TONBRIDGE ANGELS Ladies made the long trip to Margate missing four key players through work commitments and injuries and they struggled from the outset.
An impressive Margate side set a high tempo and showed some outstanding pace in attack.
That pace was evident with the opening goal which came after eight minutes, Poppy Green on the right getting behind the Angels’ defence and powering a shot past goalkeeper Tracey Edwards.
The lead was doubled in the 20th minute when Gate’s top scorer Kara Richardson scored with a header at the far post.
The Angels’ best opportunity came in first-half injury time, Becky Janes sending an inch-perfect through ball with the outside of her boot to Abbie Skilton, whose shot was blocked by the keeper.
Angels continued to battle hard in a scrappy second half but the home side went further ahead on the hour-mark.
Jodie Coombes was adjudged to have brought down a Margate forward in the box and Beth Cooper fired in the spot-kick.
Four minutes later Tonbridge were again outdone by a move down their left side and the cross evaded everyone except Richardson, who was on hand at the far post to score again.
