Although Angels deserved the three points they managed at times to make hard work of it letting their hosts back into the contest at a crucial time midway through the second half. It needed a late strike from Tashi-Jay Kwayie to secure all the points.

The match started off on a relatively even note with early chances for both sides. A Lowestoft attack in the 2nd minute down the right opened up the Angels defence and it needed a Jonny Henly block and a Luciano Osbourne clearance off the line to prevent the hosts taking an early lead.

The first start for Angels captain Tom Parkinson in over a year was heralded by an early goalbound header which was blocked by a Lowestoft defender in the 3rd minute.

In the 11th minute Henly was called into action again and then six minutes later Liam Smith and Joe Turner combined on the left to create panic in the home defence but nobody was on hand to benefit from the home side’s block. On 19 minutes an intelligent header from Parkinson put Alex Akrofi in on goal but the ball wouldn’t run for the Angels top scorer.

The best chance so far of the half for Tonbridge fell to Sam Bantick in the 26th minute following a Smith cross but his effort rolled agonisingly wide of the left hand post.

The Angels were starting to play some fluid football at this stage and it seemed only a matter of time before the crucial breakthrough came. More opportunities came and went including one for Akrofi in the 36th minute following a Kwayie header across the goal area. Eventually in the 38th minute the opening goal for the visitors came following a cheap free kick against the hosts. Turner’s delivery was pinpoint with Akrofi making enough space for himself to get the header past Lowestoft goalkeeper Elvijs Putnins.

The visitors could have got themselves further ahead before the break with efforts for Turner and Kwaie but it remained just the one goal advantage for the visitors at the break.

Angels carried on after half time where they left off taking the game to Lowestoft with more chances for Kwaie, Turner and Bantick. Suddenly however found themselves in a game when somewhat against the run of play, in the 68th minute Lowestoft won a free kick just outside the area with Rory McAuley converting the cross with a neat header and levelling things up.

At this point Lowestoft with their tails up might conceivably have grabbed an unlikely lead but the Tonbridge defence held firm and gradually steadied the ship.

In the 82nd minute Joe Turner’s surging run into the the Lowestoft area saw him slip the ball to Akrofi coming in on the left but the earlier scorer this time was unable to take advantage.

It looked as if the Angels would have to settle for the draw but on 89 minutes substitute Nathan Elder headed down a cross into the path of Kwaie who gratefully thumped the ball past Putnins for what proved to be the winner.

Afterwards, Angels manager Steve McKimm said: “We deserved the win today and a special mention to Jonny who played with suspected tonsillitis and has pulled off a a couple of great saves to help us secure the points and it was great to see Parky back in action showing us what we have been missing through the season.”