Tonbridge Angels 1 Maidstone United 1 match report: Deon Moore’s early opener for the visitors cancelled out by Ricky Korboa as National League South Kent derby ends level

An absorbing Kent derby between Tonbridge and Maidstone ended in a draw.

Deon Moore gave the Stones - beaten 2-1 when the sides met at the Gallagher last November - an early lead.

But Ricky Korboa earned a deserved point for the Angels with a second-half equaliser in front of a big derby crowd of 2,509 at Longmead.

Maidstone caught the Angels defence cold with a fifth-minute opener.

Riley Court’s free-kick was nodded across goal by Taylor and Moore pounced from close range after the hosts failed to deal with the danger.

The Tonbridge response was decent as Tom Leahy released Frankie Baker and only excellent tracking back from Jephte Tanga denied him a shot on goal.

Leahy went on to hit the base of the far post after collecting Kyle Smith’s ball down the right and cutting inside Leo Hamblin before shooting on his left foot.

Smith had won possession with a crunching derby challenge on David Sesay before setting Leahy away.

There was also a let-off for the Stones when Nathan Harness came racing out of his area, only to miss the ball, with Sesay getting back to deny Marcus Sablier.

Tonbridge appeared to make a point of targeting the Stones left but they almost had some joy down the opposite flank in the last action of the first half as Korboa’s cross hit the inside of the far post.

Korboa struck the woodwork again after the break, this time a deflected strike hitting the inside of the far post and being smothered by Harness after Baker and half-time substitute Bunmi Babajide combined.

Tonbridge were well on top, with Scott Wagstaff - their other half-time change - pulling the strings, and an equaliser was looking increasingly likely.

Maidstone nearly had a second when Tanga’s low cross from the right was met by Faal, whose