Tonbridge Angels 2 Blues 2

It's as you were at the top of the Ryman Premier Division as Tonbridge Angels and the Blues fought out a thrilling 2-2 draw. The visitors recovered from a two goal half time deficit to storm back in the second period and deservedly earn a point as the current best two sides in the Division locked horns at the Longmead Stadium. The Blues had Danny Potter back between the posts for the first time in three years following an injury to Nick Eyre while Seb Dunbar was only fit enough to start on the bench, Leon Ottley-Gooch was also missing through injury. The Angels had made a similar start to the season as the Blues with only goal difference separating the sides at the top of the table. The Kent side also boasted a mean defence, conceding just a miserly two goals in their seven League games to date. In all red Leiston started well and spurned three decent chances inside the opening twenty minutes, their attacking prowess silencing the majority of the near 500 spectators. But those chances were punished as on 25 minutes the hosts nudged ahead. Right back James Foulkes cut inside onto his left foot and curled a fine effort inside the far post. The visitors responded, Anthony Di Bernardo thwarting Blues leading scorer Matt Blake from close range. Yet again the miss proved costly as on 38 minutes the Angels doubled their lead. Luke Allen ran from just inside his own half unopposed before drilling a fine effort beyond Danny Potter. A two goal half time deficit against a side who had conceded only two League goals to date, the signs did not look good. But with two and a bit minutes of the second half Leiston were back in the contest. Gareth Heath, forever popping up with crucial goals, did so again as his sweet strike from just outside the box raced beyond Di Bernardo. Game on. Lifted by the goal Leiston pressed deeper into the heart of the Tonbridge final third as the home support grew nervous. Twenty minutes after Heath's goal, parity was restored. The League's leading scorer Matt Blake seizing on a loose ball inside the Tonbridge box to crash home his seventh League goal in eight starts. It was a great fight back from the Suffolk side but back came Tonbridge rousing their fans and only some frantic defending from the visitors kept the hosts at bay. Chances for either side came and went as the fine football fare on show ebbed and flowed in what was a terrific advert for the Ryman Premier Division. At the final whistle both sets of players had given there all and a draw was a fair result keeping both sides unbeaten records in tact as well as their places in the table just as they were prior to kick off.

FT - Tonbridge Angels 2 Blues 2

Tonbridge Angels - Di Bernardo, Folkes, Parter, Parkinson (Phipp 79 mins), Miles, Beavon (Udogi 85 mins), Scannell, Allen, Elder (Blewden 70 mins), Dundas, Wheeler. Subs not used - Whitnell and Fortnam-Tomlinson.

Blues - Potter, Brown, Brothers, Ainsley, Jefford, Bullard, Lawrence, Heath, Blake, Finch, Francis. Subs not used - Saker, Winter, Schaar, Dunbar and Beckwith.

Man of the Match - Gareth Heath

Attendance - 497