2025 ended for Tonbridge Angels with a high scoring defeat at home to Eastbourne Borough in the Vanarama National League South.

For the first twenty minutes the visitors looked like world beaters as they pinged it around and burst into a two goal lead before the Angels started to impose themselves and pulled one back before half time. They then shot themselves in the foot by giving away a third goal soon after the restart but again reduced the arrears before conceding again. Once more they refused to lie down and scored again before having a great chance to snatch a point in the final minute of stoppage time.

Multiple passes created the opportunity for Eastbourne to go ahead in the seventh minute. Eventually they worked it out to Kai Corbett and his inviting cross was bundled home by Pemi Aderoju.

Eleven minutes later they doubled their lead when Josh Anifowose crossed low and it appeared that Noah McCann may have got the last touch, knocking it into his own net, as Arthur Grout closed in.

After their slow start, the Angels started to impose themselves and Tom Leahy had a shot well held by Sports’ goalkeeper Woody Williamson before Aderoju went close again when heading wide from Anifowose’s cross.

Kyle Smith had a shot turned round the post by Williamson then the Eastbourne custodian pushed a shot by Ricky Korboa over the bar. Korboa fired over before, at the other end, Corbett got on the end of a cross by Anifowose and had his shot saved by Laurence Shala.

Brody Peart eased in from the right for the hosts but shot wide of the near post before they pulled one back eight minutes before half time. Korboa played it out into the path of Bunmi Babajide and he gave Williamson no chance with a drive into the roof of the net.

Leahy might have levelled before the break but his effort whistled past the post.

Five minutes after the restart, Eastbourne were gifted a third by an awful back-pass that allowed Aderoju a clear run on goal and he took full advantage with a clinical finish.

Babajide did brilliantly to get to the bye-line and he pulled it back for Matthew Warren who skied it over then the Tonbridge wide man played in Leahy whose shot was blocked out by Williamson.

Alan Dunne, the Angels’ manager, brought on Alfie Pavey and he made his presence felt immediately with a shot that Williamson was relieved to beat out. However, in their next attack Tonbridge reduced the arrears when Smith crossed deep and Pavey headed home at the far post.

Smith and Pavey again combined well only for the Tonbridge striker to fire well over from twenty yards.

Leahy headed wide from another Babajide cross but it was Eastbourne who scored again with fifteen minutes remaining. A training ground corner routine created space for Harry Phipps and the Sports’ captain arrowed his shot inside the far post.

Korboa shot over from the corner of the penalty area and Tonbridge substitute Marcus Sablier had a shot turned around the post by Williamson before the hosts scored again in the last minute of regulation time. Sablier delivered a corner to the far post and Pavey headed home from close range.

Nazir Bakrin had a chance to level but shot straight at Williamson before Babajide had a great opportunity in the final minute of stoppage time but did not get a clean connection on his strike and the Eastbourne goalkeeper was grateful to push it around the post.

As a result of the defeat, the Angels are looking nervously over their shoulders, however, Dunne will know that if they can start to convert their chances, they will be able to pull away from the drop zone.

Tonbridge Angels: Shala; Sutcliffe, Penney, McCann; Peart (Pavey 60), Bakrin, Warren (Wagstaff 60), Smith (Sablier 69); Korboa (Richardson 90+6), Babajide; Leahy. Subs not used: West-Astuti, Ademiluyi, Akehurst.

Goalscorers: Babajide (37), Pavey (63), (90)

Yellow cards: Warren (55 accumulated fouls), Korboa (68 foul), Babajide (84 foul)

Eastbourne Borough: Williamson; Taylor, Phipps, Trusty; Eastmond, Anifowose, Corbett (Alexander 80), Grout (Fairnie 90+5), Davis (Lintott 73); Mullins, Aderoju. Subs not used: Searle, Harley, Ademola, Kadric.

Goalscorers: Aderoju (7), (50), McCann og (18), Phipps (74)

Yellow card: Taylor (82 foul), Anifowose (90+7)

Referee: Craig Barnett

Assistants: Craig Wood and Ryan Chantrill-Smith

Fourth Official: Abdulaziz Olol

Attendance: 1,007