By Lauren Hawker
Angels progress as Steyning fall in second qualifying round replay of the FA Cup
After their stirring comeback from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw in the original tie, Steyning Town travelled to Tonbridge Angels’ Longmead Stadium for the FA cup second qualifying round replay with expectations running high among their supporters. With a place against Cray Valley FC in the next round at stake, the Barrowmen faced another daunting test against National League South opposition. Leading the side on this occasion was Tad Bromage, taking the captain’s armband in place of Dion Jarvis.
Tonbridge Angels wasted little time asserting themselves in the match. After Steyning were handed an early freekick, comfortably saved by the home goalkeeper, the Angels quickly seized control. Steyning striker Bridgman was cautioned for dissent on six minutes, and moments later Tonbridge’s no.21 drove a low strike into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.
The Barrowmen looked for a response, with Bridgman breaking forward on ten minutes but unable to get his shot away. Instead, it was the hosts who doubled their advantage. On 16 minutes, Tonbridge no.17 found the target with a well-placed finish, just beyond the reach of the keeper Mitch Bromage.
Steyning’s evening worsened when Daniels-Yeomans was forced off with an ankle injury midway through the half, replaced by Kirkwood, as Tonbridge continued to dominate possession. The hosts should have added a third on 33 minutes when No.7 failed to convert a low cross, but the reprieve was short-lived. After Bromage produced a fine stop to deny the Angels, the resulting corner was powered home by their No.6 to make it 3-0.
A yellow card for Tonbridge after a foul on Bridgman provided a rare moment of respite, before Heath’s strike in first-half stoppage time was safely gathered by the home keeper. At the break, Steyning trailed 3-0 and were left clinging to hopes of a second-half revival.
Tonbridge wasted no time after the restart, driving forward in the 46th minute with a sharp cross that was dealt with by the Steyning back line. The visitors, however, continued to struggle in midfield, unable to carve out meaningful passages of play.
Bridgman offered a glimpse of hope on 52 minutes, testing the Tonbridge keeper with a shot that lacked the power to trouble. But moments later, Steyning struck back. A free-kick was only half-cleared, and captain Tad Bromage met the rebound with a crisp volley into the net to make it 3-1, briefly igniting belief among the travelling supporters.
With confidence restored, Steyning pushed again. Another set piece six minutes later saw Bromage rise to meet the delivery, though his header was gathered by the goalkeeper. Yet just as momentum appeared to swing, Tonbridge ruthlessly extinguished it. On 63 minutes their No.17 drilled home his second of the night to restore the three-goal cushion, before No.21 added a fifth from distance three minutes later to make it 5-1.
From there, the Angels tightened their grip. Steyning’s play became hurried, while keeper M. Bromage was called into action repeatedly, producing a superb triple save on 75 minutes to keep the scoreline respectable. Tonbridge continued to pour forward, striking the side netting in the 83rd minute before forcing another save with a header two minutes later.
The inevitable sixth arrived in the 86th minute, No.11 tapping in from close range to complete the rout. The final whistle confirmed a 6-1 victory for Tonbridge, ending Steyning’s spirited FA Cup run in emphatic fashion.
