Hemel Hempstead Town (1) 1 Morgan-Griffiths 39
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: TBC
Admission: Pass
Programme: None
Mileage: 162/2,186
Football supporters are crazy, I’m crazy and why do we put ourselves through it. This was one of those nights that leave you wondering why you bother. Why do you set out on what is forecast, and was, a chilly evening; defy the vagaries of the Dartford Tunnel and the inevitable overnight lane closures on the M25 before returning home just short of midnight, tired and frustrated. And the craziest point of all, in your heart of hearts, you know what is about to happen and you still decide to put yourself through it.
Hemel Hempstead is one of those places where the outcome is rarely positive for Tonbridge Angels and this occasion was no different and, in truth, the outcome was what they deserved. Ninety minutes in which the final pass was never there; strikers that just needed another touch; more injuries and a single mistake that lost the game and that’s before referencing the referee and the most Mickey Mouse of watches!
Vauxhall Road, apart from the pitch, is a decent stadium, a mishmash of old and new with some good terracing in places, nicely carpeted with off-cuts from the pitch, that I envied for my viewing position at Longmead. A group of local teenagers that, for some reason known only to them, decided they would “support” the Angels whilst proclaiming their school was just down the road were highly irritating and then a couple of incidents after the final whistle only added to the bizarre nature of the evening.
Jay Saunders made one change from Cheshunt with Ben Swift injured and replaced by Jeremy Santos with Tommie Fagg slotting into Swift’s central defensive position.
Tonbridge started well enough and in the opening 20 minutes there were efforts from Joe Turner and Fagg following corners and a speculative shot from distance that drifted wide from Jayden Crowhurst.
On 27 minutes ex-Hemel goalkeeper, Jonny Henly was forced into his first meaningful save, turning away a shot from Ogo Obi.
The Angels were still playing some attractive football and a neat interchange between Lewis Gard, Louis Collins ended with Santos shooting wide.
It was largely against the run of play when Hemel Hempstead took the lead on 39 minutes. A Tonbridge attack broke down with a punt forward that the young Southend loanee, Crowhurst appeared to have covered but he misjudged a bounce that reared up off the pitch allowing Dominic Morgan-Griffiths to stride forward before planting a powerful shot past Henly.
A half-time substitution of playmaker Gard for TQ Addy signalled a shift in momentum as the home side enjoyed a greater share of possession although both goalkeepers were brought into action in equal measures.
Ruben Soares-Junior stretched the home custodian, Craig King whilst Josh Castiglione drove straight at Henly. Sadly, the game descended into a frustrating huff and puff tussle until the four minutes of time added in which a shot-cum-cross from Santos was tipped over by King and from the resultant corner with Henly adding his presence to the attack the ball broke loose but the Hemel attempt on goal from the half-way line was underhit and Turner was able to get back and clear.
After a free kick to Hemel that brought a stoppage of at least a minute, the referee blew his whistle dead on the four minute mark triggering the annoyance of both the visiting supporters and management.
One lane closure after the other slowed the journey home increasing the frustration but like supporters up and down the country who have suffered a Tuesday night disappointment, we will be back on Saturday. Crazy, not really.
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