After throwing away a two goal lead and falling into the Blue Square Bet South relegation zone last Sunday, Tonbridge Angels bounced back to claim only their third win in the last thirteen games; a one-nil victory over fellow relegation candidate Staines Town, that was far more comfortable than it maybe should have been.
Frannie Collin’s 7th minute strike, his 19th of the season, was enough to earn the three points.
But although a number of Angels’ players threw themselves in front of Staines’ shots to defend their lead, backup goalkeeper Scott Chalmer-Stevens only had three saves of note to make; one of which was from team-mate Olly Schulz!
With both sides desperate for the points and the prevailing weather conditions at Longmead, the match was never destined to be a classic.
The strong wind blowing down the middle of the pitch, as well as steady drizzle that turned into a downpour as time progressed, made it difficult for either side to put flowing football together.
But the greater strength, especially of David Ijaha and Mikel Suarez, was key to Tonbridge enjoying the majority of possession as a young Staines’ midfield struggled to make an impression.
Tonbridge always seemed to have an option when they gained possession, with both wingers Harry Muggeridge and Nathan Green drawing praise from manager Tommy Warrilow.
Green tormented the visitor’s defence to the extent that both cautions for Staines defenders were for crude attempts to stop his direct running.
It was Green who created what turned out to be the deciding goal in the 7th minute. The winger looked to be trapped in the left wing corner, but somehow smuggled the ball past Jack Mills, cut back towards the corner of the area, where he rolled the ball infield to Frannie Collin, who took one touch and fired the ball in at the near post, beating the outstretched right hand of Jack Turner.
Staines were mainly restricted to long shots in the first half; Mills and Dan Brown both hitting the North Mezzanine stand hoardings from outside the area, whereas Tonbridge seemed to carry a threat with each attack.
Suarez, restored to full fitness after a horrific head injury earlier in the season led to a long hospital stay, robbed Jerel Ifil and laid the ball into the path of Collin, who was denied by Turner, quickly advancing from his line. Then Ijaha and Muggeridge combined to send a deep cross in from the right, only for Suarez to be denied by a brave recovering header from fullback Mills.
Staines closed the half the better, aided by an injury to Angels’ skipper Gary Elphick that left him a virtual passenger for the last 5 minutes, and only a crunching full-blooded tackle by Sonny Miles denied Brown a shot on goal from inside the area. This was the type of tackle that is rarely seen anymore, but perfectly fair. Then in stoppage time, a left wing corner pinballed around inside the 6-yard box, off the legs of Muggeridge defending his post and off Brown into the arms of the grateful Chalmer-Stevens.
Tonbridge had a fortunate moment early in the second half, with Mr Butler awarding a freekick to Staines just as Troy Ferguson wriggled free of Elphick’s attention into the area with only the keeper to beat. From the freekick, Max Worsfold’s effort slid over the bar, without troubling the Tonbridge stopper.
Brown dragged a shot wide of Chalmer-Stevens’ right post, and Collin was denied by Turner as he tried to round the Staines keeper, as play switched from end to end. But the visitors almost levelled on the hour, as Brown beat the Tonbridge back four to burst into the area, but his tame shot was well handled by Chalmer-Stevens.
Green continued to be central to Tonbridge’s best efforts, as his corner saw Elphick and Schulz collide as they both attacked the cross. The ball looped to Mark Lovell, playing in a more withdrawn midfield role, who headed back across goal. The clearance was weak and allowed Green another chance to cross, from which Suarez headed over.
Green then picked up a flowing move, from Chalmer-Stevens via Suarez and Collin, to fire a low cross from the left wing into the area, where Muggeridge, sliding in from a late run, was denied by Worsfold’s challenge.
From the resulting Muggeridge corner, the ball was caught on the wind and curled goalwards, where Turner had to tip over having quickly readjusted his position.
Muggeridge fired a long shot in, that took a deflection off Lewis Ferrell, and Turner produced a flying save to his left to parry the effort, before Staines’ best chance of the match. A quick interchange between Ashley Lodge and Ferguson saw the ball slipped through the back line for Brown to race into the Tonbridge area.
As his goalkeeper advanced to narrow the angle, Schulz slid in to deny the Staines forward, but his hooked clearance was goalbound, until Chalmer-Stevens pulled off an incredible reaction save, low to his left, to divert the ball past the post.
Substitute Louis-Rae Beadle fired a shot that allowed Chalmer-Stevens to make a more comfortable save low to his right, but whenever Staines threatened to shoot anywhere near the edge of the box, there was always a blue shirted defender putting his body on the line to block the effort.
This enthusiasm almost cost Tonbridge dear as Schulz and Miles collided defending a cross and the ball looped off them both onto the top of the net. From the corner, David Wheeler found himself unmarked in acres of space, but his header slid wide.
So Tonbridge’s win carries them three points clear of the relegation zone with four games left, but as Warrilow said, if the Angels can win their remaining two home games, they should be playing Conference South football again next season.
TONBRIDGE ANGELS: Scott Chalmer-Stevens, Harry Muggeridge, Jon Heath, Sonny Miles, Gary Elphick (Danny Walder 78), Olly Schulz, Mark Lovell, David Ijaha, Mikel Suarez, Frannie Collin, Nathan Green.
Subs: Aaron Gayle, Ollie Bankole, Chris Piper, Tom Davis.
Goal: Frannie Collin 7.
Booking: Gary Elphick 77.
STAINES TOWN: Jack Turner, Jack Mills (Will Bor 46), Max Worsfold, Lewis Ferrell, Sam Page, Jerel Ifil, David Wheeler, Troy Ferguson, Dan Brown, Tyrone Marsh (Louis-Rae Beadle 56), Ashley Lodge.
Subs: Qaseem Sotonwa, Luke Neville, Charlie Hyam.
Bookings: Jerel Ifil 3, Sam Page 18.
Attendance: 511
Referee: Mr Stuart Butler (Maidstone)
Assistants: Mr Thomas Ellams (Tadworth) and Mr Michael Jarvis (Braintree)