Angels progressed to the Quarter Finals of the Kent Senior Cup with perhaps a slightly fortuitous win at Bostik South East Whitstable Town courtesy of a 3-2 win with Liam King scoring the first two goals, the third being an own goal.

As early as the 4th minute the home side were in front through the simplest of goals, Stephen Smith heading home a cross from the right. Whitstable were employing the long ball with some success with the Angels back line always looking somewhat vulnerable and keeper Jonathan Henly constantly employed almost as a sweeper.

The game had in fact kicked off 15 minutes late due to traffic problems on the motorway and it seemed that lacking the normal pre-match routines because of late arrivals some of the Tonbridge players at least during the first 20 minutes or so were still to get their bearings on the unfamiliar pitch.

Gradually however the team in blue settled and play became much more even with Tonbridge starting to ask questions. Those questions were answered in the space of two minutes when Liam King scored two goals to turn the match quite literally on its head.

Surely the team at the top of Bostik Premier once in front would not let anything slip, but Whitstable had other ideas and just before the break another of those long through balls undid the Tonbridge defence and there was Ricky Freeman getting the better of both Callum Adonis-Taylor and Henly to place the ball in an empty net.

It meant the Angels were going to have to come again and this they did in the 49th minute although with the help of Jordan Wright’s outstretched boot as he placed the ball neatly past his keeper and into his own net. Credit though Jared Small for the cross and Adem Ramadan for making a real nuisance of himself in the build-up.

It seemed like one of those games where there would be more goals but that was to be the end of the scoring. There was plenty of goalmouth action for the supporters to enjoy at both ends and it has to be said that Henly had a fine game for the Angels in goal which says much about Whitstable’s constant endeavour.

Speaking to the club’s website after the game, Angels goalkeeping coach Stewart Copeland said: ”We are delighted to be going through. Winning cup games however you do it is vital and whilst Whitstable stretched us at times we’ve stood up when it mattered and got our reward.”