TONBRIDGE ANGELS made an early exit in the FA Cup at the hands of Bostik South club Faversham Town.
They were guilty of gifting all three goals because of a lack of marking at the back, while their strike force was lacking bite again.
The Angels made a slow start and found themselves a goal down after just six minutes following a succession of Faversham corners, Mark Lovell coming up with the decisive header.
The visitors carved out their first opening midway through the first half when Andre McCollin’s shot from the edge of the area struck the base of a Faversham post.
But Faversham went 2-0 up on the half-hour. A fine crossfield pass from Danny Walder found Lovell, who controlled the ball well and slotted it past the advancing Jonny Henly.
Seven minutes later the visitors pulled a goal back with Tom Beere putting through McCollin, who took his chance well.
After that boost going into half-time, the Angels were starting to ask the questions in the second half with chances for Chris Kinnear, McCollin and Joe Turner.
Faversham’s troublesome centre-forward Liam King forced a double save from Henly with the ball going out for a corner.
From the set-piece the ball wasn’t cleared properly and another cross found central defender Matt Bourne unmarked. He restored Faversham’s two-goal advantage in the 67th minute.
The Angels lost a great chance to get back in the game when they missed a penalty in the 77th minute after George Beavan was pushed over in the box.
Tonbridge kept going with Kinnear and Turner, in particular, trying to find that elusive opening but it was to prove in vain.
Angels manager Steve McKimm said: “They have had perhaps four clear-cut chances and have taken three of them, with probably the help of poor defending, whereas we have created a lot of good openings but only taken one of them. It’s a bitter pill to swallow.
“We will have possibly the frustration of a blank Saturday when others will be enjoying FA Cup action, but we will work hard on the training pitch to get this right and we will get it right.”
