Tonbridge Angels 1 AFC Hornchurch 0

Match 104/18/1697 - Saturday, 9th March 2019 - Bostik Premier

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Derry 85
AFC Hornchurch (0) 0
Attendance: 509

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/6,149

It was a goal 413 minutes in the making and when it came it was not a 35 yarder into the top corner that us fans love but a finely worked move that has coaches salivating.

This was the first of four games against teams in the lower reaches of the league and it is generally considered among the Angels’ support that close to maximum points needs to be taken if they are going to gain not only a play-off place but one with home advantage.

Three points were duly delivered ... eventually.

Visitors AFC Hornchurch, managed by ex-Gillingham boss Mark Stimson, started the game with a yellow card for his son Charlie for a poor challenge after just three minutes and the first opportunity when Sean Marks headed wide.

Tonbridge proceeded to take the game to their visitors but chances, real chances, were very few. A cross from Jack Parter was met with a Tom Derry header but directed at goalkeeper Callum Chafer after 21 minutes whilst, after 34 minutes, good link play between Joe Turner and Chinedu McKenzie saw Chafer save well, low to his right.

The Angels’ best moment of the half came with five minutes remaining when Turner’s effort was brilliantly turned aside by Chafer.

The dynamic of the game was hardly changed by the half-time break with the game largely being dominated by the hosts but Hornchurch did have the ball in the net after 51 minutes but ruled out for offside.

Sadly, the game was brought to a halt early in the second period when Tonbridge skipper, Tom Parkinson needed lengthy treatment before his ankle was immobilised and the player stretchered from the field and onto hospital for assessment of the injury.

The injury break took the wind (and it was very windy) out of the Angels’ spell and Hornchurch enjoyed a spell on the front foot but without causing Tonbridge goalkeeper, Jonny Henly, too many problems.

Steve McKimm rang the changes in search of the winning goal with, in addition to Tom Beere’s introduction for Parkinson, Adem Ramadan for Jared Small and Alex Read replacing McKenzie.

And finally it came. Beere slid a sublime ball inside of the full back for Turner to cross low to the near post from where Derry slid in to finish a wonderfully crafted team goal.

Hornchurch raised the heartrate as they staged a late rally but, in truth, it was too little too late.