TONBRIDGE ANGELS secured a vital three points in their bid for a playoff place in Bostik League Premier as they overcame a resourceful Hornchurch.
Tom Derry’s strike proved decisive with five minutes remaining, after the Angels had gone three games without finding the net.
The home side enjoyed the better of the first half but for all their dominance the breakthrough wouldn’t come.
Chances fell to Chinedu McKenzie, Derry and two for Joe Turner but inaccuracy and the fine form of Hornchurch custodian Callum Chafer kept the game goalless at the break.
The second half started with Tonbridge on the front foot but Hornchurch built some midfield momentum through the prompting of Joe Christou.
The Angels defence was well organised but it looked likely to be another match without a goal.
Despite preventing the Urchins from creating any genuine chances, the momentum seemed to have gone out of the home side’s game.
On the hour they suffered a serious blow when their inspirational skipper, Tom Parkinson, was taken off on a stretcher.
He appeared to have sustained a serious ankle injury just 12 months after coming back from a long layoff because of a similar problem.
It was Parkinson’s substitute Tom Beere who executed a defence-splitting pass out to Turner on the left wing in the 85th minute.
He provided a fine, low cross and and Derry was in the right place to score the winner.
Angels manager Steve McKimm said: “This was obviously a huge three points. Over the 90 minutes I think we deserved the win.
“We had to be patient, not panic and eventually a moment of quality takes us through.”
Tonbridge are in fourth place in the table, just one point behind Merstham and four behind Haringey Borough.
They now entertain Corinthian Casuals at home on Saturday [March 16, kick-off 3pm].
