Tonbridge Angels (2) 3 Turner 28 (pen),45 Derry 85
Dartford (1) 2 Hill 43 Sherington 76
Attendance: 816
Admission: Pass
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/1,379
Dartford were poor and the departure of their joint management team of Jamie Coyle and Adam Flanagan probably emphasises the fact but, just to say that, diminishes the performance of Tonbridge Angels, who were truly superb.
For 45 minutes, Jared Small ran Alex Flisher absolutely ragged; Ade Yusuff terrorised a central defence with the turning circle of the QE2 whilst Tonbridge’s midfield ruled the roost like no other time this season. But with two minutes of the half remaining, the tale of the opening month of the season came back to haunt the Angels as an individual mistake allowed the visitors back into the game. But this game was different.
Tonbridge started as they were to go on, taking the game to their Kent neighbours. Three corners were forced in the opening eight minutes; after 13, Yusuff brought a save out of Dartford goalkeeper Mark Smith, who proceeded to make a brilliant low to his left save to deny a Yusuff header a minute later.
It took Dartford 20 minutes to mount a serious attack that came to nothing and, in 26 minutes, the Angels finally got the breakthrough they deserved when Yusuff was brought down in the box. Turner stepped up to drive his spot kick down the middle.
This did stir some life out of the visitors and Jonny Henly was pressed into action to turn away a Flisher shot for a corner.
As half-time approached, the witching minutes for this side, Dartford won a corner from which Jack Parter sliced a clearance and Josh Hill stabbed the ball home between Henly and his post.
The disappointment, this time, was not too last as Small was sent on his way leaving Flisher for dead before delivering a cross that only required a touch home from the arriving Turner. As the scorer commented afterwards, the difficult part of the goal was keeping up with the fleet footed winger.
Dartford emerged from the dressing room with virtually half of the break remaining, one would guess with more than a flea in their ear. But Tonbridge maintained their first half momentum with Khale D’Costa putting his shot wide after being set up by D’Sean Theobalds.
Dartford responded in a small measure with efforts from Norman Wabo saved and high before Thebalds forced Smith into another fine save.
But with 15 minutes to play, and completely against the run of play, Dartford equalised. A free kick was lofted to the far post in the direction of Ronnie Vint who failed to make a connection but the ball fell to Charlie Sherington who nodded home from close range.
It appeared that another frustrating game was on the cards for the Angels and for a five minute spell it seemed like it might get even worse as the Darts pressed on for a winner.
But Tonbridge regained their composure and Yusuff produced a tired shot at Smith, his last act of the game being substituted by Tom Derry.
Four minutes from time, inspired substitution springs to mind as a weaving run from Theobalds ended with a pass across the face of goal and there was Derry, sliding in to steer the ball home at the far post.
A final assault might have been expected from Dartford to salvage something but it never came and Turner went the closest bringing a flying save from Smith.
The magnificent support acclaimed the final whistle with a noise reminiscent of the play-off game of last season to celebrate a match that will live long in the memory.
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