Tonbridge Angels are still on the road to Wembley but had an uncomfortable last ten minutes that made the end of the game nervier than it might have been, having been in charge for 80 minutes, but fair play to Merstham who kept going until the final whistle.

The game started quickly for Tonbridge as they took control of the game, in the 7^th minute Sean Shields in the area twisted around and saw his shot cleared of the line by Jude Molloy.

Then two minutes they took the lead when Shields corner into the six-yard box bounced back for Treven Robinson to stab home from three yards.

In the 11^th minute Tonbridge nearly doubled their lead when Liam Vincent on the left wing crossed into the area for Robinson whose header from six yards came back off the crossbar and Dean Gunner headed away for a corner.

Another chance came in the 15^th minute when Robinson was put through on the right, he went into the area, but his shot went across the area for a goal kick. Three minutes later Jeremy Santos passed out to Vincent who went into area, but he saw his shot parried away by Rob Tolfrey.

In the 26^th minute Santos saw his 35-yard free kick go just wide. Merstham had their first chance of the game in the 32^nd minute when Sam King received the ball in the area, his shot went wide of the post. A minute later a Tonbridge corner was cleared but straight to Taylor Mahoney, his first time shot from 25 yards went just wide.

Another chance came in the 36^th minute when a Shields corner to the back post saw Nazir Bakrin stretching for it, he got his foot to it, and it came back off the cross bar.

Half time arrived and most people were amazed that Tonbridge only led by one so Jay Saunders would want his team to be more clinical going into the second period.

The second half continued with Tonbridge in total control and in the 49^th minute they doubled their lead when a Shields corner to the back post was headed in by Jamie Fielding from five yards.

Three minutes later they nearly scored again when Shields on the left crossed into the area where it was headed back into the six-yard box for Robinson who saw his overhead kick go just over the bar.

For all the possession and chances created Tonbridge were not through yet and against the run of play Merstham scored in the 76^th minute when a corner into the six-yard box was half punched it and Harry Pointing headed in from three yards.

Suddenly the game changed as Tonbridge went from total control to wanting the referee to blow for full time. In the 81^st minute again against the run of play Vincent on the left saw his cross hacked over the bar by Pointing. Then in the 85^th minute Lee Lewis saw his 25-yard effort go just wide. In the 88^th minute Ben Senior was quickest to the ball, his lob from 30 yards on the right came back off the cross bar.

The referee stated that there would be another six minutes to go which caused the Tonbridge faithful concern but they survived and are into the hat for the draw on Monday lunchtime.

       Tonbridge Angels:

1. T.Steward    2. C.Lame (71)  6. R.Nelson    7. M.Dabre  8. T.Mahoney  9. T.Robinson (71)

14.  J.Fielding  17. L.Vincent  18. N.Bakrin  20 J.Santos  23. S.Shields

Subs Used: 12. T.Hinds (71)  19. T.Abraham (71)

Subs Not Used: 5. J.Tyrie  10. N.Leighton  11. F.Shomotun  13. A.Norburn  16. R.Clarke

Bookings:  None

        Mertsham:

1. R.Tolfrey    2. O.Khinda  3. J.Molloy  4. H.Pointing  5. M.Drage (66)  6. D.Gunner (80) 7. O.Lawal

8.   L.Lewis  20. K.Henry (57) 10. S.King (45+3)  11. B.Oram

Subs Used:  14. A.Vendrells Parceries (45+3) 18. A.Jenkins (57) 10. B.Senior (66)  9. A.Brown (80)

Subs Not Used:  13. S.Allen

Bookings:  2. O.Khinda (5)  10. S.King (35)

Referee: Mr. M.Norton

Assistants:  Mr. N.Reece & Mr. Y.Yekta

Fourth Official:  Mr. G.Walker

Att: 866

Image courtesy of Tonbridge Angels FC