Tonbridge Angels 0 Torquay United 1
Though relations between the two clubs remain positive it’s now official: Tonbridge Angels are sick of the sight of Torquay United.
The Gulls of Devon once again came to The Yeomans Community Stadium, Longmead and like those pesky gulls at the seaside that nick ice cream or chips, swooped down and stole a place in the next round of The Emirates FA Cup.
This was the third time in eight home games that Torquay had visited Angels and the third time they have won by a solitary goal. And, on this occasion at least, Angels were left kicking themselves for not sealing the tie in the first half.
In this latest episode of the Angels/Gulls saga, an old footballing truism came into play: If you don’t take your chances, you don’t win games.
Because, quite simply, Angels battered Torquay in a one-sided first half in which Alan Dunne’s men created chance after chance only to be denied by a mixture of poor finishing and superb goalkeeping by Toby Savin who seems to save his best performances for Angels.
Dunne made two changes from the side defeated by Ebbsfleet with Hayden Bullas and Bunmi Babajide coming in for Jaden Brown and Frankie Baker respectively who both dropped to the bench.
As early as the second minute a slick passing movement saw the ball reach Bullas who created a chance but couldn’t keep his shot down and it sailed over. Two minutes later, with Angels quick out of the blocks, Jephte Tanga got behind the Torquay defence and created a chance for Sam Corne which Savin saved even though the linesman flagged for offside.
Angels first gilt-edged chance arrived on 11 when Ricky Korboa slipped in Reynolds who had only Savin to beat. Reynolds struck the ball well but Savin produced a fingertip save to divert the shot on to the bar. But it really should have been the opener.
Two minutes later came a controversial moment when Reynolds was through but had his shirt tugged by what appeared to be the last man. Referee Tommy Breen, who would gradually incur the wrath of Angels’ fans as the afternoon progressed, waved play on.
The chances continued to come and, on 19, when Babajide showed some good skill and then played in Korboa, it looked like the moment had come but Savin once again was equal to it, pushing away Korboa’s stabbed shot.
A minute later, a pinpoint corner from Corne found Ethan Sutcliffe in an excellent position but he couldn’t keep his header down.
Up to this point, the visitors had shown nothing of any merit and Angels were playing all the football but once more they couldn’t produce the finishing touch to some excellent approach play. This time it was Babajide who spurned an opportunity following great play by Tanga.
Then a patient build up by Angels which pulled the Gulls defence out of shape finished with another wayward effort over the bar by Korboa.
Angels continued to press and on 41, referee Breen angered the Blue Army behind the goal when Savin took a high ball, landed awkwardly, with no Angels player in sight and dropped the ball in the process. Bafflingly, Mr Breen stopped play.
Angels left the field at half time scratching their heads as to how they were not ahead and wise, long-term cynics who have been watching football for many years, probably knew what was coming next.
As sure as night follows day, half time punctured Angels momentum and on 55 minutes the hitherto toothless Gulls struck.
After breaking at speed, Callum Morton did some good work on the left flank and then played in the onrushing Matt Worthington who finished adroitly past Nathan Harness. Football scholars predicted it.
On the hour Dunne began rolling the dice first bringing on Baker for Reynolds and then Miller McDonald for Korboa who just before had seen another effort go wide.
With the one goal advantage, Torquay sat deeper and looked to catch Angels on the break. Dunne then replaced Bullas with Brown shortly before another chance fell to Baker whose shot was again saved by the agile Savin.
Alfie Pavey and Harvey Lintott then came on for Babajide and Lexus Beeden as Torquay continued to thwart Angels attacks.
With the clock ticking down, Angels threw the proverbial kitchen sink at their opponents and there was one final chance for McDonald but again the octopus-like Savin was there.
Referee Breen continued to irk the Angels faithful with a couple of bizarre decisions including issuing a yellow card to Pavey for……well, no one knows really.
After the game Angels boss Dunne said: “It’s like a broken record. I thought that was one of our best performances of the season, perhaps one of the best performances since I’ve been here and in the first half they couldn’t get near us. But we seemed to get a nosebleed in front of goal. If you look at the stats, it’s difficult to know how we’ve lost but when you get chances like we did, you have to put them away. I’m really disappointed for the boys because I thought at times we dismantled Torquay and deserved better.”
As the Torquay coach left Longmead, they were wished a safe journey back to Devon but, for now at least, most Angels fans can live without The Gulls coming to visit again anytime soon!
Angels: 4-2-3-1 Harness; Sutcliffe, Thompson, Beeden (Lintott), Akehurst; Bullas (Brown), Corne (cap); Tanga, Babajide (Pavey), Korboa (McDonald); Reynolds (Baker)
Unused substitutes: Burford, Martin
Photographs: Dave Couldridge
