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Tonbridge Angels manager Jay Saunders reacts to 1-0 defeat against Weston-super-Mare

05:00, 13 August 2023

Jay Saunders spoke of his frustration after Tonbridge’s home defeat by Weston on Saturday.

Angels lost 1-0 for the second weekend running to leave them looking for their first National South points of the season.

Tonbridge Angels manager Jay Saunders. Picture: David Couldridge
Tonbridge Angels manager Jay Saunders. Picture: David Couldridge

They had enough opportunities to overturn Jonathan Bastin’s 25th-minute strike but it’s two defeats out of two following their injury-time disappointment at Worthing in the opening game.

“I’m just frustrated today,” said boss Saunders.

“If you’ve been battered you kind of get it but we’re sitting here with no points from two games and you’re thinking, ‘Well, how’s that happened?’ but it has.

“We could play that game another 10 times and I don’t think we’d lose but we can’t feel sorry for ourselves.”

Bastin latched on to a long ball for the only goal at Longmead while considerable Tonbridge pressure in the second half went without reward.

Saunders said: “I thought we had a lot of possession and a lot of chances and half-chances but we haven’t put the ball in the net. On the flipside of that, we’ve conceded a really sloppy goal, which is disappointing.

“Other than the goal, I can’t remember them having too many chances. Their gaffer came up to me at the end and said, ‘I feel we like we robbed you a bit’ but that’s football.

“It was a mistake from us for the goal. If you watch their game against Havant last weekend (which Weston also won 1-0) it’s the same thing, one straight ball, and we’ve got to deal with it.

“We’ve just got caught and, to be fair, the fella’s taken it well.

“We had enough time to get back into it. We had about 15 corners, we’ve had two off the line, and Stefan Payne’s hit the post. We’ve had enough chances to get something out of it.

“I must admit, even at 1-0 down, I kind of felt confident.

“The first half was tough against the wind but I felt we could dominate the second half and for large parts I thought we did.

“We were camped in their half but you have to give them credit.

“They got bodies behind the ball, they put bodies on the line and came out with three points.”

Report: Tonbridge 0-1 Weston

A golden double chance fell substitute Stefan Payne’s way with 15 minutes left.

Payne, who’s working his way towards full fitness following his summer move from Welling, hit the post after going through one-on-one with keeper Harrison Lee.

He looked set to bury the rebound only for Samuel Avery to pull off a superb block to keep Weston in front.

“I need to see it back but I think a fully-fit Payney puts that first chance away,” said Saunders.

“It comes back out and I thought the second one was a great block.

“Payney’s taken his touch and he’s putting it in and the geezer’s flung himself at it and cleared it.

“I was pleased when Payney came on - I thought he added a different dimension - and Ibby Akanbi as well.

“We’ve just got to get them up to speed as quick as we can.

“At the moment, we’re not playing with a recognised centre-forward.

“Tommie Fagg’s doing a job for us but there’s knowing how to really play centre-forward, so the sooner we get Payney and Ibby up to speed, the better.

“Faggy’s done well for us. We had injuries in pre-season and put him up front and he scored seven in six.

“It’s been tough for him in the first couple of league games but today we were able to drop him back into midfield after Payney came on.

“Payney is what he is. He’ll score goals and I’m sure if he gets that chance again, he tucks it away.”

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