LIVE COVERAGE: Tonbridge Angels 4-0 Hendon - Angels play-off push is right on Q

RESULT: TONBRIDGE ANGELS 4-0 HENDON
Tommy Warrilow’s men climbed up to fifth place in the Ryman Premier League table with a comfortable 4-0 win over a physical Hendon side.

But the win came at a cost for the west Kent side as Tommy Tyne and John Beales both went off injured during the first half.

A header from Carl Rook and a hat-trick from Akwasi Edusei, nicknamed Q, sealed the Angels’ largest win under Warrilow’s reign - his 35^th game in charge of the west Kent club.

HAT-TRICK HERO: TONBRIDGE ANGELS 4-0 HENDON
Rook did well to win the ball back on the edge of Hendon’s penalty box and set up substitute Scott Kinch, whose low drive was palmed away by keeper Blackmore. Edusei, however, reacted before the Hendon defence to steer his left-footed shot into the near corner from an acute angle. Goal timed at 41:54

82 MINUTES
Reed blots his copy-book with a poor kick which gives Davis Haule a chance from an acute angle from the left, but luckily for the goalkeeper he’s relieved to see the ball flash past the far post.

GOAL: EBBSFLEET UNITED 1-2 ALDERSHOT TOWN
John Grant’s second goal of the game gives the Shots the lead at Stonebridge Road, but it looks as through it’s not enough to win the Blue Square Premier tonight as Torquay United are currently leading Oxford United 3-1 at Plainmoor.

78 MINUTES
Hendon come close to pulling a goal back through substitute Hudell’s left-footed free-kick from 25-yards, as the ball flies just past the left post and crashes into the advertising boards.

TONIGHT’S CROWD
The crowd at Longmead has just been announced as 389.

GOAL: AFC SUDBURY 0-1 CANVEY ISLAND
Excellent news for Dartford fans as AFC Sudbury are losing through a 77^th minute goal.

71 MINUTES
O’Leary is the FIFTH Hendon player to be booked tonight, for a foul on Storey.

ANOTHER BOOKING FOR HENDON
Substitute Hudell becomes the fourth booking for Hendon for another crunching tackle on Westcott.

63 MINUTES
Guentchev’s left-footed shot from thirty-yards is turned around the post by a diving Reed, preventing the ball finding the bottom left-hand corner.

GOAL: EBBSFLEET UNITED 1-1 ALDERSHOT TOWN
Aldershot’s leading goalscorer John Grant brings the Shots level after 55 minutes. Torquay United are currently drawing Oxford United 1-1 at Plainmoor. As things stand the Shots will not be crowned Blue Square Premier champions tonight.

LATEST: AFC SUDBURY 0-0 CANVEY ISLAND

62 MINUTES
Edusei is denied a hat-trick following a fine saving tackle from Hendon’s James Burgess.

BEALES' INJURY
Beales injury may not be serious as first thought and comes back into consideration for Saturday’s trip to Billericay Town, says Angels chairman Nick Sullivan.

FIESTY
Angels winger Fraser Logan needs treatment and Angels substitute Simon Glover is booked for a challenge on Brian Haule.

GOAL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS 3-0 HENDON
A cross from Westcott fell to Edusei who turned Leach inside the box before driving home with his left-footed from close range into the bottom left-hand corner. The goal was timed at 3:12 into the second half.

HENDON GO CLOSE AFTER 62 SECONDS INTO SECOND HALF
Angels goalkeeper Reed makes his first real save after just 62 seconds into the second half, denying Davis Haule with his legs. The ball fell to Guentchev inside the penalty area on the right and his dinked cross was flicked wide by Davis Haule at the far post.

HENDON SUB
Hendon, watched by just a dozen fans, make a half-time change, with Hudson being replaced by Ben Hudell.

HALF TIME: AFC SUDBURY 0-0 CANVEY ISLAND
There are 10 Dartford fans and officials at Kingsmarsh Stadium.

