Tonbridge Angels 2 Bognor Regis Town 1

Match 49/19/1771 - Saturday, 23rd November 2019 - FA Trophy 3QR

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Turner 44 Derry 62
Bognor Regis Town (0) 1 Crane 83 (pen)
Attendance: 456

Admission: Pass
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/3,755

One round hardly constitutes a Cup run, but given Tonbridge Angels recent history in FA competitions, it’s about as good as it gets!

Bognor Regis Town came to Longmead on a fine run of Isthmian League form leaving one sensing that this was not even the proverbial banana skin, more so an almost predictable upset.

Steve McKimm was forced to make changes from last week’s win against St Albans with Jason Williams cup-tied and Ben Greenhalgh refused permission to play by Dartford.

Bognor started with the confidence of a side borne of their good run with Tommy Leigh shooting wide in the opening minutes and Bradley Letheridge posting a threat. This continued for the first 20 minutes before the Angels had their first chance with Joe Turner firing marginally wide.

But that Turner effort was no deterrent to Bognor’s forward momentum and, after 29 minutes, Jonny Henly saved well from Josh Flint with Mason Walsh firing over the loose ball.

A quickly worked free kick that saw Tonbridge sleeping allowed Harvey Whyte to set up Dan Smith but his shot was wide.

So it was against the run of play when the home side went ahead a minute before the break when a Jared Small cross from the right was met at the far post by Turner who finished well.

Henly was brought into action once more after three minutes of the second period saving a James Crane header before Tonbridge enjoyed their best period in the game. Rhian Bray put a header from a corner wide and Khale Da Costa had an effort deflected over. On the hour, Jack Parter saw his effort brilliantly touched over the bar by the visiting goalkeeper, Amadou Tangara.

Tonbridge doubled their advantage when a superbly worked move ended with highly impressive Christ Tiehi brushing off a challenge to put in a killing cross for Tom Derry to slide in a the far post and convert.

Tonbridge were now dominating, but as is their want, they gave their supporters a nervous last ten minutes when Bray gave away a penalty for holding with Crane converting from the spot.

Thankfully, a perhaps encouragingly, the home side managed the game out despite breath being held as a final minute free kick from Flint was safely directed into the hands of Henly.

All cup runs start somewhere, we can but hope!