Tonbridge Angels 2 St Albans City 0

Match 20/24/2259 - Tuesday, 3rd September 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 2
St Albans City (0) 0
Attendance: 894
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/912

Seven unbeaten at the start of the season; four consecutive clean sheets; three straight wins and up to fourth in National League South, there is plenty for Tonbridge Angels supporters to get heady about, but as manager Jay Saunders said after the game: "It's a fantastic start, but it's a start and that's it."

Shorn of the experience of Sean Shields and Scott Wagstaff through injury, Jay’s starting XI had an average age of just 23 and this was decreased further on the hour with the introduction of Jeremy Santos.

Shields injury brought a first start for Rayan Clarke and Mo Dabre was restored to the starting line-up for Santos as two changes were made from Saturday’s winning side against Salisbury.

St Albans City came with a lowly league position, without a win this season, but nobody was going to be fooled by the pedigree of this established National League club and, for an hour, they offered stubborn opposition.

The introduction of Santos on 57 minutes was the catalyst for a last half-hour in which the Angels swarmed all over their visitors likes bees round a honeypot and found the finishes necessary to secure the points.

There was a cagey beginning to the game with St Albans having a 16th minute opportunity from a corner that was headed wide by Phillip Chinedu and three minutes later an audacious free kick from inside his own half by Joe Partington had Toby Steward back-pedalling quickly to make a good save.

Steward was brought into action again on 24 minutes saving from Giorgio Resulo with the follow-up from Alfie Payne going well wide.

The pace of Trevan Robinson was troubling the Saints defence and this brought a booking for Chinedu and a free kick on the edge that was sent wide by Vincent and, in the best chance of the half, Robinson’s cross from the left evaded Clarke, found its way to Crossley Lema, whose effort was deflected to safety.

Santos’ introduction had an immediate positive effect with a cross that was turned away for a corner and, on 64 minutes, Robinson picked the pocket of a defender to run clear but goalkeeper, Michael Johnson, was quickly off his line to smother.

Three minutes later the Angels thought they had the lead when Santos’ free kick was turned onto the post by Johnson for Jamie Fielding to turn in the rebound but the goal was denied by a assistant referee’s flag.

St Albans relief was short-lived however and, two minutes later, a free kick from Santos, saw Johnson misjudge the flight of the ball for Robinson to turn home from behind him.

After taking a heavy knock and being brought to the ground several times, Robinson’s night was brought to an end on 78 minutes to be replaced by Timmy Abraham and with a minute of regular time to play, the substitute got his first Angels' goal when a shot from Dabre was deflected into his path and his low shot under the advancing Johnson found the bottom corner.

Jay Saunders added after the game: “You enjoy it a lot more when you are winning obviously. It’s been a really good start, nothing more. I’ve always said, winning and losing are habits, we’ve started the season well, there is a belief and a good buzz around the squad and I think they are enjoying it and that’s the main thing.”