It was an important three points for Merstham in their battle to reach the playoffs as they inflicted Tonbridge’s first defeat of 2019 in what was a tight game.

Angels largely dominated the first period but ended up a goal down at the break. After five minutes for the home side a Sonny Miles header drifted just wide and on 20 minutes his colleague Chinedu McKenzie saw his effort deflected for a corner.

Tonbridge Striker Tom Derry forced two good saves from Merstham goalkeeper Amadou Tangara in the 31st and 34th minute’s but it was the Moatsiders who took the lead in 39th minute when a cross from the right was converted by Walter Figuera – it was the visitors first effort on target. On 43 minutes Figuera might have doubled the advantage but in stoppage time Joe Turner for Tonbridge had two chances to level.

The second half saw the visitors come much more into the game with a particularly good spell of pressure around the hour mark. With just the one goal in it the home side were still very much in the game but simply couldn’t create any real momentum to their play which of course played into the Moatsiders hands.

In the 80th minute Miles did produce a strong header and with Tangara for once beaten there was a desperate Merstham block right on the line, but in truth it was about the only real moment of quality for home side during the second half.