TONBRIDGE ANGELS fought hard to grab a point on their return to the Vanarama National South for the first time since 2013-14.
But Dulwich Hamlet, themselves promoted from the Isthmian League Premier Division a year before Tonbridge, achieved their first ever win at Longmead and showed the size of the task that lies ahead.
The first game of the new campaign was packed with incident and produced two red cards and two penalties, but it was not a dirty game. The Angels will need to learn quickly at this level as Dulwich, once they had taken the lead, managed the game well.
The first clear-cut chance saw D’Sean Theobalds set up Joe Turner but the winger’s effort was just wide of the left-hand post.
The home side were handed an early boost when Quade Taylor was shown a straight red card for bringing down Tommie Hession-Harris when he was through on goal.
But it was the visitors who took the lead when Jack Connor’s corner was converted with a downwards header by Hamlet skipper David Ijaha on 22 minutes.
On 36 minutes an attempted header back to his goalkeeper by Angels’ James Folkes had Jonny Henly scrambling to prevent the corner.
The keeper landed awkwardly on his shoulder and needed treatment before carrying on.
Further work was carried out in the dressing room at the half-time interval.
Although he emerged for the second period, Henly’s injury may have had a significant bearing on the result.
On the hour Henly spilled a routine cross and with Danny Mills lurking to pounce on the loose ball Henly brought down the Dulwich striker, with a red card the inevitable result.
Folkes took the gloves and but his first action was to pick the ball out of his net as Dulwich converted the penalty through Jeffery Monakana on 62 minutes.
The home side were very much back in the game on 68 minutes when substitute Jared Small’s cross was met by Turner, who was impeded and a penalty was awarded.
Turner himself dispatched the spot-kick successfully and after that the visitors decided to shut up shop.
Play became largely confined to the away half as Angels turned the screw.
Chances fell to Alex Bentley and substitute Chinedu McKenzie but Dulwich held on for the three points.
Angels manager Steve McKimm said: “I was proud of my players. Everyone of them, substitutes and all, put in a terrific shift against a side that’s aiming for the play-offs.
“James Folkes was in goal for around 30 minutes and didn’t have anything to do apart from a couple of backpasses, which shows you how we controlled that period.”
Tonbridge face another familiar opponent in Dorking Wanderers on Saturday (August 10).
in memory of charlie slocombe
Charlie Slocombe’s father Keith has set up a JustGiving page to raise funds for a defibrillator which he can carry with him as part of the equipment that he needs as a football physio.
Charlie died while playing football last month, and his former club Tonbridge Angels said: “It will be a fitting memory for Charlie if just one life can be saved.”
