Angels Edge Past Ten-Man Dover in First of Eight Kent Derbies

Tonbridge Angels: Jephte Tanga (52')

Tonbridge Angels made good on manager Alan Dunne's pre-match promise to make amends for their last visit to Crabble, beating Dover Athletic 1-0 in the first of what Dunne has called eight Kent derbies this season. It's back-to-back away wins for the Angels, sandwiched around that narrow home defeat to Torquay United, and a second clean sheet of the young campaign.

The game turned just before half-time when Dover were reduced to ten men. Naz Bakrin - a former Angel now on the other side of this rivalry - was shown a second yellow card in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time following a clash with Ethan Sutcliffe, having already been booked in the 22nd minute. Jephte Tanga made the extra man count seven minutes into the second half, latching onto a defensive error to slot home the game's only goal.

Dover, to their credit, didn't fold with ten men. De-Carrey Sheriff had the best chance of a spirited response, heading against the woodwork with Angels goalkeeper Luke Baptiste well beaten, and the hosts kept probing for an equaliser deep into the closing stages. Harry Gardner was booked for simulation as Dover looked for a way back, while Nathan Harness picked up a late caution of his own for time-wasting as the Angels shepherded the game out.

Manager Alan Dunne was satisfied rather than triumphant afterwards, calling it exactly the kind of gritty away performance a promotion-chasing side needs to show. "I'm really pleased to get another away win and a second clean sheet," he said. "It wasn't easy by any means... we deserved the win." It's a result that also squares the record somewhat after Dover's 2-0 win in the corresponding fixture back in March. Source: tonbridgeangels.co.uk