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Eastbourne Borough 0
0
3 Tonbridge Angels
3
Fielding (45'), Quick (57' og), Greenidge (82')

Tonbridge successful in Sussex

Tonbridge’s Tuesday travels took them to Eastbourne Borough where they faced a club that since the last fixture have been taken over by a new owner, become a full-time outfit, and changed their badge...

With Jernade Meade called up for his country Montserrat, Jay Saunders was forced to make changes to the side that turned it around on Saturday for a win against St Albans.

In came Joe Tyrie as a centre-back, pushing Fielding into right back and Tariq Hinds over into the left full back role. Further up, Francis Mampolo started after stating his case on Saturday. Sonny Fish took his place on the bench.

The first eyebrow-raiser was courtesy of a shot from Eastbourne left winger Holman which Henly caught after initially taking the sting out of the ball. Seconds later, Tonbridge looked to create their first chance. Francis Mampolo worked into a strong position and squared the ball into a good area, but no one latched onto it.

A shot from Borough’s Sheriff was Henly’s second test. Again, he met the ball with a good save, this time down to his right.

Tonbridge looked positive in transition, frequently they broke away well but in the final third struggled to put together a sequence that would reward them with the opening goal.

With 34 minutes played, Eastbourne’s Olarewaju climbed high in the Angels box and had what looked a free header. However, the centre-back didn’t get his head over it and redirected the ball high over the bar. On another day, Angels could’ve been one down.

Eastbourne had another couple of chances towards the half time break but didn’t create anything good enough to warrant a goal.

Just before the referee blew for half time, Angels had a corner. The cross came in from Sean Shields and found Jamie Fielding who, after two attempts at it, tucked the ball into the bottom left corner through a narrow gap and set off to knee slide by the corner flag. 

At half time, Angels had the lead.

Out for the second period, Tonbridge were looking to build on the scoreline. Sadly, Fielding the scorer, went down injured with just six played and forced a substitution. Wagstaff moved from midfield to cover right-back, and Sonny Fish came on and slotted into midfield.

After twelve minutes of the second half, Tonbridge doubled their lead. Sean Shields fired a shot from wide left which smashed off the post and into the back of a Borough player and deflected back off him and over the line. The goal was engineered by Shields but ultimately classified as an own goal.

Tonbridge didn’t stop there, looking to score again through a good move on the 63rd minute and a header from Sutcliffe on 75 but it wasn’t until the 82nd minute that Angels made it three with fantastic play from substitute Sonny Fish driving into the box and plating up Greenidge who finished smartly with a back-heel.

Eastbourne’s only real chance to strike back in the closing stages was from a corner which resulted with chaos in the box in the dying moments but somehow Angels didn’t concede picking up the three points, having scored three goals and kept a clean sheet. 

Eastbourne Borough 0, Tonbridge Angels 3

Published Wednesday 15th November 2023