ANGELS LET NO LIGHT THROUGH
Third clean sheet rewarded
JOE TURNER’S effort separated the sides as Tonbridge Angels made up for their striking deficiencies with a third clean sheet in eight days.
Turner struck the winner on 26 minutes after good play from right back James Folkes, and that proved enough to hold off a lacklustre Burgess Hill.
“Three games with no goals conceded and being unbeaten in the league is testament to the progress we are making,” said Angels boss Steve McKimm. “I was delighted with the performance.”
Indeed, the Angels started impressively, with a cross from Jack Parter saved by Burgess Hill keeper Josh James and Alex Read’s header rattling the woodwork in the fifth minute.
Wingers Joe Turner and Adem Ramadan were causing problems for the Hillians defence. And the visitors posed little threat.
Midway through the first half, Tonbridge’s Tom Beere
fired just wide but the Angels didn’t have long to wait to break the deadlock.
Folkes dispossessed a defender and played a neat through ball with the outside of his right foot to Turner, who slotted it past James.
Play was stopped for nine minutes shortly after, when Angels captain Tom Parkinson had to receive treatment for a head injury, although thankfully thwe skipper carried on
Burgess Hill started the second half brighter, with an effort from Ben Pope coming agonisingly close. The Angels looked rattled, but sorted their shortcomings out quickly.
They were denied a second goal when Hillians defender Gary Charman took a booking for the team, fouling Beere as he was running on goal.
And a minute later, they were denied again when Sonny Miles diverted a corner against the crossbar.
The visitors offered a rare threat on 83 minutes when Angels keeper Jonathan Henly parried clear after Connor Tighe’s corner.
Burgess Hill boss Ian Chapman admited afterwards: “Tonbridge were the better side in the first half. We lacked cohesion but after half-time I thought we were the better side.”
“We need to have more of an edge to our play going forward.”