran through a forest of legs past the unsighted Roberts.

The minutes following Miles’ goal saw a flurry of chances for the Angels. Alex Read was unfortunate not to score on-on-one, and came close again in the 28th minute, shooting just wide.

Folkestone midfielder Sam Hasler was booked just after the half hour mark for a nasty foul on Jack Parter. Hasler soon found himself at the forefront of a fracas between both teams, eventually seeing red for a sinister foul when challenging Tom Beere for a header, in which he intentionally elbowed him in the face.

What followed was a scrappy ending to the first half for the Seasiders, with Tom Beere and Alex Read both being targeted and fouled.

The Angels entered the second half brightly, with a couple of chances putting the Folkestone defence to work early on. Following this, however, the Seasiders came alive in the game, threatening the Tonbridge defence with a decent build up that called keeper Jonny Henly into action.

Folkestone No.9 Johan Ter Horst was booked just before the hour mark for a foul on Jack Parter. The resulting Tonbridge free-kick was seen out, and Adem Ramadan was subbed off for Tommy Whitnell.

Jonny Henly was called upon in the 66th after a good attack by the Seasiders, making a cracking save to keep Tonbridge’s clean-sheet record alive. The resulting corner from Folkestone was poor, being seen out with little effort.

The final ten minutes were largely led by the Angels, with one required stop by Henly answered with a blistering run from James Folkes, and a good shot on target for Tommy Whitnell. None of these made it through, with the game finishing 1-0. This means that Tonbridge’s clean sheet streak has reached five- only Liverpool have not conceded this season so far in the top 7 levels of football.

After the match, coach Justin Luchford said, “We played well overall, though we should have had it out of sight by half time.”

“Henly and the defenders have been immense this season. I don’t think the Chairman is too happy with all the clean sheet bonuses they keep getting!”

Report by Max Meads

Image supplied by Michael William Page