Tonbridge 3 Leyton 2

LEROY HUGGINS’ stoppage time winner gave Tonbridge a sensational victory against Ryman Premier Division play-off contenders Leyton on Saturday.

Craig Roser’s 50-yard diagonal pass found Huggins one-on-one with defender Ian Bass on the right touchline.

Huggins cut inside and drilled a low left foot shot into the far corner to delight the 338 fans, a section of whom stayed well after the final whistle to acknowledge the efforts of the players.

Huggins said afterwards: “I knew there wasn’t long to go, the ball’s been put wide one-on-one and when you’re a striker you’ve got to take your chances. I took mine and it paid off.”

It was no less than the Angels deserved after a performance that will baffle those who saw the inept display against Worthing five days ago.

Looking dangerous coming forward with an attacking 4-4-2 formation, only two stunning saves from James Hasell prevented them taking an early lead.

First, he denied Richard Brady when he was clean through, then surpassed himself from the resulting corner with an instinctive one-handed save from Huggins.

Leyton were always dangerous on the break and when the pace of Manny Williams exposed Danny Lye, he broke free down the right to cross for Leli Bajada to head the opening goal after 33 minutes.

The Angels were level before half time with Nick Barnes delivering another testing corner and Huggins found room to head a simple equaliser.

Luke Piscina had an excellent game in right midfield, and his 25-yard drive forced another fine save from Hasell.

But Leyton seemed able to exert pressure when they needed to and moments after Jamie Turner had denied Scott Curley, Williams beat the offside trap, then Turner, and chipped the ball past the covering Lye to make it 2-1.

The story of a good performance resulting in defeat was being written until Steve Sodje was introduced with 20 minutes left.

The big striker has become something of a cult hero for his four goals in nine league games and his fifth was by far the easiest.

Piscina challenged in the air and as Bass and Hasell collapsed in a heap after colliding, Sodje as on hand to trickle the ball home from six yards and put the Angels level with nine minutes remaining.

The treatment for the injured duo led to a large amount of stoppage time and with both sides striving for a winner, for vastly different reasons, Huggins snatched the glory in the 95th minute.

The game was similar to the visit of Folkestone when Tonbridge came from behind twice with two late goals in a 3-2 win and player-boss Tony Dolby knows more of the same is required.

He said: "The same as Folkestone, I thought we warranted something out of the game and we were definitely worth three points in the end.

"We had our backs up against the wall with a couple of silly goals we gave away but both times we showed fantastic character and got what we deserved in the end.

"Tuesday night (at Worthing) was a one-off this season but for the boys to come back, with everything that’s gone on this week, is fantastic."