Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 Greenidge 21 Aransibia 41
Taunton Town (1) 3 Foulston 37 Stearn (pen) 64 Wannell 68
Attendance: 933
Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/5,765
Counting chickens;
Putting the cart before the horse; and
Getting in front of oneself.
Who might be guilty of all three, me and I really should know better.
After two hard-earned victories on the road had pushed the Angels into striking distance of a play-off place, the visit of Taunton Town, struggling at the wrong end of the table and in poor form appeared the perfect opportunity to leap into the shaded area in the table.
At half-time, 2-1 to the good and with results elsewhere, we had indeed made that jump, but we have form with teams from the lower reaches of the table, especially at home and two goals in four minutes turned the game on its head and sent home, all bar the clutch of supporters from Somerset, disappointed.
Jay Saunders opted to go with two big strikers, coupling Tommy Wood with Jordan Greenidge with Joe Turner dropping to the bench.
The opening 20 minutes, saw the Angels carve out a couple of chances without any great pressure on their own goal, although Taunton were playing some neat and tidy football. Devonte Aransibia had a sixth minute effort that cleared the bar by some distance and Greenidge and Wood had shots that were comfortable saves for Lloyd Irish, but, on 21 minutes, the Angels went ahead through leading goalscorer Greenidge who rode a couple of challenges before firing in an angled shot past Irish.
Taunton responded and were good value for their equaliser when the ball fell to left back, Jay Foulston who arrowed a shot into the far corner from 20 yards giving Jonny Henly no chance.
An equally spectacular strike from Aransibia on 41 minutes from the edge of the area restored the Angels lead and they should have gone into the break with a little breathing space as Wood fired over after a good combination with Greenidge.
As we know from the reverse fixture, it is a long way to Taunton and the visitors made it clear from the outset of the second period that they wanted something to ease the journey home.
The streetwise Ross Stearn went close on 50 minutes and further efforts from Jake Wannell and Ollie Chamberlain sounded alarm bells for the Angels and, it has to be said, Taunton were deserving of their equaliser on 62 minutes when Stearn converted from the penalty spot after Zak Smith had been brought down.
Four minutes later, the Angels support was in shock as Taunton went in front through Wannell after Tonbridge had failed to clear from a corner.
Worrying injuries to Greenidge and Aransibia saw them out of the game as Tonbridge huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser. The referee denied what looked a clear cut penalty appeal with 10 minutes remaining but the Angels never looked like breaking down a resolute Taunton defence.
As it happened, results elsewhere limited the damage, but for me, lesson learned. One game at a time with no chickens counted.
Photos: Kathryn Bell
No comments:
Post a Comment