28thoct05

Friday 28th October 2005

Dolby pleased with his defence

Tonbridge Angels continued their unbeaten start to their league season, which sees them still top of the table following their 0-0 draw at Dover Athletic on Tuesday night, writes Jez Durrant.

With the simmering rivalry between the two teams and the fact that the two clubs were pre-season favourites for the Ryman League Division One title, Tuesday's clash had been much anticipated by both sets of supporters and 1,238 turned out for the game at Crabble.

Tonbridge had the better chances to win the match having a shot cleared off the line and striker Leroy Huggins missed an opportunity in the second half but both of defences looked strong and Tonbridge recorded their third successive clean sheet.

Player-boss Tony Dolby said he was pleased to come away with a point and a clean sheet.

He told the Kent and Sussex Courier: "It was their home game so I am not disappointed to come away with a point.

"They did not create much and we had the best chances to win the game. Both defences looked very strong and they were limited to threats from set pieces, where they did look dangerous.

"In games like this chances don't come along often and you have to take them.

"Leroy (Huggins) was through one on one and he would have put that one away on another day."

The result follows Tonbridge's 7-0 demolition of Newport IOW last Saturday and means the Angels are two points clear of Horsham and Dover, with the Whites having a game in hand.

Tonbridge are still unbeaten in the league having won eight and drawn three of their opening 11 games and Dolby said a solid defence coupled with a free-scoring attacking line had been the key.

He said: "The back four along with (goalkeeper) Jerome John have been fantastic and we have been doing well going forward.

"I have said for a while that we have threatened to give someone a thrashing and that happened on Saturday.

"Up to then we have been winning games but as not as convincingly as we could. We are averaging something like 2.5 goals a game which is not to be sneezed at and with the defence doing well it is exactly what we want."

Former Angel Richard Ponsford featured as a substitute during Saturday's win over Newport and Dolby said the former Fisher Athletic player was looking to return to full fitness.

He said: "I know Richard fairly well and he started the season with Dagenham & Redbridge but then got injured. He is now looking to get back into the swing of things and I suggested he came down here to us."

Tonbridge travel to Leatherhead on Saturday and the club are launching their Angels Live service, which gets underway at 2:45pm on their official website www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk

And Whyteleafe are the visitors to the Betterview Longmead Stadium next Tuesday, 1st November, kicking off at 7:45pm

Leatherhead v Tonbridge Angels
Ryman League Division One
Saturday 29th October 2005
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Fetcham Grove, Leatherhead