Home   Tonbridge   Sport   Article

Tonbridge Angels 1 Hampton & Richmond 4 match report: Heavy defeat for Angels in first game on new 3G pitch

The party went flat as Tonbridge’s first game on their new 3G pitch ended in defeat.

Angels conceded an early opener and were three down at the break after a first half to forget, including a goal for ex-Angels striker Tommy Wood.

Tonbridge Angels manager Jay Saunders Picture: David Couldridge
Tonbridge Angels manager Jay Saunders Picture: David Couldridge

They picked up in the second half, pulling a goal back through on-loan Charlton youngster Dylan Gavin, but Hampton clinched victory with an added-time fourth.

It was a first defeat of the season for Tonbridge after taking seven points from nine in three away games, and a first win for the Beavers.

The pre-match buzz around Longmead began to drain inside four minutes when a decent Hampton side grabbed the opener.

It came from a Jake Gray corner, with Ade Shokunbi finding himself free in the box to slot home.

Angels, hit by the early goal, struggled to impose themselves on the game and didn’t manage a shot until the last five minutes of the half, by which time they were three down.

Lewis Gard was doing best to get on the ball in the middle of the park and bring widemen Joe Turner and Tushaun Walters into play.

But two goals in three minutes put Hampton firmly in control on Angels’ special day.

Shokunbi collected a pass from Stefan Ilic to add his second after Tonbridge gave the ball away on 35 minutes.

And the scorer turned provider soon after, sending Wood through to beat ex-team-mate Jonny Henly.

Turner registered the hosts’ first shot, two minutes before the break, firing well over after cutting inside, while Walters’ effort on the turn was comfortably held by Alan Julian.

Angels boss Jay Saunders made a half-time change, Ben Swift coming on Emmanuel Maja and slotting into the back four, with Tommie Fagg moving into midfield.

The hosts improved, Charlton loanee Gavin able to get more involved up top, and they went close when Fagg flashed an effort narrowly over from Turner’s lay-off.

Hampton remind slick on the break, popping the ball about nicely on the 3G.

They were in again when substitute Brandon Barzey’s trickery took him into the box before squaring for Wood, with Swift making the block.

Tonbridge gave themselves hope in the 73rd minute with Gavin meeting Louis Collins’ low cross after a well-worked move in the final third.

That lifted the crowd and Tonbridge gave it a go in pursuit of a second goal, getting balls in the box and seeing TQ Addy test Julian after good work by Fagg.

But there should have been a fourth at the other end after Ilic picked up the ball in space and went on a great run through the defence before squaring for Temi Babalola, who missed the target.

Hampton did, though, score again in the first of six added minutes, with a breakaway clincher that saw Alfy Whittingham shake off the back-tracking Fagg before laying on a tap-in for Barzey.

Substitute Mason Saunders-Henry prevented a fifth from another counter after Whittingham fed Ilic in the final seconds.

Tonbridge: Henly, Fielding, Braham-Barrett (Saunders-Henry 86mins), Maja (Swift 46mins), Miles, Gard, Fagg, Turner, Gavin, Walters (Addy 67mins), Collins. Subs not used: Manuel, Hermitage.

Referee: George Laflin.

Attendance: 1,053.

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More