Concord Rangers (3) 3 Babalola 17 Sheriff 21 Blanchfield 45+1
Tonbridge Angels (2) 3 Greenhalgh 14 Wood 44 Bray 90+4
Attendance: 702
Admission: Free
Programme: £3
Mileage: 108/6,303
If this is to be the season's end, then it's a good way to go out. The Coronavirus outbreak had already suspended the Premier League season and it was a frankly baffling decision from the National League to continue for, perhaps, one last Saturday.
A goal with virtually the last touch of the match ensured Tonbridge took a point home from Canvey Island and on whatever method the National League decide to formulate the table to end the season, outside of playing again, it is enough to ensure their safety.
Tonbridge took the lead after 14 minutes when the Concord Rangers defence failed to clear a cross to safety. The ball fell to Ben Greenhalgh who from the left hand angle of the box drove into the bottom corner.
Celebration was short-lived, however, as the visitors found themselves 2-1 down within seven minutes. First, a cross from the left found the unchallenged head of Temi Babalola to equalise. On 21 minutes, a mistake in the middle of the pitch by James Folkes allowed Decarrey Sheriff a run on goal. After rounding Jonny Henly, he appeared to have closed down his angle but finished well into the open goal.
The Angels pressed on, and after half-an-hour, Alex Bentley struck the woodwork.
Tommy Wood equalised for the Angels with a minute left on the clock when Khale Da Costa's effort rebounded off a defender into the path of the on-loan striker who cooly finished despite the strong protests of the home defenders for an offside decision.
But the visitors were not to enter the dressing room on level terms as a cross into the box led to scrambled attempts to clear the ball to safety but ended with back heel from close range by James Blanchfield.
Tonbridge started the second half on the front foot but chances for both sides were now at a premium rather than the profligate first period with the best effort from Da Costa going narrowly wide.
But the game drifted towards its conclusion with neither side particularly holding the momentum going into the closing minutes.
As we entered the last of four minutes added time, Tonbridge won a free kick which ended with the ball at substitute Jared Small's feet. His cross to the far post was headed back across the face of goal by Sonny Miles to the towering head of fellow central defender Rian Bray whose header was greeted with delirium by the Tonbridge support behind the goal.
Rather unsavoury incidents followed as neither side covered themselves with much glory in the aftermath of the goal and the final whistle but the game which had been largely exciting and well fought and shouldn't be remembered for those moments of lost heads.
The afternoon had a surreal feel and until we meet again, don't know where, don't know when, stay healthy.
Lifetime match total: 3,055
Number of grounds: 342
