Braintree Town (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Johnson (o.g.) 47
Attendance: 468
New Ground: 340
Admission: Pass
Programme: £3
Mileage: 168/4,959
A depleted Tonbridge side were bolstered by new signing Bilel Hinchiri from Dover whilst Braintree fielded five new signings as George Borg sought to put a 6-0 thrashing by Dulwich Hamlet behind them.
The Braintree goal was put under threat in the opening 30 seconds as debutant Joshua Ajayi had a shot deflected away for a corner and a minute later, Ben Greenhalgh saw his effort parried by goalkeeper Billy Johnson with a defender successfully blocking the follow-up.
A third opportunity in as many minutes presented itself as Sonny Miles’ header from a corner was also saved by Johnson.
Little was seen from the Braintree attack until an effort from Liam Smyth brought the first meaningful save from Jonny Henly after 20 minutes.
Tonbridge continued to enjoy the lion’s share of possession with Greenhalgh pulling the strings in midfield and firing over before Hinchiri went close in added time.
The Angels went in front in the second minute of the half following a personal disaster for goalkeeper Johnson. An innocuous looking low cross into the box should have been little more than fielding practice but the ball inexplicably rebounded from his chest and into the goal.
With George Borg a value for money sideshow on the touch line roaring both encouragement and abuse in equal measure, both at his troops and anybody critical amongst his team’s support, of which a young female supporter was of equal entertainment value, the Braintree players had little choice but to improve and place a bit of pressure on the visitors but there was nothing that caused alarm whilst at the other end a cross across the face of goal from Folkes begged a touch and a shot from substitute Khale Da Costa needed saving.
The real moment of fear that the first away win wasn’t going to happen came with five minutes remaining when Henly saved brilliantly at his near post to deny Lucas Kirkpatrick but after that the home team didn’t have the quality to stop the Tonbridge support from having their moment with their players with their little ditty rising into the night sky.
A first visit to Cressing Road, a stadium that has some good bits with proper terracing behind the goals, a decent grandstand and covered standing enclosure but the buildings that house the dressing rooms, bar etc have seen better days and it is understandable the club’s desire for relocation.
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