TONBRIDGE ANGELS’ growing ambitions of achieving a play-off place in the Bostik League Premier suffered a setback when they were held to a draw by Margate.
The home side lacked the intensity they had shown in recent games as the visitors belied their lowly league position to give encouragement to their new joint manager Jay Saunders.
After a quiet opening the game came to life in the 27th minute when a good move involving Jack Parter and Chinedu McKenzie forced Margate keeper Louis Wells to concede the corner.
A second corner was then given away, and Ben Swift inexplicably handled the ball. Joe Turner converted the penalty to put Tonbridge 1-0 up.
Joseph Hungbo forced a save out of Angels keeper Jonny Henly and Kadell Daniel got round the back of the home defence with a dangerous low cross.
The visitors had another good chance in the 56th minute when their captain Liam Friend headed just over the bar.
Tonbridge responded a minute later when Adem Ramadan’s header had to be cleared off the line.
Further chances fell to Tom Beere and McKenzie, but the corners and long throws of Margate were starting to pose problems for the Angels defence.
Finally in the 83rd minute the away side profited from their aerial bombardment when Swift was first to the ball and grabbed a deserved equaliser – making amends for conceding the penalty.
Angels manager Steve McKimm said: “I’m not going to be too critical of the boys today. We’ve won 14 out of 18 points and with a small senior squad combined with a couple of injuries I’m not in a position to change things around too much.
“Some of them are running on empty and a couple of months ago it could have been a game we would have lost. We’ve managed, however, to pick up a valuable point.”
Just three points separate Tonbridge in ninth place and Bognor Regis in third. The midweek match at Lewes was postponed after 39 minutes because of a waterlogged pitch.
The Angels travel to Burgess Hill Town on Saturday [February 16, kick-off 3pm].
