Tonbridge Angels are still on the road to Wembley but Bognor made them sweat as they pushed them all the way, this was Tonbridge’s second win on the trot & this could be the catalyst that gets them climbing up the League.
The game started with Bognor starting the quicker as in the 5th minute Ashton Leigh 20 yards out tried his luck but his shot went wide, 3 minutes later Tonbridge had their first chance when James Folkes got to the by-line & his low cross found Joe Turner but from 10 yards he shot wide.
Bognor were now starting to have a go without causing any real problems but in the 22nd minute they could have at least had a chance on target when a short corner was floated into the area where James Crane & Harvey White both went for the same ball & one of them headed it well wide.
A minute later & Tonbridge could have been in front when Folkes overlapping saw his low cross arrive at Turner’s feet but from 10 yards he shot wide of the goal.
In the 28th minute Bradley Letheridge picked up a loose ball & from 20 yards saw his shot go over the bar. A minute later Joshua Flint on the right cut inside & saw his shot parried away by Jonathan Henly but only to Mason Walsh who from 15 yards did not steady himself & shot high & wide. Another glorious chance came in the 37th minute when a quick free kick found Leigh on his own on the right & his cross to the back post saw Dan Smith stretching for it & his shot went into the side netting.
In the 44th minute Tonbridge made them pay for those misses as they took the lead when Folkes on the right crossed to the back post where Turner was & he swept the ball past Amadou Tangara from 10 yards.
The second half saw Bognor have a go at Tonbridge & in the 48th minute a corner into the centre saw Joe Cook’s powerful header turned around the post for a corner by Henly.
Eight minutes later Letheridge on the left beat Folkes & his cross found Smith but from 10 yards he ballooned it over the bar. In the 59th minute Tonbridge had their first real half chance of the half when Turner latched on to a loose ball & from 20 yards his goal bound effort was deflected away for a corner.
A minute later Jack Parter 25 yards out tries his luck & Tangara has to tip it over the bar & in the 62nd minute Tonbridge doubled their lead when Christ Tiehi on the right crossed into the area for Tom Derry who headed in from 8 yards.
Five minutes later & it was nearly three when Tiehi saw his 25 yard shot pushed around the post by Tangara. In the 69th minute Turner on the left finally received the ball & his cross shot went across the goal evading everyone.
Bognor were still not giving up & in the 82nd minute a corner into the area saw a shot from 8 yards fly over the bar but the Referee blew for a push in the area & a penalty given to the surprise of many. After a few pushes & shoves a minute passed & up stepped James Crane to shoot powerfully past Henly.
There were only seven minutes left when Letheridge injured himself in a challenge & had to leave the field this put Bognor down to ten men as they had used all there subs. In the mean time although a man up Tonbridge looked edgy & Bognor threw everything at them.
The referee indicated a minimum of Five minutes & this saw Bognor search for the equaliser with gusto but in the end Tonbridge survived & go into Monday’s draw.
TONBRIDGE ANGELS:
J.HENLY 2. J.FOLKES 3. J.PARTER 4. C.TIEHI 5. S.MILES 6. R.BRAY 7. J.SMALL (70)8. D’SEAN THEOBALDS 9. T.DERRY (87) 10. K.DaCOSTA 11. J.TURNER (80)
SUBS USED: 15. T.HESSION-HARRIS (70) 14. H.DONOVAN (80) 12. S.AKINDE (87)
SUBS NOT USED: 16. J.STIRMAN 17. E.McDONALD
BOOKINGS: 5. S.MILES (63) 8. D’SEAN THEOBALDS (83) 14. H.DONOVAN (89)
BOGNOR REGIS TOWN:
A.TANGARA 2. J.DANDY 3. J.CRANE 4. M.WALSH (63) 5. J.COOK 6. A.LEIGH 7. H.WHYTE (73) 8. T.LEIGH (77) 9. D.SMITH 10. J.FLINT 11. B.LETHERIDGE
SUBS USED: 12. D.TUCK (63) 14. A.HOPKINSON (73) 16. B.MENDOZA (77)
SUBS NOT USED: 15. E.WARLEY 17. M.BAKER 18. V.HENSEL
BOOKINGS: 6. A.LEIGH (83)
REFEREE: Mr T.BISHOP
ASSISTANTS: Mr T.ENSTONE & Mr V.ANEKWE
ATTENDANCE: 457