Dagenham & Redbridge (2) 2 Wilson 10 Hemmings (pen) 16
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Warren 37 Allen 67
Attendance: 1,523
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 110/989
Tonbridge Angels produced a stunning comeback to secure a well-deserved point at Dagenham and Redbridge on a thrilling evening at Victoria Road.
Undeservedly two goals down after 16 minutes after a bright start, Craig Nelson’s team took the game to their illustrious opposition and a screamer from Matthew Warren and second half finish from Alfie Allen brought delight and appreciation to 178 travelling Angels supporters, who had given their team immense support throughout.
Craig Nelson reflected in his post-match interview: “We worked hard, we ran, we made a lot more forward runs to put them under pressure and we got our just rewards for it. We played really well in patches, particularly in the first half, in the latter part of that half we really grew and if we could have nicked another one, it would have made the second half really spicy.”
Craig made four changes to the starting XI well beaten at AFC Totton with Eddie Simon returning to partner Marcell Taylor-Crossdale up top; Allen and Warren were drafted into midfield with Nazir Bakrin added to the back line. Scott Wagstaff, Brandon Pierrick, Marcus Sablier and Jack Matton took places on the bench.
Tonbridge showed their attacking intent from the outset with Eddie Simon curling a low shot from the left side of the box into the welcoming arms of the Dagenham goalkeeper, Sam Howes.
The momentum was still with the Angels when they went a goal down on 10 minutes. A surging run down the right from Reggie Young took him to the bye-line from where he pulled the ball back for Donovan Wilson who had made space in the box to allow him a smart finish into the bottom corner.
The lead was doubled on 16 minutes, when a run into the box from Joe Haigh was stalled and as the ball ran loose, Ashley Hemming went down under a challenge from Bradley Williams leaving referee Morgan Conn to point to the spot. Hemmings despatched his penalty to leave the Angels with an uphill task.
There was an almost immediate response as Brody Peart cut in from the right to curl a shot that struck the far post, but, for a 10 minute period, the visitors were hanging on to the game by a thread, mainly due to fine goalkeeping from Jacob Adams who saved from Haigh and turned over an effort from Paul Kalambiyi with an acrobatic save.
Another Peart cross, who was enjoying himself down the right brought a deflection from a defender under pressure from Taylor-Crossdale on 33 minutes before a magic moment from Warren cut the deficit to a single goal four minutes later. The ball was fed into midfield from Taylor-Crossdale into the path of Warren, who took aim from 25 yards with a shot that found the top corner.
The half-time break didn’t come at a great time for the Angels as they were ending the half with all the momentum forcing Howes into an added time save.
The second half began with Taylor-Crossdale again testing Howes, who made a very decent save.
On the hour, Adams needed to be alert to save from Kalambiyi before, on 67 minutes time almost appeared to stand still for an agonising moment. Jordan Higgs fired a shot towards goal that took a deflection off Simon, who challenged for the ball with the goalkeeper and a defender as as the ball broke loose Allen was on hand to loft his shot over Howes, whose hand slowed the ball but wasn’t enough to stop its path into the unguarded net.
Dagenham needed a response with their own supporters becoming frustrated and Adams saved well after79 minutes, but the home side’s efforts were mainly desperate going either wide or high and the final act saw a chance for substitute Wagstaff that drifted wide.
A memorable evening in the east end of London was brought to an end to rapturous appreciation from the Angels faithful, who had been truly magnificent.
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