Merstham will have been happy enough to have grabbed all the points but it was a game that contained little excitement for the 444 supporters who braved the cold.

For Tonbridge, there were mitigating circumstances involved in the defeat. Alex Akrofi was missing due to ‘flu and the same bug was affecting others including Nathan Elder and Jack Parter. The manager, Steve McKimm refused to use this as an excuse however. “We put a team out there with a game plan to nullify our visitors’ threat and to a degree it worked. Apart from the goal itself they had I think just two other shots on target. One decisive error has cost us and it’s frustrating but Tom Jelley had a very good game.”

The first period will not last long in the memory. Ex Angel Andre McCollin forced his old goalkeeping colleague Jonny Henly into a smart save with his legs in the 6th minute. For Tonbridge there were half chances for Dan Thompson and in the 40th minute Angels’ Ryan Worrall let fly from 25 yds but in truth it was relatively comfortable for Christopher Haigh in the Merstham goal.

There was a little more action in the second half and most of that came from the home side with Joe Turner providing most of the inspiration. There were two big chances for the luckless Thompson while at the other end Alex Addai and substitute Antone Douglas gave the Angels defence a few worrying moments.

The game appeared to be drifting out for a goalless draw but on 89 minutes a slip by Angels full back Tom Jelley let in Alex Addai who smartly placed the ball past Henly and the points were on their way back to Merstham.