TONBRIDGE ANGELS took another major step towards the Bostik League Premier playoffs with comfortable victory over relegation strugglers Harlow Town.
They remain in third place, just a point behind Haringey Town, and Chinedu McKenzie scored a hat-trick to keep up pressure on his old club – who may yet rue their decision to let him go.
With injury problems depleting the hosts’ small squad, manager Steve McKimm strengthened his player base on transfer deadline day by recruiting two goalkeepers, Deren Ibrahim and Sami Nabbad, and experienced midfielder Joe Healy.
Ibrahim, a Gibraltar international, had a brief loan spell with Tonbridge in 2014-15 while Nabbad is a promising stopper who has played for AFC Wimbledon’s Under-18s.
Healy is a well-known figure across the south-east, having scored 38 goals in 209 appearances for Welling United in two spells.
He also had a season at Maidstone United where he was named Players’ Player of the Year.
The game was only a minute old when the Angels might have taken the lead but an unmarked Tom Derry could not convert Adem Ramadan’s cross.
Eleven minutes later, a through ball put Derry clear. The onrushing Hawks keeper Marcin Brzozowski had to head the ball as he ventured outside his area and it fell into the path of McKenzie, who expertly the lobbed the keeper.
The Angels continued to largely dominate with chances falling to McKenzie, Derry and Jack Parter, but the score remained 1-0 at half-time.
In the 54th minute Derry was brought down by Brzozowski after good work by McKenzie.
The referee pointed to the spot and although Brzozowski saved Turner ‘s spot kick, McKenzie was on hand to turn in the rebound.
The game was made safe on 79 minutes when McKenzie turned in Alex Reid’s cross to complete his accomplished hat-trick.
Harlow grabbed a consolation in the 86th minute through Matthew Foy.
Tonbridge face three of their playoff rivals in their remaining five games, travelling to Leatherhead on Saturday [April 6, kick-off 3pm] before taking on Worthing and Carshalton.
