Tonbridge (2) 3 Nelson 14, Akrofi 38 (pen), Beavan 49
Hendon (1) 1 Oliyide 9
Attendance: 428
Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/5,483
Hendon belied their league position, perilously in the bottom four, with a performance in which they were dangerous going forward but perhaps their fragility defending is reflected in that league position.
As early as the fourth minute Laste Dombaxe outpaced Mitchell Nelson to fire in a shot that brought a good save from Di Bernardo who was also equal the forward's shot from the rebound.
The early threat continued and an eighth minute lead was no more than the visitors deserved. A rare mistake from Jack Parter allowed a shot on goal that was brilliantly saved by Di Bernardo but this time the rebound fell nicely for Karl Oliyide to strike his shot into an unguarded goal.
The goal served to wake the Angels from their slumbers with Alex Akrofi bringing a low save out of Tom Lovelock after nine minutes and two minutes later the Hendon keeper did well to smother at Akrofi's feet.
Tonbridge were level after 14 minutes when a corner from Damian Scannell was met with a towering header from Nelson into the top right hand corner.
But Hendon refused to lie down and had chances to re-establish their lead with a header from Marcel Barrington that cleared the crossbar; a shot from the impressive Sam Murphy and Di Bernado needed to be alert to smother at the feet of Kezie Ibe.
Tonbridge were forced into a change after 20 minutes when Nelson tweaked a groin being substituted by Luke Blewden with Tommy Parkinson dropping back into the central defensive position vacated by Nelson.
After 34 minutes, Tom Phipp was brought down on the right-hand side of the box by a clumsy challenge. Akrofi's spot kick was accurate into the corner and needed to be as Lovelock got a hand to the ball.
Di Bernardo emphasised his man of the match credentials with a fine low save to deny Dave Diedhiou five minutes before the break.
The hosts gave themselves some breathing space three minutes into the second half when a corner from Scannell was flighted underneath the crossbar. Lovelock punched the ball up into the air under pressure; as the ball came down a header was cleared from the line but only to the head of George Beavan who converted from three yards.
Unfortunately, the rest of the second period sank into mediocrity as Tonbridge failed to capitalise on their lead mainly due to their inability to keep possession of the ball.
Despite the charitable nature of the Angels, Hendon also failed to find the threat they had posed in the first period. Di Bernardo saved well, low to his left, but otherwise Tonbridge saw the game out with relative ease.
The best news of the day was saved for the after match interview when it was revealed that Steve McKimm had extended his contract to manage the club into the 2017-18 season.
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