Tonbridge Angels (2) 3 McCann 3 Sutcliffe 34 Pavey 57
Chippenham Town (2) 2 Haines 13 Touray 39
Attendance: 1,339
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,472
There are six-pointers and then there are genuine six-pointers.
This was not two teams similarly placed in the table in December, this was two teams staring down the barrel of relegation in late February with the games remaining ebbing away and the points required to safety seemingly becoming ever more distant.
But, in a game when, given Tonbridge’s recent history with late goals, the added time board showing six minutes brought more than a flutter of the heart as the visitors, Chippenham Town pressed forward for an equaliser the Angels, ably marshalled by the central defensive unit of Jordan Thompson and Ethan Sutcliffe, made sure of no late despair and the final whistle was greeted wildly by a crowd of 1,339 which was boosted by tickets handed out to local junior clubs.
Alan Dunne, Tonbridge Angels manager, said in his post-match interview: “I’m pleased with the result because it wasn’t our best performance, but sometimes, winning ugly is what it is all about at this time in the season, picking up the points to get the job done.”
I know far too many people at Tonbridge to suggest that the club have sleepwalked into the situation in which they find themselves but, whatever the reasons, this game and the visit of Hampton on Tuesday have become absolutely pivotal.
The scribble pad has been out, the path to safety has been mapped, but like the local roads, that route is littered with potholes but at least the first one has been avoided.
This week reality set in at Eastbourne Borough which cost Tommy Widdrington his job after just six months at the helm and in the club’s statement they referred to their plans for life in the Isthmian League and reverting to part-time. It seems that a wealthy chairman is not necessarily the magic bullet.
Eastbourne replaced Chippenham at the foot of the table after the midweek matches and the Wiltshire club have been showing signs of revival of late with eye-catching wins over Maidstone United and Torquay United.
Whilst Spring hasn’t exactly sprung, the weather didn’t carry a chill but the rain couldn’t stay away completely as Dunne made a single change to the side beaten at Hornchurch with Matt Warren coming in for Naz Bakrin, who dropped to the bench.
The game marked one year of the passing of Devonte Aransibia, who was remembered with a minute’s silence with his young son leading out the Angels side.
Tonbridge got off to the best possible start, taking the lead after just three minutes, when, following a corner that saw the Chippenham goalkeeper, Will Henry save well from Alfie Pavey, the ball was recycled for a cross to fall at the feet of Noah McCann who lashed it home from around 10 yards.
The lead was only to last 10 minutes when a free kick into the area was only cleared to the right side of the six yard box to Luke Haines whose well struck half volley found the roof of the net.
The visitors looked anything but a team that have spent the majority of the season propping up the table, popping the ball about and creating decent chances for Billy Phillips and Will King that was comfortably saved by Laurie Shala.
So it was somewhat against the run of play when Tonbridge went back in front after 34 minutes when a Sean Shields free kick towards the far post took a deflection off a visiting defender before Ethan Sutcliffe bundled the ball home.
The Angels might have doubled their lead three minutes later when a close range shot from Thompson was saved by Henry but after 39 minutes a superb cross from Lewis Colwell was met at the far post with a well directed header from Ezio Touray to level the game at the break.
Dunne introduced the livewire Bumni Babajide at the start of the second period and he had an immediate impact as his surge forward and pass to Kyle Smith saw the latter’s right-sided cross turned in at the far post by Pavey.
Chippenham were certainly not as fluid in the second period and the chances to put the game beyond them fell to Shields and Thompson before the added time, kitchen sink time from the visitors.
Dunne concluded: “There’s still 13 games to go, still a lot of work to do and we need to move on quickly to Hampton on Tuesday.”
Pictures: David Couldridge
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