Tonbridge Angels 2 Dulwich Hamlet 2

Match 71/21/1935 - Saturday, 11th December 2021 - League One

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Turner 28 (pen) Smith-Joseph 79
Dulwich Hamlet (1) 2 Green 70 Higgs 84
Attendance: 798

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/4,010

This was day when football was the winner. A terrific game of football when both sets of supporters in a crowd of nearly 800 would agree that the result was the right one. A day when fourth from bottom Tonbridge Angels went toe to toe with third placed Dulwich Hamlet and a day when the match day mini beer festival was drank dry!

Anyone that has visited Champion Hill would have witnessed that Dulwich supporters like a drop of real ale, so it’s no secret that the first festival was scheduled with that knowledge! From around an hour before kick off through to 70 minutes into the game, the queue was continuous and the kegs of Tonbridge Brewery and Constellation were going down a treat.

On the field, Tonbridge Angels announced a new signing, Adam Coombs, a striker from Cray Wanderers, who took his place on the bench. Tommy Parkinson, Ricky Modeste, Doug Loft and Craig Braham-Barrett were all unavailable through injury.

Jonny Henly was the first to be tested, turning a free kick from Giovanni McGregor over the bar and Dulwich largely dominated the opening 20 minutes.

But it was the home side that took the lead after 28 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after Aaron Smith-Joseph’s wing play and cross into Joe Turner, whose initial shot was parried by Charlie Grainger at the near post but as the ball rebounded to the Angels’ leading scorer he was clumsily brought down. Turner converted from the spot.

Tonbridge might have gone two-up just five minutes later when Jake Embery was through on goal following a sublime pass from Turner, but after rounding the Dulwich goalkeeper, the ball ran away from him.

Tonbridge went into the break probably just about deserving their lead, meanwhile the half-time queue at the beer stall was getting longer!

Dulwich were obviously going to go for it after the break and whilst Turner went close on 54 minutes, good chances were spurned at the other end and, on 67 minutes, Henly made what is becoming his weekly miraculous save from Jack Holland.

But the reprieve was short lived as Danny Mills opened up the Tonbridge defence before Jordan Green slotted past Henly.

Dulwich now had the momentum and Darren McQueen should have done better that shoot straight at Henly, but the visitors were rocked back on their heels after 79 minutes when a cross from Smith-Joseph was inexplicably fumbled into his own net by Grainger.

But thoughts of an unexpected three points were quickly dashed when a 25 yarder into the top corner from Jordan Higgs brought the scores level once more.

Tonbridge sought a winner, Holland making a last ditch challenge to deny Ibrahim Olutade but ultimately the clock ticked through its added time just as Tonbridge broke out from defending a corner.

Great game, well worth a celebratory beer, but the sold out signs were up!