Weston-super-Mare 0 Tonbridge Angels 1
If it’s not a contradiction in terms, the Angels players leaving the team bus which arrived at the Optima Stadium on a warm spring evening were both relaxed and steely-eyed.
Relaxed because they had just been told by manager Alan Dunne to go out and enjoy themselves but steely-eyed because this team are playing for their boss and each other and are set standards to maintain:
“I’ve told them they’ve earned the right to go out and enjoy themselves,” Dunne commented to the small group of Angels fans who were on hand to greet the team as they arrived.
His charges went on to show grit and old-fashioned bottle – with no shortage of skill – in another thoroughly deserved away victory with a late Ethan Sutcliffe clincher again the difference.
The win in Somerset, at a ground they have never tasted victory at before, means Angels now have the third best away record in the league.
Dunne made two changes from the side which won at Horsham on Saturday with Bradley Williams coming in for Marcus Sablier and Frankie Baker coming in for Sean Shields.
From the get-go, Angels were on it with an early Alfie Pavey sighter testing Seagulls keeper Max Harris in the first minute which was shortly followed by a scramble in the box which saw Bunmi Babajide and Ricky Korboa both go close.
Play-off pushing Weston threatened sporadically with a Dan Ellison header going close but the Angels rearguard held firm and ‘keeper Matt Rowley was for the most part untroubled.
At the other end, Angels continued to probe and, on 27, a goalbound shot by Korboa was brilliantly blocked by Seagulls midfielder Tommy Backwell, minutes before a cleanly struck left-footed shot from distance by Bailey Akehurst flashed past Harris’s left post. We were to see that left peg again later.
As Weston realised Angels were going to be a tough nut to crack they got their passing game together and both Tobi Omole and Jordon Thompson entered the book of referee Brandon Scaife who, by general consensus, was one of the better officials we’ve seen on the circuit this season.
As Scaife blew for half time, the small but vocal band of Angels fans agreed that their side had been excellent and, if anything, were disappointed that they had not been able to capitalise on large spells of possession and encouraging attacking intent.
The second half was a quieter affair although Rowley was called into action on 55 diving low to his left to keep out a strike from Scott Bennett.
Dunne brought on Tom Leahy for Baker and, a minute after he had been booked, skipper Scott Wagstaff was replaced in midfield by Matty Warren.
The excellent, combative Williams struck a snap shot just over the Weston bar before the only real hearts-in-mouth moment for Angels’ fans arrived on 83 when substitute George Robesten found himself in a great position to meet a quality cross but couldn’t keep his header down.
Not content with the point they richly deserved, Angels kept pushing and on 88 came more late delight from a right-sided corner.
In his locker, Akehurst has a wand-like left foot and he was about to produce a delivery right out of the top drawer.
It was a peach, measured to perfection, just too high for the grasp of Harris but on the money for Sutcliffe lurking at the back post who bundled the ball home just yards away from the travelling fans who leapt and screamed with delight.
Glances turned in the direction of the perfectly-placed Scaife fearing the infringement so often awarded against attacking teams from corners, even though there had clearly been no foul.
And Scaife got it spot-on, pointing back to the centre circle to indicate Angels had the goal their performance deserved.
Even the four additional minutes were generally devoid of any real scares for Angels who saw the game out with cool professionalism to secure a thoroughly deserved three points.
It took the season’s tally to 50, the quantity Dunne has long cited as being the target required for safety.
Rapturous scenes ensued at the end as the sprinkling of fans who had made the long trip down the M4 and M5 celebrated with the players and management who had done them proud.
Speaking to the club’s media after the game, Dunne said: “I’m absolutely delighted. This is a really tough place to come because they are a top team. We got it right in all departments, we looked physical, we looked like men, strong, organised, hard to break down.
“They’re a good group of honest boys and the feel and the energy around them is spot on. They all want to do well and play for each other. You get that in the room and it’s amazing what you can achieve.”
There is a half decent beach at Weston and a common metaphor is that once sides have secured safety they take to the beach, put their feet up and start thinking about next season.
With Dunne at the Angels helm that is not going to happen.
Angels: Rowley, Sutcliffe, Thompson, Omole, Akehurst, Wagstaff (cap) (Warren), Williams, Korboa, Pavey, Baker (Leahy), Babajide
