Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Ring (o.g.) 19 Sutcliffe 78
Aveley (1) 1 Akanbi 21
Attendance: 927
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,808
“It wasn’t the prettiest of games to watch. Response-wise I’m pleased with the boys, that was a tough one today they took a lot of stick from us, from the supporters and the first half we looked very nervy. We did what we didn’t do on Tuesday night, work hard and win individual battles, which we did in large parts. It was about bouncing back and we’ve done that,” said Jay Saunders after the Angels returned to winning ways following the disappointing midweek reverse against, the then basement club, Enfield Town with a hard earned win against Aveley.
Saunders shuffled his pack with Crossley Lema, Mo Dabre and Makise Evans returning to the starting XI for Charlie Pegrum (sickness), Taylor Maloney (injured) and Harry Ottaway, who took a place on the bench.
The first half was evenly contested and neither set of supporters, in an impressive pre-Christmas attendance of 927, could argue with the teams returning to the dressing rooms at the break with the scoreline level.
The first real chance of the afternoon fell to the visitors when ex-Angel Ibby Akanbi fired well over after 10 minutes. But it was the Angels that took the lead after 19 minutes when a move that. started with goalkeeper Matt Rowley saw an interchange of passes between Sean Shields and Liam Vincent before the latter's cross was turned into his own net by the Aveley captain Jason Ring, giving James Holden no chance.
Tonbridge’s lead was to last barely two minutes when Akanbi took his opportunity clinically after a challenge between Iram Uche and Scott Wagstaff saw the ball loop beyond Ethan Sutcliffe to the welcoming feet of Akanbi.
Neither side was able to gain control of the game in the remainder of the first half with a headed chance for Mo Dabre for the home side and a last minute header from Manny Ogunrinde the best of the chances to add to the score.
Whilst the game remained evenly contested in the second period, Tonbridge were just about shading both the possession and the threat. Dabre steered a header narrowly wide and, just past the hour, substitute Trevan Robinson headed over.
The breakthrough for the home side finally arrived on 76 minutes when a right sided corner from Shields found the head of Sutcliffe, who climbed highest in a forest of bodies to steer it between Holden and his right hand post.
The final chance of the remaining minutes fell to the home side when a free kick was headed goalwards by Harry Ottaway but evaded the far post and the Angels saw the game home with a good spell of retained possession.
Saunders summed up: “Aveley won’t be down there at the end of the season, they are very good at what they do, they work really hard and don’t let you settle. Could we play better? One hundred per cent. Were we at our best? No, but for me, today was about getting the three points and we know we can improve.”
No comments:
Post a Comment