Tonbridge Angels created history by qualifying for the FA Cup first round proper since 1972 and as Tonbridge Angels it would be the first time and in doing so earned themselves £9375.

The scoreline was a little flattering as Taunton gave as good as they could but in the end Tonbridge being one level above them the class showed.

The game played in atrocious conditions with rain beating down & wind blowing across the ground saw both sides take time to settle with the conditions.

The first half chance of the game came in the 11^th minute when Alex Akrofi tried his luck from 25 yards but it went over the bar. Two minutes later & Taunton’s Ollie Chamberlain saw his shot from 20 yards go over the bar.

In the 18^th minute Tonbridge nearly took the lead when in a counter attack Tom Wood passed to Akrofi who laid the ball into the path of Joe Turner whose shot from 20 yards was pushed away by Lloyd Irish. Tonbridge took the lead in the 28^th minute when Tom Parkinson in the area laid the ball into Ben Greenhalgh & his first time shot from 12 yards beat Irish.

A minute later & Taunton nearly equalised when Dan Sullivan 20 yards out saw his shot go just over the bar. In the 31^st minute Turner collected a loose ball & from 30 yards saw his shot saved by Irish.

In the 41^st minute Sullivan was put through on goal but Jon Henly came rushing out & saved the shot with his legs this could be the turning point of the game as a minute later & Tonbridge doubled their lead when the ball into the area saw Sonny Miles head back across goal for Akrofi who volleyed in from 6 yards.

In the 2^nd minute of added time Jake Wannell fouled Akrofi & was booked for it then the half time whistle went.

The second half was only a minute old when the game went in Tonbridge’s favour as Wannell fouled Akrofi as he raced clear & the Referee gave him his second yellow card.

As per normal teams with ten men seem to thrive on adversity & in the very next minute Taunton nearly equalised when Sullivan 10 yards out on his own saw his shot go over the bar & to rub salt into the wound Tonbridge went three up 4 minutes later when Greenhalgh’s free kick from 25 yards went into the bottom right hand corner.

Taunton kept going & were causing a few problems for the Tonbridge defence but both Arthur Lee & Miles kept them out.

In the 56^th minute Taunton should have got a goal back which would have made an interesting game of it when Sullivan again found himself in the area but from 10 yards & with the goal at his mercy he miscued his shot as it went high & wide.

Four minutes later Jamie Short on the right wing cut in & his shot from 20 yards was saved by Henly. In the 64^th minute Greenhalgh 20 yards out looking for his hat trick saw his effort saved by Irish.

In the 69^th minute Taunton still going forward saw Gethin Hill receive the ball went forward & his shot from 20 yards went over the bar. Five minutes later Chamberlain saw his shot get deflected over the bar by Lee & in the very next minute in a counter attack Tonbridge scored their fourth when D’Sean Theobalds running forward got to the by-line & his low cross was diverted in by substitute Javaun Splatt.

Four minutes later Splatt could have got another goal when latched onto a loose ball & from the edge of the area his shot was saved by Irish. In the very next minute Taunton had a glorious chance to get a consolation goal when the ball into the six yard box saw Hill launch himself at it but unfortunately for him the ball went over the bar.

Another chance came in the 86^th minute when substitute Jason Williams saw his curling effort from 20 yards pushed away by Irish. In the second minute off added on time Greenhalgh on the left got to the by-line & crossed to the back post where Turner rose & headed in.

It nearly became six when Turner put Splatt through into the area but from 8 yards he shot into the sidenetting, then the final whistle went & as most people will know there was no crowd to cheer them on.

Tonbridge will now watch the draw on Monday evening to find out who they play next while Taunton will concentrate on their League but can be proud on how they played

TONBRIDGE ANGELS:

1. J.HENLY 2. J.PARTER 3. K.CAMPBELL 4. D. THEOBALDS 5. S.MILES 6. A.LEE 7. B.GREENHALGH

8. T.PARKINSON (61) 9. T.WOOD (76) 10. A.AKROFI (68) 11. J.TURNER

SUBS USED: 12. T.BEERE (61) 16. J.SPLATT (68) 17. J.WILLIAMS (76)

SUBS NOT USED: 14. R.BRAY 15. K.DaCOSTA 18. E.McDONALD

BOOKINGS: NONE

TAUNTON TOWN:

L.IRISH 2. J.SHORT (71) 3. J.FOULSTON 4. B.ADELSBURY 5. N.GRAMES 6. J.WANNELL

7. O.CHAMBERLAIN 14. G.HILL 9. T.HOLMES (62) 10. D.SULLIVAN 11. J.GUEST (52)

SUBS USED: 8. L.LUCAS (52) 17. O.HOWE (62) 15. D.McBEAM (71)

SUBS NOT USED: 16. J.COPP 18. R.STALEY

BOOKINGS: 4. B.ADELSBURY (35) 6. J.WANNELL (45+2) & (46) 1. L.IRISH (46)

SENT OFF: 6. J.WANNEL TWO BOOKINGS

REFEREE: Mr A. BLAKE

ASSISTANTS: Mr W.BRIARS & Mr. A.ANDREWS

4^th OFFICIAL: Mr L.VITORIA

Picture supplied by Wes Filtness