Tonbridge Angels got their first points of the New Year after a below par performance against Weymouth according to manager Jay Saunders.
Weymouth will go away from Kent disappointed that they came away with nothing but it didn’t do them any damage as the four teams below did not gain anything either while Tonbridge get closer to the Play-Offs.
The first half saw Tonbridge in control of the game but they did not take their chances while the second half saw Weymouth have a right go at winning.
The first half chance of the game came in the 7th minute when Jernade Meade saw his 20 yard effort go just past the post then five minutes later Jordan Greenidge on the left crossed into the area for Tariq Hinds & his shot was blocked & cleared.
In the 19th minute Weymouth had their first chance when in form Brandon Goodship 15 yards out on his own scuffed his shot wide.
Three minutes later Alfie Rutherford saw his snap shot from 25 yards palmed away by Jon Henly. In the 23rd minute Mohammed Dabre on the right wing went past two defenders & set Ansu Janneh up but his 15 yard chip was saved by Gerrard Benfield.
In the 35th minute Tonbridge took a well deserved lead when Lewis Gard received the ball from a throw in on the left wing & then beat the defender & ran along the by-line & then passed into the path of Greenidge who from one foot stabbed home.
The lead only lasted seven minutes when a ball over the top saw Rutherford in the area flick it forward for Tom Bearwish who from an acute angle flicked the ball over Henly.
The half time whistle went & Jay Saunders would have been livid & told the players while Bobby Wilkinson would have been delighted & would like them to take the game to Tonbridge.
The second half started with Weymouth on the front foot & in the 51st minute the ball came across the 18yard area & Bearwish saw his shot go just wide.
Five minutes later Tonbridge had their first chance when substitute Paris Lock latched onto the ball ran forward into the area & from an acute angle saw his shot saved by Benfield & cleared.
In the 65th minute Hinds speeding down the right wing passed to Lock who saw his cross shot evaded everyone. In the 72nd minute Tonbridge restored their lead against the run of play when Sean Shields corner into the near post was flicked into the net by Skipper Kodi Lyons-Foster.
Weymouth would now throw everything at Tonbridge to get an equaliser but Tonbridge held on & in the 4th minute of added on time nearly increased their lead when the ball down the left wing saw Benfield come out of his area to get it but Lock beat him to it & he saw his shot go into the side netting.
TONBRIDGE ANGELS:
- J.HENLY 3. K.LYONS-FOSTER 5. L.GARD 8. J.HIGGS 12. T.HINDS 14. M.DABRE (77) 17. E.SUTCLIFFE 18. J.GREENIDGE 19. J.MEADE 23. S.SHIELDS 27. A.JANNEH (45).
SUBS USED: 11. P.LOCK (45) 2. J.FIELDING (77)
SUBS NOT USED: 7. F.MAMPOLO 9. O.YEBOAH 13. N.GIBB (GK)
BOOKINGS: NONE
WEYMOUTH:
- G.BENFIELD 2. T.HOWE V 3.L.HAMBLIN 4. J.COOK 6. O.DUROJAIYE 7. A.RUTHERFORD (75) 8. T.BEARWISH 10. B.GOODSHIP 12. H.PARSONS 17. C.BROOKS 18. C.ROWE (75)
SUBS USED: 11. M.LINTON (75) 14. E.TOURAY (75)
SUBS NOT USED: 5. J.THOMPSON 9. D.ROBERTS 15. E.BOLTON
BOOKINGS: 18. C.ROWE (44) 12. H.PARSONS (83) 2. T.HOWE (90+3)
REFEREE: Mr J.BLOXHAM
ASSISTANTS: Mr J.HALL & Mr S.PARBURY
ATTENDANCE: 1130