Match Report: Enfield Town 1 Tonbridge Angels 1
The Angels came away from Donkey Lane with a hard-earned point in a game of two polar opposite halves. The first half, in which Tonbridge dominated to go into the break a goal ahead was countered with a second period in which the hosts, Enfield Town, pressed hard for an equaliser that finally came, and not undeservedly, in the second minute of added time.
Larry McAvoy, taking the post-match interview: “It feels like two points dropped. The boys are disappointed with the result from the position we were in, leading going into added time, but when they have scored, it could quite easily have gone the other way.”
The fixture survived a 10am pitch inspection, which although obviously heavy, was perfectly playable given the downpours of the past couple of days.
Manager Alan Dunne made four changes from last Saturday’s starting XI against Dorking Wanderers. Into the side came Matty Warren, Noah McCann, Alfie Pavey alongside Jordon Thompson, whose signing from Hemel Hempstead Town was announced during the morning. Arthur Penney and Naz Bakrin joined those on the injured list with Frankie Baker and Bailey Akehurst taking places on the bench
The game started quietly with both sides literally finding their feet on the surface with the home side having a couple of efforts that gave no real concern before the Angels went ahead on 11 minutes when a corner from the right was headed on by Bunmi Babajide into a crowded six yard box from where Tom Leahy got the final touch to stab the ball home.
From the opening goal, the visitors controlled the first half and had two great chances to extend their lead when, on 34 minutes, a long ball forward saw Leahy challenged by Enfield’s goalkeeper, Joe Wright a long way from his penalty area with the ball breaking to Ricky Korboa, whose shot was deflected for a corner. On 40 minutes, a superb cross from Leahy found the diving head of Pavey, but his effort was directed at a thankful Wright.
The second half began with the Angels remaining on the front foot with a chance for Korboa that cleared the bar before Enfield began an extended period of pressure and when skipper Scott Wagstaff was helped from the field with a suspected dislocated shoulder, the home side seized control.
The chances began to fall to Enfield with Lamar Reynolds poorly heading at Laurie Shala when found unmarked eight yards from goal and Tom Youngs saw his effort narrowly clear the bar but as the game entered 10 minutes of added time when a through ball from Oliver Knight was taken down by Adam Thompson who fired past Shala into the roof of the net.
Tonbridge survived a number of corners in the remainder of added time to take a valuable point back over the bridge.
McAvoy concluded: “The boys stood up to the physical challenge really well, for a young group to defend the amount of corners, long balls and throw-ins, showed real character. We nearly saw it out, but at the moment we are not getting the points our performances deserve.”
