Chippenham Town 2 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 107/22/2114 - Saturday, 22nd April 2023 - National League South

Chippenham Town (1) 2 Windsor 30 Bradbury 56
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Turner 26 Fielding 74
Attendance: 779

Admission: Pass
Programme: £3
Mileage: 300/7,612

The Angels faint hopes of making the National League South play-offs were finally extinguished in the watery Wiltshire sunshine when, despite earning a spirited point at Chippenham Town, results elsewhere determined their fate.

Jay Saunders made two changes from the side that took a point from last Saturday’s home game against Hemel Hempstead with Ben Swift and Jordan Greenidge rested to the bench with Tariq Hinds and Tommy Wood returning to the starting XI.

Tonbridge were kicking up the not inconsiderable slope at Hardenhuish Park and the opening 25 minutes certainly had the hallmarks of a middle of the table, end of season game as neither side got off to a fast start.

The first chance of the match fell to Jack Wood who fired over the bar after good work from Joe Turner and this was quickly followed by a chance for the home side when Caine Bradbury shot straight at Jonny Henly.

The game sprang to life on 26 minutes when the Angels took the lead when a well worked move from the right opened up a shooting opportunity for Joe Turner who curled a shot into the far corner from an acute angle.

But the good work was quickly undone as the hosts equalised on the half-hour. A left wing cross was allowed to find its way to the far post from where Owen Windsor had a close range tap-in.

The game now had a lot more life and Jeremy Santos brought a good save out of Will Henry and Chippenham created a decent chance that Craig Fasanmade blazed over the bar. Just before half-time, a Santos run was brought to an end by a terrific challenge just as he was about to break clear.

An early second half shot from Hinds was narrowly wide, but, after 56 minutes, it was the hosts that took the lead when Bradbury struck a free kick from around 20 yards, off the underside of the crossbar and past a stranded Henly.

The better of the chances fell to the home side before Saunders rang the changes introducing Greenidge on 57 minutes; Bailey Akehurst on 65 minutes and this brought a dividend on 74 minutes when the Angels equalised. A corner, taken by Akehurst was met with a header from Jamie Fielding at the near post and directed toward the far. Henry got his fingertips to the ball but could only help it on its way into the net.

There was a touching moment as the game entered time added as Chippenham introduced Pablo Martinez as a substitute. Pablo suffered a cardiac arrest at Chelmsford City on that ridiculously hot day back in August. 252 days later, he returned to the pitch to a rousing reception and we wish him well.

Tonbridge produced the final chance of the game with Jack Wood shooting agonisingly wide in the final minute but it was points shared. At any other time in the season it would have been considered valuable, but it wasn’t enough and even the mathematical optimists have to accept that the playoffs is not to be this season.

Chippenham Town 2 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 22/19/1746 - Saturday, 7th September 2019 - National League South

Chippenham Town (1) 2 Ossai 43 Zebrowski 70
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Derry 87 (pen)
Attendance: 578
New Ground: 336

Admission: Pass
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 296/1,750

A single fine performance shouldn’t really raise expectations but following the Dartford victory and in light of a visit to one of the smaller clubs in National South, they probably were.

Sadly, it is away days and performances like these that will see Tonbridge relegated. Only one point has been garnered from the opening five away games and, if that is going to be continued, then enormous pressure will placed on the home form, probably needing to win 11 or 12 games, and frankly I don’t think that will happen.

There was mitigation, Joe Turner was returned home with a stomach upset that seemingly affected others in the squad but Chippenham were poor and Tonbridge have lost, so that speaks volumes.

The pitch at Hardenhuish Park has a slope, not quite Quarry Hill as I exaggerated, but pronounced nonetheless. Chippenham have been at this ground for close to 100 years and you can see how enclosures here and there have been added over the years giving it a “bitty” feel about the place. In the Southern Premier it was probably seen as reasonably decent but a this level it is somewhat lacking,

In Turner’s absence, Rhyle Ovenden came into the side in the only change.

Controversy surrounded Chippenham’s goalkeeper Will Puddy from the first five minutes when he was accused of throwing a punch into the stomach of Ade Yusuff that was missed by the officials. Video evidence has subsequently shown that in the aftermath of some wrestling, the punch was definitely planted.

Neither side had the craft to open up the other in the opening half-hour with D’Sean Theobalds bringing a save from Puddy and the home side’s Karnell Chambers and Luke Haines having shots blocked in a rare Chippenham foray.

After 38 minutes, Chippenham had the best chance thus far when Chambers rounded Angels’ keeper Jonny Henly but failing to get a shot away and, four minutes later, Luke Hopper shot into the side netting, so the warnings of Tonbridge’s witching hour were there and, sure enough, on the stroke of half-time, Chris Zebroski crossed from the left for Tariq Ossai to turn and convert from close range.

Five times in nine games goals have been conceded in the last five minutes of the first half, it has to be a mental thing.

Playing down the slope in the second half, Yusuff fired over the the first minute but it was Chippenham’s Chambers that went closest with an effort narrowly wide of the left hand post.

Steve Mckimm rang the changes early, replacing Yusuff (one of the player’s suffering from the bug) with Tom Derry and Ovenden with Chinedu McKenzie.

It was Tonbridge who had the momentum at that point with Small and Theobalds employing Puddy and, after 63 minutes, Derry’s shot hit the base of the post.

But, after 70 minutes, the home side doubled their lead when Zebrowski and Chamber combined before the former thundered a shot between Henly and his post.

Chambers had an effort cleared from the line and substitute Nat Jarvis dragged a shot wide as the home side looked to put the game beyond the Angels’ reach. But a helping hand, or should it be said forehead, was to be offered to the visitors.

A corner was safely gathered by Puddy under no real pressure from Sonny Miles, but as the red mist descended, the goalkeeper inexplicably planted a headbutt on the Angels’ central defender earning a red card and conceding a penalty. It was pure madness.

Derry converted past stand-in goalkeeper Luke Haines and with seven minutes including time added to play it was game on, but the home side managed the time well and, indeed, might have added to their scoreline when the impressive Chambers had the ball in the net once more, but this was ruled out for offside.