St Albans City (0) 1 Banton 86
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Bendle (o.g.) 43
Attendance: 948
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 170/4,790
The Tonbridge Angels squad left Clarence Park on Tuesday evening disappointed to have only collected a point after conceding a late goal, but with praise ringing in their ears from a “proud” manager.
Jay Saunders said of his depleted troops: “It’s disappointing not to come away with the three points but, I’ve got to be really honest, I’m really proud of the boys tonight. With everything that keeps getting thrown at us, losing players again today, it’s been a week I’m looking forward to just getting through. There were boys out there, if all were available, who wouldn’t have played because of how they were injury-wise. All-in-all, I’ll take the point and am immensely proud of the effort the boys have put in.”
On a wet night, and with due credit to the St Albans’ ground staff who managed to get the pitch playable when many other fixtures fell foul of the weather, Jay’s team selection was further hindered by the absence of Jamie Fielding and Harry Ottaway to injury. Into the starting XI came Scott Wagstaff and Trevan Robinson, with new signing Mikey Berry added to the bench.
In a game very much the proverbial one of two halves, with the direction of play on the heavy pitch influenced by the slope, Tonbridge dominated the first half to lead at the break but were under relentless pressure in the second before conceding the 86th minute equaliser.
An impressive contingent of Angels fans were in an attendance of 948 and were in fine voice from the outset as the opening opportunity fell to Jeremy Santos, whose 20-yard shot whistled narrowly past the right hand post.
Those fans thought their favourites had taken a 20th minute lead before the intervention of the St Albans’ goalkeeper, Michael Johnson, who brilliantly turned over the bar a close-range effort from Robinson.
The Angels continued to dominate with Taylor Maloney firing over from distance and, on 36 minutes, Sean Shields had a cross swept away from the goal line.
The breakthrough finally came on 43 minutes when Tonbridge were awarded a free-kick on the right, after a challenge that brought a yellow card. Bailey Akehurst’s in-swinging left-footed delivery found the diving head of St Albans’ Alfie Bendle and, once committed in front of goal, there was only one place the ball was going to end up to his despair.
The second half, with the home side now attacking down the slope, was a totally different affair, although had a Santos effort not been blocked by a last-ditch challenge four minutes into the half, the ensuing 40-odd minutes might have taken a different course.
But, as it was, the home side were in the ascendancy with the Angels back line manfully standing their ground and, when asked, goalkeeper Matt Rowley confidently collecting everything that came his way.
Chances came the way of Harrison Smith whose header was scrambled to safety and Gio Rasulo saw a well-struck free-kick saved by Rowley.
Eventually the pressure told on tired limbs with a left-wing corner, delivered into the six-yard box by Zane Banton to the head of Smith who steered it into the bottom corner.
On the balance of play, a fair result, but to have come so close was disappointing, as Jay reflected: “People look at St Albans City and see they are in the bottom four, but trust me, this is not an easy place to come. All the games they are in are very close, so it’s not a bad point. I'm not taking any negatives from tonight, there are only positives."
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