Tonbridge Angels took their first major scalp of the season with a 2-0 win against playoff contenders Margate.

Report by Max Meads

McKimm fielded a similar squad to the one that edged past Sittingbourne on Tuesday, with captain Tom Parkinson making his return from a head injury, and full-backs James Folkes and Jack Parter returning to the squad. Ex-Angels, Frannie Collin, Joe Taylor and Lewis Mitchell featured for Margate.

The opening minutes were hopeful for Tonbridge, with plenty of chances troubling the opposition, and Margate being wasteful with theirs.

The first goal of the afternoon came in the 27th, with Tom Beere dispossessing a defender, going on a short run and shooting, beating Margate keeper Newcombe from 15 yards.

Shortly after Beere’s opener, Margate came close to scoring with a great effort from Bassele, but it was seen out with a fine diving save from Henly. Play was briefly stopped after James Folkes took an elbow to the nose, but he was quickly patched up and played on.

Margate looked to have come alive in the final 15 minutes of the first half, but the Angels defence were as solid as ever, and ensured they would enter half time with a 1-0 lead.

The Angels set out in the second half with an impressive amount of motivation, sending their message of intent with a goal from striker Alex Read in the 48th minute, who was able to play forward from a classy header, slotting the ball past Newcombe to put the Angels 2-0 up. The minutes following Read’s goal saw a flurry of chances for a frustrated Margate, but these were ultimately wasted and did not trouble the Angels defence too much.

Tommy Whitnell, who came on in the 67th minute for Adem Ramadan, made an instant defensive impact, smothering a hopeful Margate attack two minutes after being subbed on.

A rare mistake by Henly saw the ball fall to the Margate attack, but the shot was blasted well high. The remaining 15 minutes were quiet, with a couple of half-chances from either side being tested, and the game was ultimately seen out by the Angels, who emerged 2-0 winners.

This result pushes the Angels to 4 league games without conceding a single goal, and will surely give the team some vital momentum and drive ahead of Monday’s away fixture to Folkestone Invicta.

After the match, Angels gaffer Steve McKimm said “I’m very pleased and proud of the lads. We have a really tough couple of matches this weekend and Margate are a very good side, so I’m over the moon with the result.”

“We were strong, organised and passed the ball around well, and we got some quality goals as a result.