HALF TIME: EBBSFLEET UNITED 1-0 ALDERSHOT TOWN

HALF TIME: TONBRIDGE ANGELS 2-0 HENDON
It’s come at a cost for Tommy Warrilow’s men as defender John Beales is stretchered off, Tommy Tyne picks up an inuury, and midfielder Anthony Storey picks up his 10^th yellow card of the season so will therefore face a two-match ban.

COMMENT FROM BBC RADIO KENT’S MIKE GREEN
“What an impressive first half performance from the Angels that was. Two cracking goals straight off the training ground, obviously the big plusses of the half. On the downside the injuries to Tommy Tyne and John Beales must be of concern to Tommy “Mourinho” Warrilow. Referee Tony Mason is going to have his hands full in the second half as the Hendon defenders discipline seems to have gone completely and to call some of their challengers late in the half agricultural would be probably the understatement of the season.”

“OVER PHYSICAL“ HENDON
Hendon’s Rakatahr Hudson is lucky to escape with just a yellow card for a crunching challenge on Westcott. This follows a challenge by Leach which forces Beales off on a stretcher.

STRETCHERED OFF
Beales’ blow for Angels as the highly-rated defender is stretchered off inside the Hendon penalty area, with a suspected injured knee, following a challenge from Leach.



BLOW:  Tonbridge Angels defender John Beales (blue) was forced to leave the game on a stretcher following this challenge by Hendon defender Marc Leach.
Photograph courtesy of David Couldridge - www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/gallery

BANNED
Referee Mason hands out yellow cards for Hendon’s Sam Page and Angels midfielder Anthony Storey picks up his 10^th yellow card and will therefore be suspended.

GOAL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS 2-0 HENDON
With 37 minutes and 26 seconds on the clock the Angels double their lead. Westcott’s third corner was met by a powerful header from Beales on the edge of the area and striker Akwasi Edusei flicked the ball over Blackmore and into the net from two-yards.

37 MINUTES
Hendon central defender Marc Leech is booked for dissent.

35:47
Reed makes a comfortable save from Davis Haule’s right-footed drive.

LATEST: AFC SUDBURY 0-0 CANVEY ISLAND
This is good news for Dartford in the Ryman League Division One North.

29:30
Hendon’s best chance, however, came from their second corner of the game as the Kent side’s defence left O’Leary unmarked inside the box from Busby’s corner, but his header dropped wide of the far-post.

25:58
A good move from Hendon down the right gives them a good chance on the Angels goal. Daniel Dyer played the ball out to Lubomir Guentchev down the right and the Bulgarian’s cross was met on the chest by Davis Haule, who then turned and sent the ball high over Reed’s bar.

25 MINUTES
Hendon’s central midfielder Lee O’Leary gets spoken to my referee Mr Tony Mason after throwing the ball towards the Sidcup referee.

24 MINUTES
Jubilant Angels fans chant “can you hear the Hendon sing?”.

21 MINUTES
Hendon go close through their first corner of the game as Marc Leach’s header drops just over Reed’s crossbar, following Busby’s flag-kick from the left.

GOAL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS 1-0 HENDON
Tonbridge Angels take the lead with 17 minutes and 11 seconds on the clock through Rook. Westcott’s corner, his second of the game, was met by a flicked header at the near post by central defender James Donovan, finding Rook unmarked at the far-post and his powerful header found the roof of the net from inside the six-yard box.

Tommy Tyne, meanwhile, has left the pitch through injury, to be replaced by Scott Kinch.

GOAL: EBBSFLEET UNITED 1-0 ALDERSHOT TOWN
A goal after 13 minutes from Luke Moore gives Ebbsfleet United the lead at Stonebridge Road and puts the championship champagne on ice for champions-elect Aldershot Town.

GOAL-LESS AT SUDBURY
According to the Dartford forum, the latest score at the Kingsmarsh Stadium remains AFC Sudbury 0-0 Canvey Island.

