Carshalton Athletic (1) 3 Bradford 20 Pattisson 50 Lee (o.g.) 59
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 410
Admission: £6 Senior
E-Programme: Free to download
Mileage: 100/4,576
Before I labour to write this, a 3-0 defeat is not a heart-rending last minute winner or a dodgy decision by an official that has robbed you of at least some reward. But, and once more retracing my own steps and knowing that you make your own luck, when you are in a trough the rub of the green rarely goes your way. In fact, more often than not, it needs that lucky break to climb out of the trough.
Whether it was by taking note of the clamour from supporters to play two up front or a tactical change of heart from the management team, the choice to play loanee Tom Murphy alongside Alex Read was well received by the travelling support at Colston Avenue.
Carshalton came into the game in a similar run of form having lost four on the spin and had Tonbridge taken one of two early chances that came their way, the home side’s confidence might have proved a little fragile but Joe Turner steered a header at the far post narrowly wide from a Michael West cross after three minutes and Murphy had an effort deflected wide for a corner.
But, despite the visitors having made the early running, it was Carshalton that opened the scoring after 20 minutes. Christie Pattisson showed blistering pace down the right before crossing into the path of Ola Sogbanmu whose close range shot was brilliantly parried by Jonny Henly but the rebound fell invitingly for Tommy Bradford to score.
The goal took the wind out of the Angels sails for a period but as they regrouped then the chances began to fall their way again. D’Sean Theobalds, who gave an eye-catching performance, saw his effort deflected wide and Murphy brought a decent save out of ex-Angels’ goalkeeper Billy Bishop, low to his left.
But, just prior to the break, Tonbridge might have gone two down had it not been for a fine save from Henly to deny Michael Dixon.
Five minutes into the second half, the visitors had that sinking feeling that this is not to be their day when, following a corner, the ball was laid back to Pattisson to fire a shot into the top corner from around 20 yards. If he is to score a better goal this season, I hope the Match of the Day cameras are around to see it.
It was game over on the hour mark when, once again, it appears that the world and his dog are against you. A cross from the left was met by Dixon but brilliantly pushed out by Henly only for the ball to ricochet off Arthur Lee and into his own net.
With the game effectively lost, Tonbridge continued to push forward looking for a consolation goal that might possibly turn the tide of fortune. Theobalds tested Bishop; Liam Smith steered a header wide from a corner and from a free kick, Lee put a header agonisingly wide but all to no avail and it was left to Henly to save further indignity with saves from Pattisson and Courtney Swaby.
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