Ten-Man Angels Left to Rue Wonder Save in Torquay Defeat

Tonbridge Angels: Ethan Sutcliffe (second half)

Torquay United: (16', from a Kian Jenkins corner) Matt Jay (second half)

Tonbridge Angels came within a fingertip of a deserved point against one of the National League's bigger clubs on Saturday, before Torquay United goalkeeper Toby Savin produced what Angels themselves rated the save of the season to deny them. Angels lost 2-1 at Longmead, but the scoreline undersells how competitive a game it was against a side many expect to be pushing for promotion.

Torquay took an early lead on 16 minutes when a corner sailed straight in untouched, and looked to be managing the game from there, content to sit back and break at pace. Angels goalkeeper Nathan Harness kept his side in it with a full-stretch fingertip save early in the second half, before Bailey Akehurst rattled the crossbar and Angels finally drew level when Ethan Sutcliffe headed home from Kai Martin's cross. A strong penalty shout for handball against Torquay's Sam Dreyer went unpunished shortly after.

The game turned late. With Angels pushing for a winner, Torquay broke and substitute Matt Jay finished from close range for what looked to be the decisive goal, and Angels were reduced to ten men soon after when Jephte Tanga was shown a second yellow. Even down a man, substitute Alfie Pavey almost salvaged a point deep into stoppage time with a looping header that appeared goalbound - only for Savin to twist and claw it away from underneath the crossbar in a save Angels themselves rated on a par with anything Harness had produced at the other end.

Manager Alan Dunne struck a proud rather than despondent tone afterwards, pointing to how his side had matched a heavyweight opponent for long spells: "We've gone toe-to-toe with a heavyweight and played really well," he said, before adding "my overall feeling today is one of pride" despite the result. It leaves Angels still searching for their first home points of the season, having opened the campaign with a win at Braintree. Source: tonbridgeangels.co.uk