8:46
Tonbridge Angels go close from their first corner of the game, taken by Westcott. The flag-kick was met by a bullet header from central defender John Beales from ten-yards which was beaten out by Blackmore, diving to his left.

7:28
Another shot from Busby, this time with a right-footed drive, again from 25-yards, brings a smart low save from Reed.

5:43
Hendon’s central midfielder Jamie Busby cracks a right-footed volley from 25-yards out, on the right-hand side of the box, which balloons high over Matt Reed’s bar.

VOCAL SUPPORT
Knowing that their side need a win to climb into fifth spot, the Angels faithful get behind their team right from the off.

45 SECONDS
The Angels have the first chance of the game through leading scorer Carl Rook. A low cross from winger John Westcott on the right was stroked towards goal by Rook from 12-yards and Hendon goalkeeper Luke Blackmore made a comfortable low save to his right.

KICK OFF
Hendon in green shirts, with gold numbers on their backs, get this crunch game underway as the temperature starts to drop after a fine day here in west Kent.

19:30
There have been blue skies here in west Kent all day - much better than the snow that fell on Sunday - but the floodlights are on whilst the players’ finish their warm-ups.

Forget about the Champions League on TV, this is a more important game, as the Angels bid to climb into fifth place in the Ryman Premier League table with a victory over a Hendon side that won at Hastings United 4-3 on Saturday.

TEAM NEWS
Tonbridge Angels, who defeated Harrow Borough here 3-0 at the weekend, keep the same team for tonight’s game that they must win to climb into the final play off berth.

Sixth placed side Hendon, meanwhile, are managed by Gary McCann, a former team mate of Angels chairman Nick Sullivan at Sutton United.

AWARDS
Angels boss Tommy Warrilow and goalkeeper Matt Reed will be presented their manager and goalkeeper of the month awards for the month of March by the Ryman League’s Barry Simmonds.

08:35
Tonbridge Angels secretary Mr Charlie Cole has confirmed that there is a change of referee for tonight’s crunch game against Hendon. Sidcup referee Mr Tony Mason has been drafted in as a late replacement for the injured Mr Ian Bentley (West Wickham).

The funeral of Angels youngster Jack Maddams takes place at 10 o’clock this morning. Maddams tragically died in his sleep a couple of weekends ago.

Angels boss Tommy Warrilow, meanwhile, said last night that the club’s play-off push has been dedicated to the former Gillingham youngster.

He said: “I’m sure Jack wouldn’t want us to take the foot of the gas. Saturday (a 3-0 home win over Harrow Borough) was a difficult scenario but the play-off push, it’s dedicated to Jack now.”


Tonbridge Angels: Matt Reed, Ray Powell, Matt Lovell, Tommy Tyne (Scott Kinch 20), John Beales (Simon Glover 45), James Donovan, John Westcott, Anthony Storey, Akwasi Edusei, Carl Rook, Fraser Logan (Kirk Watts 80).
Subs: Michael Phillips, Phil Starkey.

Goals: Carl Rook 18, Akwasi Edusei 38, 49, 87

Booked: Anthony Storey 40, Simon Glover 53

Hendon: Luke Blackmore, Daniel Dyer (Iavor Guentchev 90), James Burgess, Marc Leach, Sam Page, Jamie Busby, Rakatahr Hudson (Ben Hudell 45), Lee O’Leary, Brian Haule (Belal Aiteouakrim 72), Lubomir Guentchev, Davis Haule.
Subs: Jack Page, Casey Maclaren.

Booked: Mark Leach 37, Sam Page 39, Rakatahr Hudson 45, Ben Hudell 65, Lee O’Leary 71

Attendance: 389
Referee: Mr Tony Mason (Sidcup)
Assistants: Mr Darren Blunden (Dartford) & Mr Andy Mead (Orpington)