Braintree Town (2) 2 Amantchi 12 Reynolds 45
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 436
Admission: Pass
Programme: None
Mileage: 166/1,543
Braintree Town is one of the dates on the calendar that is not awaited with any relish. A ground that has seemingly seen little change over the years and very little upkeep whilst their team is usually combative and in keeping with the surroundings, not very pleasing on the eye.
A Bank Holiday weekend, perhaps Tonbridge supporters were of the same thinking with a smaller than usual following in, by National League South standards, a pitifully small attendance.
The day could not have gotten off to a worse start with the news that a dear old friend, and a great servant to Tonbridge Angels, Trevor Arnold had passed away. Trevor had been unwell for some time and had not been able to visit for home matches where his skilful filming and editing had created AngelsTV and earned him the affectionate title of Spielberg. Rest in Peace, dear Trev.
As usual, a trip into Essex entails negotiation of the Dartford Tunnel and the holiday traffic brought a half-hour delay, enhancing the misgivings that this day is only going to go from bad to worse.
Even the satnav doesn’t want to find Cressing Road, as it stops hopelessly short. “You have reached your destination”, I don’t think so Doris, and navigation from the back seat was needed to cover the last half-mile.
Manager Jay Saunders has brought in another young Charlton loanee, Jeremy Santos, who started from the bench with the changes from the Hampton defeat being Ben Swift’s return to the starting line-up and Louis Collins reverting to the bench.
The first half, in bright, very warm sunshine, was possession and territorially that of the Angels but somehow they conspired to enter the break two goals down.
The game was to take on a stop-start nature and an injury to the home skipper, John White, in the first minute set the template as a lengthy stoppage ensued.
Braintree went ahead after 12 minutes with a really well executed lob on the angle from about 25 yards from Levi Amantchi that caught Jonny Henly off his line.
Tonbridge responded to the set back and through the half the corner count rose without the goalkeeper, Jack Sims, having a serious save to make until the 34th minute when a double attempt from Swift saw his first effort blocked and the follow-up well saved.
Joe Turner put a good heading opportunity wide five minutes later followed by another chance for Swift on the cusp of the break.
In the added time, poor defending allowed a single pass inside the full back for Lamar Reynolds to score, on his debut following his move from Concord Rangers.
Certainly, a two goal lead at the break hugely flattered Braintree but the Angels had only themselves to blame.
The opening quarter hour of the second period came and went much as the first. Tonbridge dominating; not creating anything of note and the Braintree physio earning her corn as much as any of her “patients”.
Saunders shook things up on the hour with the introduction of Santos and Collins for the largely ineffective Maja and Walters and within a minute, Lewis Gard struck the post following the umpteenth corner. Alarm bells rang loudly, if they hadn’t been ringing before that this was a day not to be.
Henly made a fine double save to keep his side in the game, but the task became mountainous after 68 minutes when Tommie Fagg was sent off for “violent conduct”. The description itself is a joke, two players wrestled each other to the ground, and the referee interprets that one is more guilty than the other. Two yellows at best, if it has to be a red, two reds but one was farcical.
In fairness, the direction of the game didn’t change with Santos, in particular, showing glimpses of what could be an exciting month’s loan.
The game went to 10-aside on 80 minutes when Amantchi saw a straight red after an aerial challenge that, once again, looked a yellow at best.
TQ Addy entered the fray and as the game entered into seven minutes of time added, he missed a gilt-edged chance at the far post with an open goal gaping.
The only positive that can be taken is that barring a unwanted cup draw we won’t have to visit again for another 12 months at least.
No comments:
Post a Comment