Tonbridge Angels 2 Rocks 0

The Rocks slipped to their second Ryman premier defeat in four days '“ but travel home from Kent knowing they might easily have got something from the game.

They created eight good chances and dominated long periods, but their failure to score when on top cost them as the home side scored a goal in each half.

The defeat leaves Darin Killpartrick's team with just four points from nine games, and still in bottom place.

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Killpartrick gave a debut to striker Jason Prior, signed earlier in the day from Wessex premier division side Moneyfields, and he looked lively for much of the game.

Apart from Prior coming in for Howard Neighbour, the Rocks were unchanged from the team who lost away to Wealdstone on Saturday.

The visitors had the first good chance of the game on 14 minutes when Mickey Demetriou's cross set up Sam Tucknott for an effort which brought a great reaction save from Angels keeper Lee Worgam.

Prior nearly marked his debut with a goal when a Tucknott cross fell to him three minutes later.

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Then Charlie Oatway shot wide from seven yards out from another Tucknott cross.

Tonbridge had weathered the storm and went ahead on 23 minutes, Carl Rook the scorer in a scramble following a free-kick.

The Rocks continued to play neat football, but couldn't fina way back on to level terms before the break.

The second half was a similar story to the first '“ with plenty of Rocks pressure deemed in vain by a goal.

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Prior put a chance over the bar on the hour after a Demetriou cross gave him sight of goal.

James Fraser replaced Oatway on 61 minutes, before Michael Birmingham's free-kick from 25 yards whistled just over the bar.

A glancing header from Prior was well-saved by Worgam on 73 minutes, and then the curse of the breakaway goal hit the Rocks again.

Anthony Storey put Tonbridge 2-0 to the good when he converted a cross, with a hint of a deflection taking the ball past Ender.

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Richard Greenfield replaced Stuart Tuck moments after the goal.

Tonbridge, with their two-goal cushion, now looked more comfortable and might have added a third on 80 minutes, but Ender saved well from a looping header.

Matt Wood replaced Birmingham with seven minutes left and then Greenfield put a header just wide from a James Fraser cross.

So the Rocks come home pointless again '“ but will take heart from a performance with plenty of bite and much better than the display at Grosvenor Vale last Saturday.

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Next up it's a probably-welcome break from the league when Horsham, who also play in the Ryman premier, visit Nyewood Lane for a SussexSenior Cup second-round tie on Saturday.

Rocks: Ender, Smith, Crane, Ide, Bond, Tuck (Greenfield), Tucknott, Birmingham (Wood), Prior, Oatway (Fraser), Demetriou. Subs not used: Neighbour, French.

Att: 348

by Roger Nash and Steve Bone

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