Tonbridge Angels 2 Northwood 3

TONBRIDGE remain firmly entrenched in the relegation zone as their 11th defeat of the season keeps them six points from safety.

Early Christmas cheer, thanks to a third minute opner from Brendon Cass, soon turned to bleak mid-winter with two superbly executed counter-attacks giving Northwood a 2-1 lead after 22 minutes.

A goal from each side in second half stoppage time completed the scoring as Tonbridge threw everything forward, but it was too little, too late for the Angels.

Though Cass scored the early goal, he also missed two one-on-one chances in the opening six minutes that he should have converted and would have led to a comfortable afternoon.

Instead, Northwood made full use of their counter-attacking game plan, forced on them by having five of last week's reserve team in the starting line-up.

By allowing Tonbridge to push forward, former Gravesend striker Ben Abbey's pace was crucial as he and Gavin Hart scored in startlingly similar styles on the break.

Northwood's second came from a Tonbridge corner, Craig Roser mis-kicking his shot and no sooner had the home fans' ironic cheers at one of their player's misfortune died down, than Nick Humphrey found himself helplessly swamped in defence for Hart to tap home Steve Hale's rebound.

It took until the 73rd minute for Tonbridge to force Rob Bullivant into a save, something that dominated Tony Dolby's post-match debrief with his players, which lasted almost an hour after the final whistle, as he vented his frustrations with his players.

"We could've been three up in the first 10 minutes and then got caught twice on the sucker punch, and we didn't react well to that," said Dolby.

"The reaction from the players wasn't what I anticipated it would be and that's the overwhelming factor for me. Prior to the game we said we shouldn't have to keep shouting at players to do the things we do in training all week, and tell them before the game. They should know what to do because we tell them week in, week out."

Bullivant made two full-length saves to preserve his side's lead, both to deny Danny Lye who pressed on more as the game progressed.

Right back Stuart Reeks helped out his keeper by blocking substitute Jay May's effort on another encouraging day for the emerging May.

Northwood's own sub, Kevin Chakaodza, was on the pitch just four minutes before springing the offside trap from Mark Dennison's long ball, Chakaodza rounding Turner neatly to prompt a mad rush for the exit by disgruntled Angels fans.

Those who stayed saw Steve Sodje, playing despite ankle ligament damage, score a 94th-minute goal, but it did little to restore the festive spirit.

Dolby promised squad additions remain at the forefront of his thinking, though the Christmas break may hinder any moves until January.

"Christmas is a big turning point for clubs and today we should have got a victory and use that as a platform and we didn't," he said. "We definitely need to get some new faces in, freshen it up and make a charge for it."