Tonbridge Angels 1 Worthing 0
Deep into this game, Angels substitute Bradley Williams took Ricky Korboa to one side and said he had spotted a potential pass which could cause Worthing problems so be ready to receive it.
Five minutes later the plan had come to fruition causing delirium among ecstatic Angels fans after seeing their side complete the double over the highly-rated Sussex side.
When Worthing were last in town, Angels were given a footballing lesson by a slick passing side who played them off the park.
Following that 4-0 FA Trophy thumping in November, Angels boss Alan Dunne said Worthing were the best side in the National South.
Today the boot was on the other foot as Korboa’s late strike created mayhem at one end of the Yeomans Community Stadium and silence at the other.
In the build up to this match, which was segregated on police advice, Dunne repeated the compliment about Worthing’s footballing prowess but then went on to deliver a tactical masterclass which nullified their threat.
And putting to one side Worthing’s victory here in the Trophy, today’s win meant Angels completed a league double over Adam Hinshelwood’s side, having won at Woodside Road back in September.
Dunne opted for an attacking 4-3-3 formation making three changes from the side which lost at Hemel Hempstead giving starts to club captain Scott Wagstaff, Marcus Sablier and Bunmi Babajide in place of Bradley Williams and Naz Bakrin who dropped to the bench and Tom Leahy, absent through illness.
On two minutes, Kyle Smith tested Rebels keeper Taylor Seymour with a free kick but five minutes later, Smith’s hamstring gave way and Bakrin was summoned from the bench.
The visitors showed glimpses of why they had won Dunne’s approval creating moves which led to a series of shots from Shiloh, Cook and Jenks respectively which failed to test Matt Rowley unduly.
In between, Angels had a couple of sighters of their own with firstly Sablier, Babajde and Frankie Baker combining well but the latter couldn’t keep his shot down.
Shortly after Bakrin played in Sablier but his effort was dealt with comfortably by Seymour.
Worthing’s central defensive partnership of Joe Cook and Harry Ransom enjoyed total aerial dominance with Angels threat looking most likely to come from the tricky feet of Babajide.
After the break a tight, nervy game began to open up as Angels – perhaps realising that they weren’t facing the imperious Worthing of November but a version that was eminently beatable – grew in confidence as Dunne started throwing the dice to get a result.
First they had Rowley to thank with the ‘keeper making himself big at the far post as an attempted overhead kick by ex-Maidstone man Razzaq Coleman De-Graft fell fortuitously into the path of Remiero Moulton who couldn’t finish.
Williams came on for Wagstaff and proceeded to deliver a typical terrier like performance which had the Angels fans purring.
Worthing’s new loan striker Callum Morton’s first touch was to get his head on the end of a cross just before the hour but he couldn’t hit the target. Dunne replaced Sablier with Matty Warren and soon after Babajide produced an on-target shot from nowhere – with minimal backlift – which Seymour dived through the air to catch spectacularly.
Then Worthing midfielder Teddy Jenks drew a save from Rowley as Hinshelwood’s side realised time was running out.
Alfie Pavey replaced Babajide – who had another impressive game – and Bailey Akehurst replaced Sean Shields.
With Angels probably content to take a draw against the pre-match favourites, the plan hatched by Williams and Korboa was ready.
With two minutes played of the eight additional minutes referee Morgan Conn had decreed, Williams found Korboa on the left. Korboa teased the Worthing defence, cut inside and then curled a peach around Seymour and into the net in front of the Angels fans packed in behind the goal to cue wild celebrations around Longmead.
Worthing – whose away form has mysteriously collapsed – tried to get back into it but this time it was Angels who delivered the sucker punch to make November’s FA Trophy trouncing a distant memory.
Speaking afterwards Dunne said: “We knew the threat Worthing posed and we had to be really meticulous in our game plan and I think we got it right. I thought we were good, we showed a bit of belief and I thought today was a reward for those games I think we’ve played well in but have come away with nothing.
“The lads are absolutely delighted in there, the fans are ecstatic and I’m buzzing.”
