Tonbridge Angels secured a narrow victory over Ramsgate despite being reduced to ten men for the entire second half following a sending off. The match, played on September 20, saw Ramsgate take an early lead before Tonbridge mounted a resilient comeback to claim all three points.

Ramsgate, the visiting side, impressed in the opening stages and opened the scoring in the 21st minute. A penalty was awarded after Ethan Sutcliffe fouled Billy Munday in the box, and Alfie Paxman calmly converted, sending goalkeeper Nathan Harness the wrong way. The visitors maintained their advantage until Tonbridge equalised in the 33rd minute. A strong run and cross from Frankie Baker set up Jepthe Tanga, who finished from close range at the far post.

Shortly before halftime, Tonbridge were awarded a penalty when Baker was brought down by Raphe Brown. However, Brown’s second yellow card led to his dismissal, and the resulting penalty taken by Bailey Akehurst struck the underside of the crossbar and was not converted. The first half closed dramatically, with Sam Corne attempting a long-range lob from around 40 yards that forced a save from former Tonbridge goalkeeper Jonny Henly, who managed to tip the ball onto the crossbar.

Despite being a man down for the entire second half, Ramsgate remained competitive and continued to press Tonbridge. The home side demonstrated resilience and disciplined defending, managing to stay level as the clock wound down. Ultimately, in the final six minutes, Tonbridge’s Jepthe Tanga made a decisive contribution again, using skill to navigate along the byline before setting up substitute Bunmi Babajide, who scored the winning goal.

Tonbridge’s victory over their county rivals was marked by determination and tactical solidity, proving crucial in a closely contested fixture. Ramsgate’s spirited start and persistent efforts in the second half could not prevent them from falling short under challenging circumstances.