Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 Aransibia 15 Greenidge 37
Concord Rangers (1) 2 Bettemer 23 Modeste 71
Attendance: 1,075
Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/5,102
Watching the last 20 minutes of Aston Villa v Arsenal in the bar prior to the Angels home game against Concord Rangers, Arsenal benefited from their share of Lady Luck’s handouts when a shot from Jorginho rattled the woodwork only to rebound off the back of the Villa goalkeeper and into the net. Now, it might well be argued that the Gunners deserved the points anyway but without that stroke of good fortune they were only destined for a draw.
Despite some sloppy defending that allowed relegation threatened Concord two goals, Tonbridge really should have eased to a comfortable victory but Lady Luck, in the shape of the woodwork struck three times and some heroic goalkeeping from Mitchell Beeney intervened.
In what was a repeat of the reverse fixture at the Aspect Arena, Tonbridge dominated for the entire game but, somehow, have conspired to collect just a point, which was at least one more than in November.
Scott Wagstaff returned to the starting XI with Tommie Fagg dropping to the bench.
Beeney probably got a fair indication of a busy afternoon ahead with routine saves from headers by Jordan Greenidge and Jamie Fielding in the first five minutes.
After 15 minutes of one-way traffic, Tonbridge went ahead when a great cross from Tariq Hinds found the head of Devonte Aransibia at the far post to finish into the top corner.
Concord equalised after 23 minutes from their first real attack. A corner was poorly dealt with by the home side and when Jimmy Wallace crossed, Mohammed Bettamer scored with an overhead kick into the far corner.
The Angels went back in front after 37 minutes with a carbon copy goal of the first. This time Hinds' pin-point cross was met by the diving head of Greenidge for his 12th goal of a 13 match loan spell.
A Lewis Gard shot that curled wide and a glancing header from Joe Turner might have increased the Angels lead but at the break it remained 2-1.
Four minutes into the second period saw a Turner cross headed against the crossbar by Greenidge, who, on the hour, had the ball in the net only to be ruled out for offside.
On 65 minutes a 25 yard effort from Aransibia was touched onto the bar by Beeney and, from the resultant corner, the post was struck.
But the Angels fell to a sucker punch on 71 minutes when Ola Ogunwamide was able to play the ball across the face of goal to the back post where ex-Angel Ricky Modeste was on hand to touch the ball home from close range.
There was a distinct feeling that there was a winner to be had in this game with plenty of time in which to get it, but Beeney was to have other ideas.
A back pass that fell short saw substitute Ruben Soares-Junior intercept but Beeney smothered at his feet; Wagstaff’s effort was saved comfortably but then the keeper excelled again with a Greenidge effort turned over the bar.
As the clock ticked into added time, strong claims for a penalty (for which I was convinced) when Aransibia was brought down were denied by referee, Jack Bloxham. Aransibia was injured in the challenge but got to his feet to make it back to the centre circle where he went down again to be ultimately stretchered off.
With seven minutes of added time played, Beeney made his last, and his best, save of the afternoon saving at his near post a Fagg header. Beeney deserved to take something out of the game, even if Concord Rangers didn’t.
Lady Luck, and a superb goalkeeping performance, were enough to deny the Angels and perhaps no more analysis is needed.
Photos: Kathryn Bell
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