Eastbourne Borough (0) 1 Remy 82
Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 Jack Wood 2,30
Attendance: 625
Admission: Pass
Programme: £3
Mileage: 81/5,874
A squad so threadbare only three substitutes could be named and one of them a goalkeeper with the starting XI containing players obviously out of position roared into a two goal first half lead before surviving a second half onslaught of Alamo proportions.
Priory Lane, home of Eastbourne Borough, has never been a happy hunting ground with no victory since 2012 and the outlook was not looking good with Scott Wagstaff needing to fill at right back for the injured Jamie Fielding; Jack Wood coming in for the absent loanee Marcel Elva-Fountaine whilst Craig Braham-Barrett and Tommie Fagg remained on the unavailable list.
That low sense of expectation was quickly dispelled with a goal within two minutes. A cross from the left from Joe Turner was rather lamely cleared to Devonte Aransibia just outside the box, who laid it off for Jack Wood to curl a shot past Lee Worgan and into the far corner.
Tonbridge bossed the opening half-hour with the home side showing very little forward momentum and it was no great surprise when the Angels went two up after 30 minutes. From a quickly taken throw-in just inside their own half, Jordan Greenidge back heeled into the path of Tommy Wood who linked brilliantly with his namesake who strode to the edge of the box, skipping a challenge before burying a low shot into the far corner.
Worgan was pressed into action a couple of minutes later when he pushed away a low cross before Eastbourne had their first sight of goal on 37 minutes when the ball was fed to the left for Leone Gravata to bring a good low save out of Jonny Henly.
A free kick from Aransibia in an encouraging position was comfortably saved by Worgan and, just before the break, Greenidge drove into the area to fire in a shot that the goalkeeper did well to push away for a corner.
It had been a great half for the Angels, two fine goals and chances for the home side kept to a bare minimum so the second half onslaught after, no doubt, a few home truths in the home dressing room was to be ex[pected.
An early cross from the right saw a Jaden Perez header drift harmlessly wide but, on the counter attack, the Angels were also dangerous and when Greenidge got into his stride, the Eastbourne defence were finding him pretty much unmanageable. On 57 minutes, from inside his own half, he broke away down the left and, although Kai Innocent kept pace with him, he could not prevent the big striker from getting his shot away, narrowly missing at the far post.
The action switched immediately back to the other end with Jonny Henly making a good save to claw the ball out of the top corner following a shot from 20 yards by Perez.
The pressure on the Tonbridge goal was mounting but the efforts were largely tame with Henly only being pressed into a couple of routine saves although an 80th minute interception from Sonny Miles seemed crucial. But, two minutes later, a penalty, the fourth in three games, was conceded, albeit that it was an almighty soft one. A ball, lofted into the box, saw Norman Wabo tangle with Tommy Wood and go down, the referee gave it some thought before pointing to the spot, from where Shiloh Remy sent Henly the wrong way to set up a nail biting finish.
Luke Pearce for he home side shot low for a regulation save from Henly before Greenidge had another 30 yard gallop that brought a similar save from Worgan and when referee Robinson-Tant indicated that there would be three minutes of added time, less than expected, memories of Hemel Hempstead when he infuriated Angels’ supporters by playing virtually no added time were stirred. This time we were grateful for the small amount which was seen out with no great alarm but greeted with much relief and delight at the final whistle.
The last week or so has seen more ups and downs than Blackpool’s Big Dipper and, without putting the cart before the horse again, I’m expecting that is going to be the story of the next six weeks,
No comments:
Post a Comment