What a productive few days it has been for Tonbridge Angels with 6 points and 7 goals as they won their second home game in three days. This was a bit tamer than Saturday but defensively a lot better.

Tonbridge started the brighter of the two teams and in the 7^th minute nearly opened the scoring when Joe Turner’s free kick into the area was met by Nathan Elder’s head but it hit the top of the crossbar.

Two minutes later a ball forward saw Alex Akrofi latch onto it and beating the onrushing keeper Jake Jessup in the area then saw his low cross eventually cleared, Thurrock had their best chance in the 17^th minute when Dennis Oli was put through on goal but from 8 yards Jon Henly saved his shot.

The rest of the half saw Tonbridge dominate possession and chances. In the 23^rd minute Turner crossed into the area for Akrofi who turned quickly but saw his goal bound shot blocked for a corner, two minutes later Bradley Stevenson cross to the back post saw Akrofi’s diving header go just wide of the post.

Akrofi was causing the Thurrock defenders problems with his speed and power, in the 29^th minute a ball played up to he saw him battle with the defender and get his shot away only for it to be deflected wide.

In the 37th minute Jack Parter and Turner combined leaving Turner time to shoot from 20 yards and it just went wide of the post.

Tonbridge supporters and management were beginning to think it would not be their night and then in the 42^nd minute they scored, a Turner free kick into the area saw Jessup attempt to punch it clear but it hit a defender and Elder reacted first and volleyed into the net.

The second half was a closer game as Thurrock had to come out and try to get a goal back while Tonbridge tried to play like they did in the first.

In the 51^st minute Tonbridge doubled their lead when Parter on the left got to the by-line and his cross to the near post was headed in by Akrofi.

Chances were few in this half probably down to Tonbridge not wanting to concede and Thurrock despite playing better than the first half not really creating much.

In the 68^th minute Tonbridge nearly made it three with the direct way, Henly’s long ball was flicked on by Elder for Akrofi to race onto and from 20 yards his attempted lob went just past the post.

Time was running out and in the 90^th +1 minute Thurrock got a consolation goal when a cross to the back post saw Lewiss Spence head in from 6 yards.

There were still another 5 minutes of added on time which became a little tense but Tonbridge held out and deservedly claimed the three points.

 

 

TONBRIDGE ANGELS:

1. HENLY 2.  T.JELLEY    3. J.PARTER     4.  X.VIDAL    5. S.MILES    6. C.STONE     7. B.STEVENSON (88) 8. R.WORRALL 9. N.ELDER (82)   10. A.AKROFI (90+4)       11. J.TURNER

SUBS USED:  12. D.THOMPSON (82)  16. L.SMITH (88)  17. T-J KWAYIE (90+4)

SUBS NOT USED:   14. D.WELSH  15. J.FENTON

BOOKINGS:  8. R.WORRELL (40)

 

THURROCK:

1. JESSOP 2. R.MORGAN   3. R.BUTTON   4. J.CLARK     5. G.WINN (70)    6. J.GOODE    7. J.PRICE (45) 8. L.SPENCE 9. C.STIMSON    10. D.OLI    11. J.CHRISTOU

SUBS USED:  12. T.OGUNRINDE (45)  16. C.BAFFOUR-AKOTO (70)

SUBS NOT USED:  13. J.SCAMMELL  14. A.KAMARA  15. R.McFARLANE

BOOKINGS:  2. R.MORGAN (3)  11. J.CHRISTOU (20) 8.L.SPENCE (40)  9. C.STIMSON (90+1)

 

REFEREE:    Mr. S.SCOTT

ASSISTANTS:     Mr. D.MIRZADEH    &   Mr. E.WALKER

ATTENDANCE: 251