Tonbridge Angels extended their season by another six days with this victory over Merstham and now go to Imber Court to play Met Police in the Super Play-Off Final for a place in the Vanarama National South League.

The game started slowly with both teams a bit nervous, in the 9th minute the first half chance arrived when Fabio Saraiva on the edge of the area tried his luck but the shot went wide.

Two minutes later and Tonbridge had their first chance when a free kick was flicked on by Tom Derry for Chinedu McKenzie who raced into the area but under pressure his shot was easily saved by Amadou Tangara.

Merstham were getting into the game with lots of passes and in the 20th minute one of those passes let Walter Figueira in on the left and he cut in and his shot from the by-line trying to beat Jon Henly at the near post hit the side netting.

Tonbridge took the lead probably against the run of play but their supporters wouldn’t care when a long diagonal ball found Joe Turner on the left and his low cross to the near post saw Derry challenge for it but it rebounded out to McKenzie who from 15 yards smacked into the net.

The game was going along nicely when in the 41st minute a contentious decision came when a free kick into the area was cleared for a corner by Sonny Miles then Oliver Cook pushed Miles over and he got up and went straight at Cook but it seemed he did not actually touch him, a melee occurred and the referee Michael Ryan produced two red cards when the majority of people would have given both players a yellow.

Half time arrived and this would give both sets of players time to calm down.

The second half started with Merstham on the front foot while Tonbridge would rely on counter attacks, in the 49th minute Figueira 30 yards out tried his luck but Jon Henly saved easily.

In the 66th minute Tonbridge nearly increased their lead with a breakaway, D’Sean Theobalds on the right wing ran forward, passed to McKenzie who returned the ball to him and then he laid it into the path of Turner who from 20 yards saw his shot go inches past the far post.

Merstham were now getting desperate and they used all their substitutions trying to get back into the match and in the 83rd minute Michael Abnett 25 yards out saw his shot saved by Henly, this would be their last chance of the game.

Two minutes later Jack Parter 45 yards out ran forward and with no one getting near him travelled forward into the area where Tangara came out and smothered his shot.

Tonbridge secured the victory in the 90th minute when Parter’s lung busting run on the right wing saw him clip it forward for Theobalds who went into the area and was fouled and a penalty given, up stepped Turner who blasted it straight down the middle and the majority of the crowd went wild.

There was five minutes of added on time but Tonbridge managed the time well and kept Merstham at bay.

TONBRIDGE ANGELS:

J.HENLY 2. J.FOLKES 3. J.PARTER 4. D’SEAN THEOBALDS 5. S.MILES 6. A.LEE 7. A.RAMADAN

8. C.STONE 9. T.DERRY (55) 10. C.McKENZIE (72) 11. J.TURNER

SUBS USED: 16. J.HEALY (55) 14. A.READ (72, 80) 15. J.SMALL (80)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. L.SMITH 17. D.IBRAHIM

BOOKINGS: 9. T.DERRY (38) 8. C.STONE (81)

SENT OFF: 5.S.MILES (41)

MERSTHAM:

A.TANGARA 2. S.COOPER 3. B.HARRISON (57) 4. J.HUTCHINS 5. O.COOK 6. T.KAVANGH (65) 7. K.SAMUELS

8. K.BEANEY 9. W.FIGUEIRA 10. G.SOW 11. F.SARAIVA (75)

SUBS USED: 15. M.ABNETT (57) 12. D.BENNETT (65) 14. R.MICHAEL-PERCIL

SUBS NOT USED: 16. C.DAVIES 17. T.HENRIQUES

BOOKINGS: 6. T.KAVANGH (49)

SENT OFF: 5. O.COOK (41)

REFEREE: Mr M.RYAN

ASSISTANTS: Mr N.DUNN & Mr D.DAVID

4TH OFFICIAL: MrJ.CRESWICK

ATTENDANCE: 2268