Farnborough (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Shields 11,65
Attendance: 1,007
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 154/836
Jay Saunders’ troops put on a near perfect away performance to bring maximum points home from Hampshire with two goals from Sean Shields and a resolute defensive performance.
There’s barely a National League South supporter, let alone a manager, that doesn’t know what to expect from a trip to Farnborough. From the moment the first cross or long throw is hurled into the box, you know that another 89 are going to follow. Defenders need to be brave and be concentrated and when that defence is breached, as inevitably it will, your goalkeeper is needed to be at the top of his game.
Jay reflected at the final whistle: ““What really pleased me was you have to stand up to Farnborough and we did that. First 15 minutes we were a bit slow, but once we got our goal it was a real solid away performance”
A warm afternoon, and to be fair a warm welcome, welcomed a strong Bank Holiday following from Tonbridge to Cherrywood Road with Jay making two changes to the side held at a home by Bath City on Saturday. Jeremy Santos and Taylor Maloney came in for Mo Dabre and Scott Wagstaff, who both took places on the bench.
Farnborough, who suffered their first defeat on Saturday after three straight wins, were quickly on the front foot and Angels’ goalkeeper, Toby Steward, was called in action twice in the opening five minutes. A free kick lofted into the box found the head of Ollie Robinson, but Steward dived low to comfortably gather. But there was nothing comfortable about his save on nine minutes when he denied Robinson with a superb reaction save from close range and followed this with another great save from the resultant corner.
A succession of corners were defended before, on the counter attack, the Angels were in front. Trevan Robinson won the ball on the right hand side, outpaced his marker pulling a cross into the box for Shields to collect, turn and fire past Farnborough goalkeeper, Jack Turner,
Tonbridge might well have doubled their lead on 21 minutes when Trevan Robinson’s pace, to which the home defence had no answer, took him clear but Turner made a good save.
Despite the continued aerial assault, the Angels defence were reasonably comfortable and, on the break, they were causing greater concern to the hosts with half chances falling to Robinson and Fielding.
Farnborough’s Sam Smart brought an early save out of Steward and Ollie Robinson blasted a shot high, wide and not too handsome from a handy position.
Worse was to follow for Farnborough’s Robinson when he was robbed by his Tonbridge namesake on 65 minutes for Trevan to surge into the box before unselfishly laying the ball off for Shields to fire through the legs of the advancing Turner.
A goal line clearance from Liam Vincent was needed on 67 minutes but Tonbridge were now controlling the tempo of the game. Ten minutes remained when Shields turned provider for Trevan but the striker’s effort was saved by Turner.
The home side’s misery was compounded with three minutes remaining when Millar Matthews-Lewis saw red, following a second caution.
Jay Saunders added after the game: “The energy and fitness levels on a Monday after a Saturday were really impressive. Trevan was outstanding today, his work rate, his pace, he caused them all sorts of problems and they are two good centre halves at this level. I’m gutted for him that he didn’t get his goal.”
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