Tonbridge Angels 2 Harrow Borough 1

Match 74/17/1524 - Saturday, 23rd December 2017 - Bostik Premier

Tonbridge Angels (0) 2 Akrofi 51 Elder 75
Harrow Borough (0) 1 Cumberbatch 72 (pen)
Attendance: 377

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/4,811

To get back into the play-off mix, it is felt that this Christmas period needs to yield a substantial haul of available points albeit that the Billericay circus comes to town on New Year’s Day.

So, following a first half as dull as any I’ve seen this season, the three points hard-earned in the second period were a welcome start to the festive season.

It took 28 minutes for me to make the first entry into my notebook, a tame header from Ryan Moss comfortably saved by Jonny Henly, an effort that I wouldn’t normally bother to record. Six minutes later following a Dan Bennett corner, Nathan Elder’s header was also comfortably dealt with by Melvin Minter and that was it for the first half “entertainment”.

The second period started brighter and Tonbridge went ahead six minutes into the half. Alex Akrofi was sent clear by Xavier Vidal, as he rounded the goalkeeper, he stumbled to the ground but bounced back up to roll the ball into the empty net.

The home side with their tails up created further chances with Tom Jelley flashing a cross across the face of goal; Akrofi brought a low save out of Minter before they were awarded a penalty after 63 minutes when substitute Sam Bantick was felled in the area. Joe Turner’s spot kick was well struck but too close to Minter who pushed the ball up onto the underside of the bar completing the save as the ball rebounded into his hands.

Ten minutes later the price was paid for the miss as Harrow were awarded a penalty of their own when Sahr Kabba was brought down. Kurtis Cumberbatch despatched his spot kick sending Henly the wrong way.

The visitor’s parity lasted just three minutes when Akrofi latched onto a woeful back pass and although forced wide rounding the keeper he had the presence of mind to stand up a cross for Elder to head home.

Lady Luck smiled on the Angels with five minutes remaining when a Harrow corner was headed against the right hand post with the rebound dropping into Henly’s welcoming hands.

Dan Thompson brought a low save out of Minter as Tonbridge saw out an extended period of time added to send their supporters home to their Christmas preparations in good spirits.