Tonbridge Angels 2 Truro City 1

Match 96/23/2219 - Saturday, 23rd March 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 2 Higgs 84 Fielding 90+3
Truro City (0) 1 Josh Hinds 65
Attendance: 1,033
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/6,814

Jordan Higgs had one of those days! At fault for the goal that saw the Angels slip behind, his shot from the left side of the penalty area brought his side level before a last gasp winner from Jamie Fielding sealed the points with Higgs taking home the Man of the Match award.

On a day at the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium when early arrivals were greeted with a hailstorm but the afternoon turned to bright sunshine, Jay Saunders’ hand was forced with illness and injury hitting the squad. Sean Shields (illness), Nathan Odokonyero and Kodi Lyons-Foster (injuries) dropped out of the squad with Matty Mcarthur making his first start whilst Lewis Gard and Scott Wagstaff returned to the starting XI.

The first half was largely dominated by the Angels, who employed Gard as their furthest forward, but it was little more than gentle probing and the visiting Cornishmen packed their rearguard limiting the home side to precious few openings, the best of which fell to Wagstaff who shot over after two minutes and a free kick from Liam Vincent that similarly cleared the bar.

At the other end, Jonny Henly was largely unemployed, fielding with ease an effort from Connor Riley-Lowe, under a challenge from Mo Dabre.

The second half started and continued in much the same vein. An early chance for Macarthur was too high and, on 58 minutes, Higgs danced his way into the box but found himself crowded out by the massed ranks of red and black striped shirts.

Skipper Scott Wagstaff, who had taken a ball in the face in the first half, was substituted for Josh Popoola.

It was almost unthinkable that, on 65 minutes, Truro took the lead when Higgs stumbled on the ball on the edge of his box to be robbed by Josh Hinds (Tariq’s brother) who had an open goal to roll the ball into.

Tonbridge continued to push forward in search of something out of the game with Academy striker Hayden Velvick now on the pitch and finally, with six minutes remaining, Truro’s resistance was broken when a corner was only partially cleared to Higgs whose cleanly hit shot nestled into the bottom corner.

Now searching a winner, Jamie Fielding was pressed forward and the chances began to open up for the Angels with Gard firing over; Higgs steering a header wide from Liam Vincent’s cross before, in the third of five added minutes, Popoola wriggled his way to the byline to despatch a low cross that evaded bodies to find Fielding at the back post to touch home.