The Angels and the Marketmen served up a thriller with the result in doubt until the very end.

Angels opened the scoring in the 9th minute when following a strong run down the left Alex Akrofi cut in and was brought down in the area. Joe Turner converted the spot kick giving Needham Market keeper Daniel Gay no chance.

The lead only lasted eight minutes with Diaz Wright for the Suffolk side scoring following a free kick.

Despite chances for Tonbridge through Akrofi and Nathan Elder it was Needham Market who took the lead on 31 minutes when following pressure in the Angels penalty area an own goal was conceded by Tom Jelley.

Parity was restored in the 41st minute when a through ball caught the Needham Market defence napping and Elder ran through with a clever shot past Gay that crept in at the far past.

Three minutes into the second half Angels were once again in the lead when Akrofi got his head to a Turner cross and the game appeared to be won for the home side when 12 minutes later Elder headed in at the near post from a corner.

Needham Market however had other ideas and their pressure brought rewards through a controversial penalty on 69 minutes converted by Daniel Morphew and when Jamie Griffiths equalised in the 84th minute they looked perhaps the favourites to take all the points.

In the 90th minute it was the home side that won the game through an own goal by Luke Ingram. It was cruel on Needham Market but the Angels won’t be worrying too much.

Afterwards, Angels boss, Steve McKimm said: “This evening myself and the players will enjoy the win. Allowing for the fact that some players were in non-preferred positions I thought they all worked their socks off. There were some tired legs out there.”

Pictures supplied by Wesley Filtness.