Tonbridge Angels failed to reach the second round for the seventh time this afternoon as they came up against a Harborough Town side who fully deserved their spot in the next round.

The game was played in front of a record crowd, and whilst Angels were the favourites for the fixture ahead of kick-off it was their visitors who would make history.

The game started slowly with Tonbridge probably the better of the two teams without causing any problems while Harborough were relying on long throws and their physicality. The first half chance of the game came in the 32^nd minute when Captain Sean Shields saw his 25-yard shot pushed over the bar by Elliot Taylor.

Tonbridge should have scored in the 38^th minute when Noel Leighton was put through on the left-hand side, his low cross to the back post saw Jason Adigun sliding in but missed the ball by a fraction when a goal seemed certain.

Four minutes later Harborough took the lead when a corner into the area found Paul Malone whose header beat Matt Rowle. Just two minutes later it was nearly two when Josh Walsh on the right ran forward cut inside, but he saw his shot was saved by Rowley.

Half time arrived and Tonbridge were still in the game but had to up their game to get anything out of this while Harborough would carry on the same way.

The second half saw Tonbridge come out with a little more urgency and in the 50^th minute a ball into the area came out to Shields who from 20 yards hit his shot went just wide.

Seven minutes later Trevan Robinson on the left saw his chipped cross headed goal wards but Taylor saved it, a minute later a Shields corner found Leighton, but his header went wide.

Harborough had withstood this pressure then in the 60^th minute they doubled their lead when Ben Stephens was put through and from 12 yards he shot past Rowley.

In the 70^th minute a clearance up to the halfway line was missed by Jamie Fielding allowing Stephens to go on into the area before shooting past Rowley, game over.

Tonbridge were now looking a shadow of a National League South side as Harborough a league below were the better side and then in the 85^th minute they got their fourth when Riley O’Sullivan ran from halfway beating two defenders going into the area. He then passed to substitute Dan Forbes who from around ten yards out shot past Rowley.

In the 91^st minute Liam Vincent nearly got a consolation goal when from eight yards his shot was brilliantly pushed over the bar then in the fourth minute of added on time Tonbridge finally found the back of the net when Shields on the left cut in and his shot from 20 yards beat Taylor.

The final whistle went and the Yellow Army of Harborough Town were celebrating with their fans while Tonbridge disappeared down the tunnel, this was an insipid display by Tonbridge who got what they deserved out of the game.

     Tonbridge Angels:

1. M.Rowley   2.C.Lema (45)  4. R.Hanson  6. R.Nelson  8. T.Maloney (66)  10. N.Leighton

14.  J.Fielding   17. J.Vincent  18. N.Bakirm (71)  23. S.Shields  27. J.Adigun (45)

Subs Used: 9. T.Robinson (45)  12. T.Hinds (45)  22. S.Wagstaff (66)  7. M.Dabre (71)

Subs Not Used: 3. M.Richardson  5. J Tyrie  13. A.Norburn

Bookings:  27. J.Adigun (27)  14. J.Fielding (43)

        Harborough Town:

1. E.Taylor   2. D.Cooper  3. J.Walsh  4. P.Malone  5. B.Williams  6. A.Morris

7.  F.Robinson (71)  8. C.Kennedy (90)  9. R.O’sullivan (90) 10. B.Stephens (79) 11. B.Starkie (90)

Subs Used: 16. D.Forbes (71)  15. T.Daide (79) 17. G.Mulligan (90) 19. A.Sandhu (90)  20. K.Tonge (90)

Subs Not Used: 12. J.Burgess  14. L.Dolman  18. L.Rose  21. J.Carte

Bookings: 8. C.Kennedy (2)  11. B.Starkie (30)16. D.Forbes (86)  M. Austin (Manager 90+3)

Referee: Mr A.Dale

Assistants: Mr C.Fidler & Mr J.Stokes

Fourth Official:  Mr C.Wyatt

Att: 3132