Tonbridge Angels won their first game in five with a patient and workman like performance against a team that was scrapping for their lives to stay in this league.

Tonbridge had more of the possession & in the end deserved the three points which keeps them in the hunt for a play-off place.

The game started with Tonbridge on the front foot and taking the game to the Police, in only the third minute they nearly scored when Tom Phipp in the middle of the park passed into the path of James Folkes on the right wing and he cut inside and saw his curling shot from 20 yards go just past the post.

Seven minutes later Damien Scannell 20 yards out tries his luck forcing Billy Bishop to push his shot out but unfortunately no one was quick enough to latch onto it. In the 15^th minute Police nearly scored against the run of play when Lloyd Macklin crossed into the area where Roman Michael-Percil was and headed back across the area for Charlie Collins whose header went inches past the post.

Tonbridge continued to press forward without causing any scares for the police until the 26^th minute when Tom Parkinson 22 yards out saw his chip beat Bishop and just go over the bar and then 5 minutes later Nathan Elder on the edge of the area passed out to Jack Parter who twisting and turning saw his shot from 18 yards fly past the post.

In the 33^rd minute Scannell latched onto a loose ball and from 20 yards his shot was saved by Bishop and 3 minutes later Parkinson running towards goal saw his 20 yard effort pushed away by Bishop and cleared for a corner. In the 39^th minute Police took the lead against the run of play when Mekhall McLaughlin’s cross into the area caused confusion and Macklin from 8 yards drove home and in the 43^rd minute they nearly doubled their lead when a long ball forward was flicked on for Michael-Percil who saw Tony Di-Bernardo rush out and his lobbed shot from 25 yards was caught by Di-Bernardo. Half time arrived and most of the crowd were in shock and wondered if this was going to be a grab and smash raid by the Police.

The second half started with Luke Blewden coming on for George Beavan and this seemed to get the Angels going. In the 51^st minute Tonbridge equalised when Parter on the left wing crossed into the area and Alex Akrofi beat Bishop to the ball and headed into an empty net.

Three minutes later a Blewden long throw into the area caused confusion and the ball rebounded around the area before eventually flashing across the area for a goal kick. In the 61^st minute Police had their first half chance of the half when Michael-Percil’s cross saw Di-Bernardo parry it away but only to Collins whose shot was headed away for a corner by Parkinson.

In the 66^th minute Tonbridge took the lead when Parter on the left crossed into the area where Elder 8 yards out flicked on for Blewden on the far post and his shot hit the back of the net. The rest of the game saw the Police get a lot more of the ball whilst Tonbridge relied on breakaways.

The Police had a couple of half chances when in the 75^th minute a cross to the back post saw Luke Robertson’s flicked header go just past the post and in the 86^th minute Michael-Percil on the left cut in and twisting and turning in the area saw his shot pushed away by Di-Bernardo with no one there to smack the rebound home.

The final whistle went and there was relief all round the stadium after only picking up one point out of 12 over the Christmas period.

Tonbridge Angels;

1. Di-Bernado 2. J.Folkes  3. J.Parter  4. T.Parkinson  5. M.Nelson  6. G.Beavan (45)  7. T.Phipp (78)
2. L.Allen 9. N.Elder  10. A.Akrofi (90)  11. D.Scannell

Subs Used:  16. L.Blewden (45)  14. T.Whinell (78)  15. S.Sollis (90)

Subs Not Used:  12. B.Fortnum-Tomlinson  17. S.Copeland

Bookings: None

Metropolitan Police:

1. Bishop 2. W.Salmon  3. M.Mclaughlin  4. S.Sutherland  5. O.Robertson  6. R.Bartley (57)
2. L.Robertson (73) 8. O.Sogbanmu  9. C.Collins  10. L.Macklin (90)

Subs Used:  18. T.Hickey (57)  17. O.Smith (73)  15. D.Summers (90)

Subs Not Used:  12. S.Williams  14  J.Harper

Bookings:  3. M.Mclaughlin (29)  18. T.Hickey (69)

Referee:  Mr M.Ryan

Assistants: Mr J.Hobbs & Mr C.Fidler