Four home league games this season have yielded just one point and that will be a concern to Angels Boss Steve McKimm.  He won’t be looking for excuses although the question must be asked whether the lack of home fans does indeed make a difference.  There was a period in the first quarter of the second period with the score level, when the hosts seemed to take partial control of the game and as darkness descended one can only have wistful memories of the ‘Barmy Army’ almost sucking the ball into the away net. 

An eventful first period saw two dismissals and a goal apiece for two mid table sides.  After 17 minutes a Ben Greenhalgh free kick for the Angels saw Kristian Campbell head back across the goal for Tom Parkinson to hit home for the opener. Just five minutes later following some intense pressure on the home goal a penalty was awarded to Hemel Hempstead which was duly converted by Jonathan Lacey.

Tonbridge’s Tom Beere saw red on 39 minutes for a dangerous tackle on Lacy and then on the stroke of half time the numbers were evened up when Luke Pennell for the visitors received his marching orders for a second bookable caution.

Angels started the second half in the ascendancy with chances falling to Parkinson and D’Sean Theobalds but the visitors defence stood firm expertly marshalled by skipper Jake Howells.  The substitution of goalscorer Lacey by Omar Rowe for the visitors proved inspired with the latter creating a chance on 74 minutes and then scoring with a fine shot on 81 minutes 

As the game reached its final stages DA Costa made an excellent run into space but Dean Snedker came out bravely and managed to block the shot.  The ball ran loose to Javaun Splatt and once again Snedker had to deal with the threat which he did successfully.  In so doing he was injured and had to leave the field due to injury with the visitors forced to play with nine men having used all their substitutes.  With seven minutes stoppage time to play, Tonbridge threw men forward but the nine men stood firm and claimed all the points while the Angels will have been frustrated that they never managed to test the stand in goalkeeper.

Afterwards, McKimm said : I’m wanting some consistency in our performances which I’m not getting at the moment.  It’s no good winning heroically at Ebbsfleet and Chelmsford if we can’t get something out of games at home.  I don’t want to jump to conclusions about the goals we conceded without looking at the video but the fact it’s two in two and we need to stop it.”