This was like after the Lord Mayors show for Tonbridge as Monday they beat high flying Eastleigh & today they lost to their fellow relegation strugglers.

The game started brightly for Tonbridge as in the 8^th minute Mark Lovell saw his shot from 30 yards saved by Alan Walker-Harris, then in the 13^th minute they took the lead when Michael Bakare received the ball on the left & he ran forward before cutting in & his shot beat the dive of Walker-Harris & go into the far corner with Nathan Pinney on hand to make sure.

Dorchester who had beaten Bromley previously suddenly woke up & in the 18^th minute a cross into the area found Warren Byerley whose volley went wide of the post, another chance six minutes later fell to Byerley as he received the ball turned & shot but over the bar.

Tonbridge nearly increased their lead in the 28^th minute when a ball to Tom Collins on the edge of the area saw him wriggle past two defenders into the area & low cross was stabbed away just avoiding the goal.

Dorchester got the equaliser in the 36^th minute but just before Nathan Green trying to let the ball go out was caught out by Byerley whose pass out saw a massive scramble occur with two shots blocked & then a free kick was given 20 yards out centrally, up stepped Nathan Craig who beat the wall but not Craig Masters who pushed it away but unluckily for him Nick Crittenden was quicker than everyone else & smashed the ball home from five yards.

Half time arrived & Tonbridge trooped off thinking how did we not stay in front & Dorchester were buoyed by this bit of luck.

The second half started with Tonbridge nearly regaining the lead as in the 46^th minute Bakare wriggled his way past two defenders went into the area & from an acute angle saw Walker-Harris save his shot for a corner.

Dorchester nearly went in front when in the 49^th minute Charles Losasso on the left cut inside & saw his beat Masters & just before Crittenden on the far post was going to stab the ball home Henry Muggeridge appeared & his intervention gave a corner away.

Eight minutes later Losasso on the left saw his cross to the back post just avoid Crittenden & go out for a goal kick.

Dorchester were now enjoying the lion’s share of possession  & in the 59^th minute a free kick from Walker-Harris deep into the Tonbridge half found Crittenden whose shot from 15 yards went whistling past the post.

In the 64^th minute a free kick to the far post saw Crittenden ghost in & his shot was deflected for a corner by Muggeridge although the Referee gave a goal kick.

Five minutes later Tonbridge had a half chance when David Ijaha & Chris piper combined giving Ijaha a shooting chance but he blazed it over the bar.

Another chance came Tonbridge’s way in the 73^rd minute when a free kick into the area found Bakare who knocked it back to Ijaha but his shot was deflected for a corner.

Dorchester had a glorious chance to take the lead in the 76^th minute when a long ball forward found Gary Elphick but his defensive header went straight to Byerley whose first time shot was pushed around the post by Masters.

Another chance came two minutes later when Crittenden passed to Losasso in the area but his shot from 10 yards went over the bar.

A minute later a long ball forward caused confusion in the Dorchester defence & as the ball came out on the right it went straight to Lovell & his screaming shot whistled past the far post.

Dorchester should have taken the lead in the 83^rd minute when a cross into the area found Byerley 10 yards out on his own but he headed over the bar when it seemed easier to score.

With time running out both sides were still looking for the winner & in the 84^th minute Piper ran into the area passed square to Bakare but his weak shot was easily saved by Walker-Harris, then in the 87^th minute Bakare on the right ran into the area before passing to Nathan Pinney but from six yards out his shot was pushed around the post for a corner.

In the 89^th minute Dorchester nearly got the winner when a corner into the area found Nathan Walker whose header came back of the crossbar.

With time ticking away Dorchester with Crittenden running towards goal his shot was pushed it around the post for a corner & from the resulting Corner came the winner as it came to the back post Masters dropped it & Player Coach Mark Jermyn hooked it in despite the efforts of Muggeridge to clear.

The final whistle went & the handful of Dorchester fans celebrated a victory that could help them climb out of the relegation places & Tonbridge had different emotions.

 

TONBRIDGE ANGELS:

1. C.MASTERS  2. C.PIPER  3. H.MUGGERIDGE  4. D.IJAHA  5. G.ELPHICK  6 P.APPIAH (64)  7. T.COLLINS

8. M.LOVELL  9. N.PINNEY  10. M.BAKARE  11. N.GREEN

SUBS USED:  12. L.BLEWDEN (64)

SUBS NOT USED: 14. C.MILHAM  15. Q.BOLAGI   16. C.SLOCOMBE  17. S.CHALMER-STEVENS

DORCHESTER TOWN:

1. A.WALKER-HARRIS  2. S.LANAGHAN  3 .J.SMEETON  4.  M.JERMYN  5. N.WALKER   6. N.CRAIG  7. N.CRITTENDEN

8.  J.GLEESON   9. A.YEOMAN (93)  10. W.BYERLEY (90+3)  11. C.LOSASSO

SUBS USED: 12. C.MAKONI (85)  17. S.WALKER (90+3)

SUBS NOT USED: 15. J.McCARTHY  16. J.TWYFORD  18. D.MUNDAY

REFEREE: Mr. A.SERRANO

ASSISTANTS: Mr.A.DUFFY   & Mr. J.CONNOLLY

ATTENDANCE: 405