At the final whistle of the final Ryman Premier match of the season it was difficult to assess whether the home crowd were happy at the 2-1 win or still smarting at the narrow failure to reach the play offs particularly as the league table was to reveal that the Angels had failed by just one point to join the end of season 4 way competition to claim that second coveted promotion place for National South.

There was no doubt how the manager felt. In his post match interview, Steve McKimm said: “We had with respect to those teams involved, three final winnable matches, we’ve won two of them but failed at Folkestone simply because we didn’t put in anything like enough effort. I learnt a lot from that match but I’m still frustrated.”

As far as this match was concerned, Angels deserved the three points overall and perhaps should have won the game more comfortably.

The home side were in the ascendancy through most of the first half with a decent chance for Alex Akrofi as early as the 5th minute whose header was just over. Further chances for the home side then came for Dan Thompson in the 8th minute forcing a good save from Worthing keeper Kieron Thorp, and a minute later Mitchell Nelson saw his header cleared off the line by Will Hendon.

Tonbridge opened their account in the 13th minute when the away defence failed to properly clear a Liam Smith cross and Nicky Wheeler was on hand to rifle the ball past Thorp. The Angels were further ahead in the 23rd minute after Thompson’s clever flick put Luke Blewden clear to round Thorp.

Worthing were handed a way back into the game with a dreadful mix up between Sonny Miles and keeper Jonny Henly with Worthing’s Ben Pope able to virtually walk the ball into an empty net in the 28th minute.

The second period saw the away side gradually come into the game more but not before Angels substitute Luke Allen should have made the game safe in the 65th minute after a great set up by Akrofi, but he somehow blazed over from around 5 yds out. Almost inevitably, Worthing were going to get at least one big chance.

That came in the 76th minute when Lloyd Dawes was through on goal but Henly was equal to the task blocking the shot with no Worthing player able to take advantage of the rebound.

Deep in stoppage time Sid Sollis could have put a more respectable look to the scoreline from a Tonbridge perspective but was off target with a spectacular volley following a fine cross from Allen.

After the match the Supporters Player of the Year was announced that being Jack Parter with skipper Tom Parkinson runner up for the third season running. Well done to both players.

Pictures supplied by Wesley Flitness.