Santos delivers knock out blow
Jeremy Santos bade a final farewell to his former employers with two goals and a virtuoso performance that delighted the home crowd as Tonbridge recovered from a 3-1 half-time deficit to beat a Charlton Athletic XI with the winner coming from a first Angels goal for Trevan Robinson.
The hottest day of the year held temperatures in the mid-20’s at kick-off time that saw a Tonbridge team, captained by Joe Tyrie, that included four trialists.
Early chances came for Charlton with Harvey Kedwell testing Toby Steward whilst Hayden Velvick linked well with Fum Shomotun before the latter shot wide.
After the Charlton goalkeeper made a double save, after 18 minutes, to deny Crossley Lema with the rebound falling to a trialist, the visitors went in front a minute later when Alan Mwamba sprung the offside trap to run clear before sliding the ball across to Pat Casey who had a tap-in to finish.
The lead was to last five minutes before the Angels equalised when a Santos free kick was met with a diving header at the far post from Tyrie.
The Angels enjoyed a good spell following the goal with the Charlton goalkeeper turning over a good effort from a trialist and Shomotun having a effort on goal deflected for a corner.
But it was the visitors that regained the lead after 34 minutes when a long ball forward saw the Angels defence missing as Mwamba strode clear to score past Steward.
Three minutes before the break, Charlton opened up a two goal lead when Jacob Safa’s shot squirmed from the grasp of Steward, who tried desperately but unsuccessfully to stop the ball from crossing the line.
Half-time changes for the Angels saw Ryan Hanson and Jamie Fielding enter the fray and right from the opening moments, Santos took the game by the scruff of the neck with the keeper making a fine low save to turn away his 20 yard shot.
Santos was not to be denied two minutes later when Mo Dabre rolled the ball into his pass and from 20 yards he stroked the ball into the bottom corner.
The Angels were now in control of the game. Dabre had two efforts before, on 67 minutes, a free kick was awarded on the right hand edge of the box, 20 yards out. Santos stood over it, Angels’ fans almost expected, and that wand of a right foot delivered for the equaliser.
Twelve minutes remained when Santos crossed for Trevan Robinson to gleefully smash the ball into the net from close range.
Charlton had one last throw of the dice that brought a good save out of substitute goalkeeper, Toby Smith before the referee brought the curtain down on an entertaining evening.