TONBRIDGE ANGELS Ladies reached their second semi-final inside a fortnight with a highly impressive win in the Chairman’s Cup.
Their knockout form has come as welcome relief after the side slipped to three consecutive defeats in the league in 2019.
Mole Valley have come straight from girls football and are riding high in their first season in Division One West with 46 goals from 11 games, well on course for a top-two finish.
They hosted the Angels at the Surrey FA’s £5.5million Meadowbank Stadium, which opened its doors for the first time in the summer.
Tonbridge made a positive start and forced a number of corners early on.
Flo Anastasiou’s delivery from the set-piece was perfect and from her second kick, Mole Valley goalkeeper Maya Nelson could only palm the ball into her own net.
As in recent weeks, though, the Angels found it hard to break down a resilient defence despite enjoying the majority of possession.
The home side’s confidence grew as a result and they levelled the scores in the 15th minute.
An unmarked Lily Turner picked up the ball from a throw-in and lobbed goalkeeper Sam Wright from 35 yards.
The home side then took the lead after 35 minutes when Xayla-Rae Alberts scored from a free kick.
Tonbridge had appealed for a handball but did not allow this setback to distract them.
Another pinpoint corner from Anastasiou was scrambled in by Sara Walker three minutes before half-time to level the scores at 2-2.
The visitors then took control of the match after the interval. Walker stole in at the far post to take the lead with a neat side-footed finish on 56 minutes.
Then on the hour Sam Burton rifled a shot into the top corner from 20 yards to give her side the cushion they sorely needed.
Becky Janes rounded off an emphatic win after 79 minutes with a trademark one-on-one finish.
The semi-final will be played on March 10, against opponents who are yet to be confirmed.
