Farnborough 0 Tonbridge Angels 4
Impressive Angels maintained their unbeaten away record with a comprehensive victory in Hampshire.
Two goals in each half, allied with a clean sheet, made for almost the perfect away performance for Alan Dunne’s lilac-shirted men who now occupy third spot in the league.
Dunne kept faith with the same eleven which brushed aside Walton & Hersham on Bank Holiday Monday and they rewarded him with a performance of style and panache which left Farnborough manager Spencer Day apoplectic at his own side’s failings.
Angels were at it from the first minute, immediately forcing errors from the home side who had started the season in decent form.
But they were no match for a hungry Angels side who began creating chances from the outset with the first opportunity of the afternoon falling to Jephte Tanga but the early-season dead-shot could not sort his feet out and the chance went begging.
On 13, a superb move involving Sam Corne, Hayden Bullas and Tanga came to nothing when the latter’s pull-back was dealt with by the now creaking home defence.
You sensed when Ricky Korboa beautifully played in Lamar Reynolds who couldn’t quite finish that a goal was coming and on 26 minutes it did.
A Bailey Akehurst throw was flicked on at the near post to Ethan Sutcliffe lurking at the back post. Sutcliffe’s looping header back across goal went in despite the efforts of a defender.
On the stroke of half-time Angels made it two. On Monday, Akehurst had been credited with a goal direct from a corner and once again his left-foot produced another hanging beauty which drifted right into the place where ‘keepers and defenders hate and Farnborough’s Lucas Thomas could only punch it into his own net to land a significant psychological blow on the Hampshire side.
The home side clearly received an earful from manager Day at half-time and came out for the second half with greater intent but Angels stood firm and when the opportunities arose were ruthless.
On 63 minutes the home side should have been reduced to ten men when referee Jamie Stevenson inexplicably failed to show a red card to Ollie Robinson who dragged down Frankie Baker when he was through on goal.
This was the signal for manager Dunne to vent his spleen towards the officials, an act which earned him a yellow card.
Yet any injustice Angels felt was rapidly extinguished when it soon became three.
On 68, Alfie Pavey who had replaced Reynolds minutes earlier capitalised on some confusion in the Farnborough defence and played in Korboa in acres of space.
Korboa moved forward and then arrowed a superbly-struck piledriver into the roof of the net to put more distance between the sides and be the cue for incessant singing from the travelling fans.
Soon after Harvey Lintott replaced Tanga and Jaden Brown came on for the talismanic Corne.
On 84, Brown broke from defence and drove forward. Though his pass to Bullas was awry, confusion again in the home defence saw the ball break to Baker who drew Thomas before coolly slotting it home to make it four nil.
Two late changes saw Akehurst replaced by Kai Martin – a late replacement himself for original substitute Harry Gardner – and Bullas replaced by Brody Cockerill before Mr Stevenson’s whistle concluded another excellent away-day performance by Angels.
After the game, Dunne told Angels Media: “I felt we were good value, we deserved it. Farnborough had started the season well and they are a really tough side but we controlled the game really well. When they did get a foothold in the game we showed maturity to see that out and I’m particularly pleased with the clean sheet.”
The win perfectly sets up Tuesday’s derby clash with Maidstone United who currently top the table, two places above Angels in third.
Angels: 4-2-2-2 Harness; Sutcliffe; Thompson, Beeden, Akehurst (Martin); Corne (cap) (Brown), Bullas (Cockerill); Tanga (Lintott), Korboa; Baker; Reynolds (Pavey)
Subs not used: Burford, McDonald
Photographs by Dave Couldridge
