The Fleet maintained their 100% record in their fourth match of pre-season but this one was hardly a classic, with two late goals from Robbie Willmott ultimately separating the sides.
Daryl McMahon rang the changes again after the win at Welling and new signing Craig Braham-Barrett started the match, as did Sean Shields who had missed Saturday.
Lining up for Steve McKimm’s Tonbridge were former Fleet men Nathan Elder and James Folkes, while Tom Phipp and Luke Blewden – son of Colin – were substitutes. And the home side were the more eager into the action, with the imposing Elder seeing a chance cleared off the line while goalkeeper Jon Miles saved three efforts.
Adam Cunnington was the Fleet’s main threat and twice he supplied Matt Godden while Tonbridge came out on top of a goalmouth scramble. But the hosts still looked the more likely to take the lead and Tommy Whitnell blazed over before Elder’s shot was kept out by Miles.
Fleet were much more purposeful in the second half, however, with substitutes John Paul Kissock and Jordan Parkes pulling the strings in midfield. They got more of a passing game going and Kedwell, on as a 73rd minute substitute, saw a decent lob from 12 yards just clear the bar.
Finally Parkes, combining with another substitute in Willmott, helped break the deadlock four minutes from time. The former Hemel skipper floated over a delivery and Willmott was there at the far post to send an emphatic header past the goalkeeper.
The final minutes certainly warmed the crowd up and Tonbridge had two late chances to salvage the game as the Fleet defence backed off from Blewden’s run but Willmott hadn’t quite finished his evening and in the last minute he finished off a break upfield with a low shot past Anthony Di Bernado.
TEAM: Miles, Howe, Braham-Barrett (Fish 46), Johnson (Kissock 46), Acheampong, Clark (Bonner 46), Godden (Willmott 73), S Lewis (Parkes 46), Cunnington (Kedwell 73), Rance, Shields (Osborn 46). Sub not used: Hall.
Att: 305
