Football: Tonbridge Angels lose top billing as Haringey ruin away record

Football: Tonbridge Angels lose top billing as Haringey ruin away record
HEAD TURNER: Joe Turner tries to convert a chance at the fast post against Dorking PHOTO: David Couldridge

TONBRIDGE ANGELS lost their unbeaten away league record on their first visit to Coles Park as they succumbed to their heaviest defeat in all competitions this season.

They also missed out on a chance to return to the top of the Bostik League Premier after losing their leadershipn status at Kingstonian last week.

The Angels had more of the possession early on and in the 20th minute Joe Turner fired in a shot that crashed against the crossbar.

But the hosts went ahead in the 22nd minute when a Haringey free kick was only partially cleared and a shot by Rakim Richards from just outside the area found its way into the net.

This stung the Angels into more concerted action. Jared Small forced a smart save from keeper Douglas Pajetat, who also denied Tom Beere on the half-hour.

Just before half-time the Cameroonian stopper made an even better save, tipping over a Sonny Miles bullet header from a corner.

After the interval Tom Parkinson’s header was also saved by Patjetat and the visiting fans thought the breakthrough could not be far away.

But Joel Nouble had an effort deflected for a corner, and the home side doubled their lead from the set-piece with a downward header at the far post from Toby Rowe.

Haringey went further ahead with a fine shot from Rowe that was out of Jonny Henly’s reach in the visitors’ goal.

With Tonbridge desperately pushing forward, Georgios Aresti went on a raid down the right to score Boro’s fourth goal.

Angels manager Steve McKimm said: “I’m hurting, the players are hurting and I know the supporters will be hurting who once again, bearing in mind it’s a midweek match, have turned out in numbers.

“Despite playing good football tonight we have to be more clinical on front of goal and that’s not just the forwards but the entire outfield team.”

Tonbridge bowed out of the FA Trophy at Meadowbank two days before as Dorking Wanderers scored the only goal of the tie.

The Surrey side had already replaced them at the top of the league table on goal difference.

Their strike in the cup match came in the 38th minute from top scorer Jason Prior after an uncharacteristic mistake from Angels central defender Arthur Lee.

The introduction of Tommy Whitnell in midfield started to swing the game Tonbridge’s way. But home keeper Slavomir Huk produced three excellent saves in the final 10 minutes.

In midweek the Angels did manage to find that late goal at in-form Kingstonian. The home side took the lead through Louis Theophanous in the 32nd minute.

But James Folkes delivered a pinpoint cross that was converted by Liam King with a fine header.

The Angels now travel to Harlow Town on Saturday [November 17, kick-off 3pm].

Share this article

Recommended articles

Search

Please enter a search term below.

Times of Tunbridge Wells transitions to New Digital Platform, timestwo.online

Tunbridge Wells, UK – March 4, 2024 – Times of Tunbridge Wells, a popular local publication serving the town since its launch on March 4, 2015, has announced a significant transition.