Tonbridge Angels 0 Billericay Town 2

THE spectre of relegation looms larger for Tonbridge after a 2-0 defeat at home to Billericay Town on Saturday.

Neil Cousins put the visitors ahead five minutes before half time though the points were not safe until Ross Wareham’s 87th minute strike.

The Angels were improved but not impressive after conceding 14 goals in their four previous Ryman Premier League games.

Player-manager Tony Dolby shuffled the pack to bring in 17-year-old Mike Cramp, who had an outstanding debut in place of Nicky Humphrey and Paul Emblen made a surprise start replacing Richard Brady.

The game plan to stiffen up defensively worked well in the early stages, Town reduced to long range efforts Jamie Turner was able to gather comfortably.

But this led to limited attacking options for Tonbridge and Leroy Huggins found himself isolated in a lone striking role and starved of service throughout.

Emblen, playing his first game in almost two years, looked understandably off the pace and though showing good touch and awareness, his withdrawn role did not help Huggins.

Angels’ best moment of the first half was a teasing cross from Luke Piscina but there was no-one in a blue shirt to attack the ball.

The visitors went ahead when Nick Barnes lost possession in his own half and after Paul Armstrong and Steve Forbes were crowded out, Cousins struck a shot into the concrete-like turf that looped over Turner to nestle in the far corner.

In the second half, Huggins gamely chased long passes out of defence but the Town keeper Mel Capleton remained untested.

The introduction of Steve Sodje and Jay May to form a three-pronged attack made little difference and it was a Billericay sub who settled the match.

John Farley stepped up to play offside while his colleagues stayed deep, cutting Farley out of the play, though this was a rare mistake from the solid centre half.

Forbes picked up the ball on the right, his low cross was flicked on by Armstrong and Wareham calmly tapped home.

This prompted a march to the exits from the Tonbridge fans, who had been silent throughout and seem to have lost faith in their side’s ability to bridge the four-point gap to safety.

Tonbridge: Turner, Wilson, Cramp, Farley, Roser, Dolby (Sodje), Lye, Barnes, Piscina, Emblen (May), Huggins. Subs not used: Beales, Humphrey, Brady.

* Listen to Tony Dolby's post-match interview with KM-fm's Graeme Dewdney...