Tonbridge Angels 3 Dover Athletic 2

A PENALTY nine minutes into injury time sent Dover Athletic tumbling out of the Ryman Premier Division at Longmead on Saturday.

Tonbridge’s Steve Sodje broke clear from halfway and former Angel Nicky Humphrey was forced to pull him back as he was being outpaced.

Nick Barnes put his first spot kick over the bar, but the referee saw an infringement and allowed him to retake it. He made no mistake second time around.

Tonbridge had taken the lead after 19 minutes when John Farley’s cross from the right found Richard Brady, who slipped the defender and calmly beat Paul Hyde from close range.

Dover were level on 32 minutes. Craig Cloke launched a long throw into the Angels box and when Anthony Hogg’s flick struck a Tonbridge hand, the referee was given no option but to point at the spot.

Cloke drilled the penalty down the middle of the goal to make it 1-1.

But Angels were back in front in first-half stoppage time after Barnes’ corner was met by a fine glancing header from Tim Hambley.

Whites gave themselves a survival lifeline five minutes from time when Humphrey was left unchallenged to head in a second equaliser.

A draw would have been of little use to either side, but Tonbridge had other ideas.

* Listen to Tony Dolby's post match interview with kmfm's Graeme Dewdney...