DESPITE having put ten goals past Herne Bay in the league cup in midweek, Tonbridge Angels lost their third league game in succession at Harlow Town, slipping into the lower half of the Bostik League Premier.
They made life difficult for themselves by going a goal down after just three minutes as Nigel Neita forced the ball past goalkeeper Jonny Henly.
Angels worked their way back into the game. On 21 minutes Tommy Whitnell played in Tom Beere but keeper Ben McNamara made a fine block.
On the stroke of half-time a flowing move by Joe Turner, Dan Thompson and Whitnell was only stopped at the expense of a corner.
The home side committed an offence and Beere’s free-kick crashed against the crossbar and seemed to go over the goalline. Alex Akrofi reacted quickest and nodded the ball home to make sure.
After the break Neita’s teasing cross forced Jeya Siva to head the ball away for a corner from under his own crossbar. From the corner Ibrahima Sonko put in a firm header but it was straight at Henly.
Another corner quickly followed for Harlow and it required a goalline clearance by Whitnell to prevent the hosts going ahead again.
It all went wrong for the Angels on 74 minutes when Sonny Miles was adjudged to have handled the ball just outside the area.
The free-kick from Andnea Mayasi found the back of net having taken a touch off Alex Reid’s head.
Angels manager Steve McKimm said: “We played enough decent football to get something out of the game but the fact is we haven’t because we haven’t defended well enough when called upon.
“We will work on defensive responsibilities and I can assure you we will get it right.”
