Tonbridge Angels upset the form guide with an emphatic win against Leatherhead who had won 7 of their last 8 games & this victory gets their promotion push back as they go back into the play offs positions.
The game started slowly & in the first 20 minutes only two half chances came when first in the 7th minute a header flicked on for Luke Blewden who ran towards the goal & his shot from 20 yards was saved by Louie Wells, then in the next minute Stephen Okoh in the area beat Jack Parter to the by-line & saw his shot hit the side netting.
In the 20th minute Blewden flicked a ball forward for Nathan Elder who muscled his way into the area & was just about to shoot when Phil Walsh got back & tackled him conceding a corner & from the corner into the area saw Walsh head it upwards forcing Wells & Adam Green to clear but only to Bradley Wood-Garness who struck his shot into the back of the net from 15 yards.
In the 24th minute a ball to the back post found Okoh & his shot was saved by Anthony Di Bernardo. In the very next minute Tonbridge should have doubled their lead when a long ball found Blewden in the area on his own but from 15 yards his shot was saved by Well’s legs.
Two minutes later Nick Wheeler conjured up a chance for himself when he received the ball 30 yards out & ran forward before shooting from 20 yards just past the post. Another chance came in the 34th minute when a corner into the six yard box was missed by Wells & Tom Parkinson on the back post headed over the bar.
Two minutes later Wood-Garness on the left cut inside & his shot from the edge of the area forced Wells to save at the foot of the post.
The second half saw Leatherhead have quite a lot of possession but did not force Di Bernado to have to make one save whilst Tonbridge had the chances to score.
In the 55th minute Blewden controlled the ball & then passed out wide to Charlie Webster who twisted & turned before getting his shot away but it was saved by Wells.
In the 70th minute Webster’s cross was met by Elder but his header was saved, another chance came five minutes later when Wheeler’s free kick was swung into the area for Blewden whose header was saved.
Tonbridge eventually doubled their lead when another Wheeler free kick to the back post was headed back by Tom Parkinson for Elder 5 yards out & he stabbed the ball home, then in the 85th minute it was three when Webster saw his low cross diverted into his own net by Phil Walsh.
The final curtain came down in the 3rd minute of added on time when Wheeler on the left passed inside for Luke Allen who rode a challenge got to the by-line before crossing low for Blewden who side footed home.
The final whistle went & what a result for the Angels & a confidence boost after only winning 1 in 10 beforehand.
TONBRIDGE ANGELS:
- DI BERNARDO 2. J.PARTER 3. B.HARRISON 4. T.PARKINSON 5. J.SOBERS 6. S.MILES (45) 7. B.WOOD-GARNESS (45) 8. A.RIVIERE 9. N.ELDER (83) 10. L.BLEWDEN 11. N.WHEELER
SUBS USED: 12. L.BALL (45) 16. C.WEBSTER (45) 15. L.ALLEN (83)
SUBS NOT USED: 14. T.WHITNELL 17. J.BRIVIO
BOOKINGS: NONE
LEATHERHEAD:
- WELLS 2. A.CASH 3. A.GREEN 4. P.SEMAKULA 5. P.WALSH 6. J.NNAMANI 7. R.MAHAL (80) 8. A.BROWN 9. F.COLLIN 10. K HUGHES-MASON 11. S.OKOH
SUBS USED: 14. K.MARTIN (80)
SUBS NOT USED: 12. J.GALLAGHER 15. E.LOPES 16. L.DOWNEY 17. T.SMITH
BOOKINGS: 2. A.CASH (50)
REFEREE: Mr S.BUTLER
ASSISTANTS: Mr J.OWEN & Mr G.CHILDS
ATTENDANCE: 335