Tonbridge Angels (2) 3 Williams 1 Theobalds 45 Turner 60
Chippenham Town (1) 2 Owen-Evans 32 Chambers 54
Attendance: 596
Admission: Pass
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/4,671
On a pitch that in horse racing terms would have been described as beyond heavy, two teams at the wrong end of the National South table produced an epic encounter with twists and turns from the opening minute.
Tonbridge, continuing the horse racing theme, leapt out of the gates and were in front after just 35 seconds. A free kick punted forward by Rhian Bray initially found the feet of Jason Williams, his touch found Roberto Ratti whose exquisite back heel opened up the path for Williams to stride forward before curling a shot into the far corner with Chippenham goalkeeper Will Puddy grasping at thin air.
A great start but the Wiltshire side quickly recovered their composure and started taking the game to their hosts with a free kick over and a shot from Callum Gunner going wide.
After 12 minutes, Williams pulled up with a hamstring problem and was replaced by Jared Small in the first of three substitutions for the Angels in the space of 25 minutes. After 24 minutes Alex Bentley went down after making a challenge and needed to be replaced by Jack Parter with a knee injury.
After 26 minutes Harry Donovan brought a full length, low save from Puddy but Chippenham gained a deserved equaliser after 32 minutes when a cross into the box saw several deflections before the ball fell for Tom Owen-Evans to hook a shot into the net from close range. In the melee of arms and legs, Parter took a knock and he needed to substituted by Liam Smith.
Tonbridge had used all their substitutes by the 34th minute and Chippenham had used one of theirs. A consequence of pitch, a lot of games in a short space of time or just mere coincidence? Little bit all those factors, I guess.
Ben Greenhalgh’s shot took a deflection and from the resultant corner a clearance only found the waiting D’Sean Theobalds and from the edge of the box the midfielder’s drive arrowed into the net in the fifth minute of first half added time.
In the early moments of the second half, a cross to the near post from Small found Ratti who, under pressure and falling, dragged his shot narrowly wide and getting injured in the process.
Chippenham drew level in the 54th minute when Donovan, struggling with a first half injury, lost possession in the middle of the field for Owen-Evans to play in Karnell Chambers who rounded Jonny Henly to score.
Tonbridge quickly responded and were back in front five minutes later. A lofted cross into the box from James Folkes was met with a leaping header from Joe Turner that gave Puddy no chance.
Chippenham were offered a way back into the game after 79 minutes when a reckless challenge from Donovan was met with a straight red card from the referee but the man advantage lasted just four minutes when a petulant kick out from Ryan Case brought a second yellow.
Ratti, who had absolutely run himself into the ground, hooked a shot wide and for Chippenham the impressive Chambers flashed a shot across the face of goal as the Angels breathed a sigh of relief.
As the final whistle blew players from both sides slumped to the ground in sheer exhaustion, bodies strewn here, there, everywhere. But it was the Angels who had taken the spoils and into so doing leapfrogging their opponents in the table and out of the relegation places.
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