Tonbridge Angels (1) 3 McKenzie 12,54,79
Harlow Town (0) 1 Foy 86
Attendance: 632
Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/6,538
Relegation-threatened Harlow Town barely provided stiff opposition but with a record of being a bogey team to Tonbridge, it was an accident waiting to happen.
An early goal, and a brilliant one at that, settled the nerves and put the 632 attendance into full voice.
The goal might well have come in the opening minute when an Adem Ramadan cross into the box found the head of Tom Derry but he failed to get a clean connection to the ball and the opportunity was cleared to safety.
But, after 12 minutes, the opening goal came the way of the home side. A lob forward by Chinedu McKenzie saw Harlow goalkeeper, Marcin Brzozowski, advance beyond his 18 yard box to head the ball clear as Derry closed in. The ball landed back at the feet of McKenzie who produced a magnificent lob from all of 35 yards to not only clear the very tall Brzozowski but also ex-Angel Ugo Udoji on the line and nestle in the net.
Tonbridge were now in full flow with McKenzie deny by the goalkeeper’s feet at the near post and following a right sided cross from James Folkes, an audacious back heel from McKenzie was narrowly wide.
Harlow had barely mustered a threat but, on the half-hour, a cross from Reece Price-Placid led to an acrobatic overhead kick from Tom Hitchcock that sailed harmlessly high and wide.
It did offer some encouragement for the visitors though and three minutes later, a speculative effort was easily fielded by Jonny Henly.
Into the second half and Tonbridge were awarded a penalty after 53 minutes when Brzozowski’s clearance from his hands was blocked by McKenzie and deflected into the path of Derry who was brought down as the rounded the forlorn goalkeeper whose luck was not about to change. Joe Turner’s spot kick was well saved but his parry was followed-up by McKenzie to make it 2-0.
The excellent Ramadan, who took a heavy first half knock, made way for Liam Smith on the hour and this was followed five minutes later with Alex Read replacing Derry.
After 69 minutes McKenzie was denied his hat-trick when Harlow’s Rob Howard cleared from the line following Folkes cross from the bye-line.
Whilst Harlow carried little or no threat, a third goal to put the game to bed was a while coming with Arthur Lee’s header from a corner going close. The comfort of the three goal lead was finally attained after 79 minutes when Read’s cross appeared to be tapped home for his hat-trick goal by McKenzie but perhaps it was Howard’s touch that saw it home. No matter, Tonbridge were home and hosed and McKenzie was credited with his hat-trick.
The Academy’s Josh Stirman entered the fray to make his Bostik Premier debutant showed some nice touches. Turner sent Read clear to narrowly shoot wide before the only blot on the afternoon, when after 587 minutes without conceding a league goal, a Sonny Miles loss of footing allowed Matt Foy a run on goal which he clinically finished.
On an afternoon when the sun shone it was just a passing cloud.
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