Concord Rangers 1 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 107/21/1971 - Tuesday, 15th March 2022 - National League South

Concord Rangers (0) 1 Simper 75
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Wood 85
Attendance: 252
Admission: £8
Programme: £2
Mileage: 124/6,267

Cliche time! We are, at least, approaching the business end of the season. Draws are analysed, point won or two lost and smart phones are rapidly becoming a distraction as up-to-the-minute information is sought from matches elsewhere. My own cliche that I trot out time and again is that this would have been a point that I would have accepted on the way in, so I have to be satisfied on the way out.

But, and there is always a but, this did feel like a game in which two points were lost.

Canvey Island doesn’t represent the more glamorous of destinations in National South and Concord Rangers’ Thames Road stadium has few redeeming features, although I’m told the very cheesy chips were good value, but they looked like a heart attack on a plate to me!

Relegation battles are by their very definition tight, usually scrappy affairs and, on a pitch that didn’t help, this was no different.

Adam Lovatt had been recalled by Sutton United and went straight into their team for their League Two fixture at Swindon Town. His place in the starting line-up was taken by Doug Loft.

An overhead kick from Joe Turner after 10 minutes that cleared the bar by not too much and a shot from Concord’s Nana Kyei that was turned away for a corner provided the best of the early action.

It was past the half-hour mark when Turner was sent clear but Concord’s ex-Angels loanee goalkeeper Myles Roberts narrowed his angle and was able to push the ball away for a corner.

Both goalkeepers made comfortable saves in the remaining time before the break but with the dearth of real chances it was no surprise that the first 45 minutes had ended goalless.

Into the second half and, sadly for the meagre attendance, goalmouth action remained in short supply with both sides having an effort that was comfortably saved.

Tommy Wood entered the fray after 73 minutes to beef up the attack but within two minutes it was the home side that took the lead. A cross from the right by Lewis Simper brought hesitancy from the Tonbridge defence and the ball found the net off the far post.

Forwards, Aaron Smith-Joseph and Jake Embery, were sent on as the Angels sought at least an equaliser that their evening deserved and a succession of corners were won but without reward.

But, on 85 minutes, reward finally came with a goal from the marksman of the moment, Wood. Smith-Joseph saw a free kick turned away for a corner from which James Taylor swept a pass in to Wood, who fired home.

We are some way away from squeaky bum time, but those nervy times ahead seem just around the corner.