Angels fell to their second defeat of the bank holiday weekend going down 3-2 to Folkestone Invicta following a 2-0 reverse at Harrow Borough on the Saturday.

It was a combination of a defence unable to deal with the pacy Invicta forwards combined with a crucial failure to take some very good chances.

There was plenty to keep the crowd entertained during a lively first 45 minutes – a credit to the players bearing in mind the record August temperatures.

It was the visitors who showed first with a fine run from Scott Heard whose eventual shot was just over the bar. That seemed to wake the Angels into action with Andre McCollin put through beautifully by Craig Stone but his effort was bravely blocked by an Invicta defender.

On 12 minutes Joe Turner for Tonbridge hit the crossbar with an audacious lob but two minutes later he was to go one better opening the scoring for the home side with a drilled shot from just outside the area that seemed to deceive Folkestone keeper Tim Roberts.

The visitors were to equalise on 21 minutes through an Adam Yusuff penalty following a foul in the area by George Beavan who was beaten on pace, but the parity was only maintained for three minutes when Nathan Elder rose highest to meet a Joe Turner corner restoring the home side’s lead.

The last 20 minutes of the half saw chances fall to both sides. Elder turned brilliantly in the box but his shot was saved by Roberts while at the other end following sloppy Angels defending Ian Draycott missed a glorious chance. His colleague Heard should have done better in the 31st minute as the ball rolled across the home goal area.

A succession of Invicta corners put pressure on the home defence but they answered that with Joe Turner again hitting the woodwork, Kinnear bursting through bemused Folkestone defenders and finally McCollin through on goal but a great block by Roberts.

In terms of action, the second half certainly lived up to the first period but it was to prove a 45 minutes Angels supporters will want to forget. Invicta gave notice of intent with an excellent run from Adam Yusuff which forced Henly into a fine save. Although Elder got a decent header in from McCollin’s cross the tables were shortly to be turned in dramatic fashion.

That man Yusuff was again at the heart of the attack splitting the Angels defence and providing Heard with the easiest of tap ins for Invicta’s equalising goal. The side from the Kent Coast then went for the jugular with a well delivered corner that provided full back Joshua Vincent with the prefect header to put the visitors in front for the first time in the 53rd minute.

Invicta could have put daylight between themselves and their hosts as this point but once again Henly kept his side in the game with an excellent save from Heard. Tonbridge attempted to steady the ship and started to create some chances of their own but they simply weren’t taken. Turner, McCollin, and substitute Dan Thompson will all have nightmares at a series of glaring misses which perhaps should have at least given Tonbridge a share of the points but it simply wasn’t to be.

That said it could have been worse for the home side with Yusuff missing a huge chance for the visitors in the 72nd minute when it seemed easier to score.

Afterwards, Angels manager, Steve McKimm said: “We simply weren’t good enough in either box, defending or attacking. Yes, it was the kind of game that could have ended 6-6 but it was a dreadful first 10 minutes in the second half for us. Players have held their hands up in there, they will need to learn and fast, otherwise they will be sitting beside me on the bench or looking for another club.”