It was a worrying moment for Angels supporters when in the 16th minute they were witnessing Tom Beere being stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious ankle injury.

With Tom Parkinson probably sidelined for the remainder of the season and Craig Stone still a couple of weeks away from returning from a loan spell at Grays Athletic, Boss Steve McKimm was suddenly very short of central midfield players within a predominantly small squad.

It’s sometimes the case that in times of adversity players will come together to overcome the odds that appear to be stacked against them. Wide midfielder Joe Turner took over Beere’s role having to play a much more defensive position than he’s used to but he looked like he’d been playing there for years. Adem Ramadan came off the bench to go to the left wing position and caused problems for the hosts all afternoon.

But the afternoon for Tonbridge wasn’t just about those two players by any means. Every man in a blue shirt plus the one in the keeper’s jersey contributed to a decisive win at a place with a slope, in fact lots of different slopes, a bobbly pitch and noisy supporters to send a message to the rest of the league that their challenge for a playoff place is more than credible.

Angels did have the better of the first half and in particular Chinedu McKenzie will have been frustrated during that first 45 minutes with three good chances falling to the ex Haringey Borough man.

All the time it was goalless Whitehawk periodically did provide some threat but in truth there was only one real moment of panic for the Angels when ex Tonbridge Henry Muggeridge flighted a free kick which eluded the visitors defenders and glanced past the back post for a goal kick in first half stoppage time.

Any frustration or concern felt by the visitors during the break was immediately dispelled as the second period got underway. Central defender Sonny Miles who lost his marker placed a firm header from Turner’s corner past Melvin Minter in the Hawks goal and following that breakthrough Angels never looked back.

On 66 minutes a foul by Duane Ofori-Acheampong on Jack Parter earned the striker a caution but was to prove even more costly when Parter having dusted himself down took the free kick himself which was expertly headed by Arthur Lee into the path of Mackenzie; following his frustrations of the first period he was in no mood to miss out on scoring the Angels second goal.

The 78th minute saw Turner’s corner neatly converted by Tom Derry for the Angels third goal and the player financed by supporters was on hand to make it four for the visitors when he latched on to Ramadan’s cross in stoppage time.

It had been a disastrous half for Whitehawk who seemed particularly vulnerable in defending set pieces and they will need to improve on that if they are to survive at this level. As the goals continued to be conceded their forwards seemed to lose heart and as usual the Angels defence was in uncompromising mood. Jonny Henly had little to do but was on hand to pull out a terrific save from Nathaniel Pinney in stoppage time to gain himself a clean sheet for the 5th consecutive league game.

So ended a positive performance for the Angels on the South Coast and there was even post match good news regarding Beere whose injury appears to be less serious than first feared.