Tonbridge Angels 2 Metropolitan Police 0

Match 96/17/1546 - Thursday, 24th February 2018 - Bostik Premier

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Turner 27 Smith 51
Metropolitan Police (0) 0
Attendance: 380

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/6,789

The last week has been disturbing as a Tonbridge Angels supporter. The first team budget was cut following the away win at Merstham with Tom Jelley, Ryan Worrall and Dan Thompson leaving the club. We will all speculate on the whys and wherefores of the decision but with the club marooned in mid-table, it is surely prudent to write this season off and set aside those saved wages for another day.

But, out of the darkness, came encouragement. A month ago Tonbridge produced a truly awful performance at Metropolitan Police that brought condemnation and no shortage of calls for heads to roll. Today, it was the turn their visitors to look as equally ineffective.

For the first time this season three wins have been recorded on the spin; Liam Smith scored his first senior goal and the game was finished with five 18-year-olds on the pitch. The sun was shining once more (but it was bloody cold!)

The opening 10 minutes did not reflect the brightness of the sun. The Met spurned a couple of chances and Craig Stone was forced from the pitch after just six minutes to be replaced by Callum Adonis-Taylor.

Livewire Alex Akrofi, who ran the Plod ragged all afternoon had a chance on the quarter-hour before a wonderful turn and delivery sent Joe Turner clear to slide the ball past Alex Kozakis.

The loss of Stone brought about an extensive shuffle of positions in the Angels’ back line but they restricted Jonny Henly to little more than fielding practice.

Tonbridge went two-up after six second half minutes when a Turner corner found Smith at the back post to direct a header into the net. Cue, the celebrations, none more so than from his Mum, Sandra, stood next me! Photo: David Couldridge.

As play-off contenders, the Police were quite woeful and just a couple of routine saves in the final moments warmed Henly’s hands. It does make you wonder, what might have been, but we are where we are for a reason. Inconsistency.

The season is safe, it would be nice to think that with that relaxation, Tonbridge can entertain through the back end of season and win back the hearts of a few disenchanted supporters. This was a good start.

Picture courtesy of www.klmphoto.co.uk