THREE new players joined Tonbridge Angels during the week and with two on month-long loans all of them, Tom Jelley, Bradley Stevenson and Ryan Worrall, took to the field at Staines.
On 19 minutes Joe Turner hit the crossbar for the visitors and then Sonny Miles somehow directed a header over the bar from two yards out.
Alex Akrofi was brought down just outside the area and Stevenson’s daisy cutter of a free-kick was diverted wide of the goal by Akrofi.
On 39 minutes it was George Beavan to the rescue for the Angels when he cleared off the line following a good save by Jonny Henly.
Clever play by Stevenson from a Turner free-kick saw the ball fall to Nathan Elder and his shot beat Liam Driscoll in the Staines goal to put Tonbridge in the lead on 44 minutes.
The home side found the equaliser five minutes after half-time when Josh Webb met a corner and planted a firm header into the net.
Six minutes later came an incident that changed the game. Tonbridge’s Beavan, just back from a four-week injury lay-off, was shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident and a penalty was awarded. But Mohamed Bettamer launched the spot-kick high over the bar.
With Tonbridge down to 10 men the Swans went ahead on 65 minutes, Elliott Buchanan converted a cross from the left with a crisp header.
The game was put beyond Angels’ reach in the 83rd minute when a through ball forced Henly to come off his line, Webb claiming his second goal.
Manager Steve McKimm said: “I was proud of the way some of my players performed, -particularly when a man short, but their third goal was a poor one to concede.
“I was very pleased with the new signings, they all did terrific so despite the disappointing result there were some encouraging signs.”
Angels now face Needham Market at home on Saturday [November 18, kick-off 3pm].
