Tonbridge Angels 1 Ebbsfleet United 2
Angels failed to recover from a two goal deficit to Ebbsfleet United who left the Yeomans Community Stadium, Longmead, with all three points.
Angels boss Alan Dunne made two changes from the side which overcame Ramsgate in the FA Cup last week with starts for Jaden Brown and Lamar Reynolds in for Hayden Bullas and Alfie Pavey.
It was the visitors, playing only their fourth match of the campaign after a belated start, who came out of the traps quicker and were rewarded with a goal on five minutes.
The ball sat up beautifully for midfielder Gene Kennedy who struck a fine volley into the top corner leaving Angels ‘keeper Nathan Harness with no chance.
Fleet almost doubled their lead two minutes later when a header from Kwesi Appiah skimmed the top of the bar.
Angels first opportunity came when referee Morgan Conn penalised Fleet ‘keeper Will Buse for taking too long. The subsequent Angels corner from skipper Sam Corne was met by Ethan Sutcliffe but went over the bar.
Angels broke with pace on 24 but Ricky Korboa’s pass for Jephte Tanga went astray.
The visitors then doubled their lead when Lennon Peake played the ball into the box and Appiah was there to stoop and deftly guide a header past Harness.
Just after the half hour, Bailey Akehurst went into Mr Conn’s book. It was the fifth booking this season for Akehurst who now faces a one match suspension.
With Dunne’s men finally gaining a foothold in the match, Brown hared upfield and slipped in the well-positioned Tanga but his cross was blocked.
After Korboa and Brown both entered the book in quick succession, Angels pulled one back right on half-time.
The ball found Frankie Baker on the left who cut inside and placed a delightful shot past Buse into the far corner.
At the interval, Dunne brought on Bullas for Brown and Angels started the second half on the front foot. After great wing play by Tanga, the ball fell to Akehurst on the edge of the box. It was a decent chance but Akehurst could not keep it down and his shot sailed over Buse’s bar.
On 54, Bunmi Babajide came on for Reynolds and last season’s top scorer almost had an immediate impact, getting to the byline and pulling the ball back but there was no blue shirt to meet it.
Fleet were content to sit deeper in the second half but looked dangerous on the break and just after the hour mark, Finlay Barnes and Peake combined well but the latter’s shot went just wide.
Dunne then replaced Jordon Thompson with Harvey Lintott and Korboa with Pavey as Angels continued to hunt for an equaliser and shortly after Lintott fizzed an effort just wide.
On 81 Lintott was again involved and a fine ball found Tanga in a good position but his effort was blocked by Will Tizzard.
The game ended scrappily with neither side able to produce football of much significance and when Mr Conn whistled for the last time, it was the visitors who claimed the points.
After the game Alan Dunne praised his team for never giving up and asking several questions of a side he believes will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.
Angels: 4-4-2 Harness; Sutcliffe, Thompson (Lintott), Beeden, Akehurst; Corne (cap), Brown (Bullas), Tanga, Korboa (Pavey); Baker, Reynolds (Babajide).
Subs not used: McDonald, Martin, Burford
Photographs: Dave Couldridge
