Hampton & Richmond Borough (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Aransibia 74
Attendance: 338
Admission: Pass
Programme: Not purchased
Mileage: 124/5,727
I wonder, I just wonder! Every season, whether it's ending in a promotion or relegation situation or perhaps, the later stages of a cup competition, has a moment that is remembered as significant. Who can ever forget 5th January 2019, two goals down at home to Brightlingsea Regent with just a quarter of an hour remaining and goals from Tommy Parkinson and Alex Read salvaged a point and, from that moment, the tide turned for Steve McKimm and the rest is history.
It was the 90th minute, with Tonbridge Angels leading by a single goal, that referee Aaron Farmer (not the most popular official with Angels supporters) pointed to the penalty spot for a second time. Adrian Clifton stepped up, drove his shot straight down the middle but the trailing legs of Jonny Henly was enough to divert the ball to safety to save from the spot for a second time in the game.
Was it the moment? It was certainly enough for me to start to dream of that cold Tuesday night in Gateshead in the National League, suddenly it became to feel real, a little scary but real.
It’s been a long week on the road, the best part of 600 miles travelled; three games of not great quality that has taken us from despair at Chelmsford, via Bath, to belief at Hampton.
A midweek, rush hour trip around the M25 to the well-heeled corner of south-west London is not to be relished but, apart from a stop-start last six miles and the annual double circumnavigation of the Scilly Isles roundabout, arrival at the leafy Beveree was made in reasonable time.
The pitch, waterlogged to postponement last season, frozen to postponement on 21st January of this one, looked difficult and proved to be, as any hopes of a game of meaningful quality were never raised.
Henly returned to the starting XI following his absence at Bath along with Tommie Fagg who replaced Lewis Gard.
The best that can be said of the first half-hour was that there was only 15 minutes to walk to the other end where the bitter wind was not in our faces. Joe Turner had a first minute run that ended with a comfortable save for Alan Julian and, on 13 minutes, a Fagg effort from range had a similar outcome.
After a solid start from the Angels, the home side started to impose themselves and this culminated, six minutes from the break, when they were awarded a penalty after a foul by Fagg. Hampton’s record from the spot is horrendous, anything from six to 12 misses depending on who you talked to! On this occasion, Dan Wishart stepped up, his run up was straight and the ball barely deviated which allowed Henly a relatively comfortable save.
The second half started much as the first had ended with Hampton having the best of the possession without really troubling the Angels back line that dealt admirably with an aerial assault of crosses into the box.
On 66 minutes, Tommy Wood, recently of the Borough, was introduced for Jordan Greenidge and had an assist in the opening goal on 74 minutes. A free kick from Turner was lofted into the box, Wood headed down for Devonte Aransibia to drive a shot from the edge of the six yard box past a helpless Julian.
The aerial assault continued making for an uncomfortable last 15 minutes for the 60 or so Angels supporters behind the far goal but their hopes were seemingly dashed as Fagg made an innocuous challenge, but the jeers turned to cheers with Henly’s trailing leg and, despite yet another penalty call, the final whistle brought celebrations with Henly’s customary forward roll in front of the fans.
There’s a long, long way to go but there is a sense of belief that something special is fermenting nicely and, in May, supporters might well recall the 90th minute at the Beveree.
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