This was a thoroughly entertaining match for the neutrals & both teams will have to go again on Tuesday night, Swifts in one way did not really want this as they prepare for their FA Cup game against Exeter next Sunday but relieved to get an equaliser 9 minutes from the end while Tonbridge will be kicking themselves for not holding on to the lead.
The game started quickly as firstly Tonbridge had the first real chance when a Joe Turner corner in the 4th minute found Callum Adonis-Taylor 8 yards out & his header went over the bar, then in the 9th minute Heybridge took the lead in their first chance when a cross into the near post saw Juan Luque’s bullet header hit the back of the net before Jon Henly had moved.
It took only two minutes for Tonbridge to get back into the game when Craig Stone passed out wide for Luke Blewden whose low cross found Dan Thompson in the area & he controlled it & shot past Danny Sambridge. A couple of minutes later Tonbridge could have been in front when a long ball forward saw Andre McCollin in the area & he tried to lob Sambridge but ball ended up in Sambridge’s arms.
In the 15th minute Heybridge again took the lead again when Juan Luque on the left crossed to the near post where Sam Bantick was & his flicked effort from 6 yards nestled in the back of the net. A minute later & Turner on the edge of the area saw his goal bound shot pushed around the post by Sambridge.
In the 18th minute it was level as a Xavier Vidal saw his cross half cleared to Turner who from 15 yards fired home. Two minutes later in this crazy match Tonbridge were in front when a Turner shot from 18 yards was deflected onto the bar & came down for Vidal to head in from 6 yards.
Four minutes later & it was nearly another goal when a Luke Blewden cross into the area was controlled by Thompson who controlled it & then laid into the path of Vidal whose shot from 18 yards went just past the post. In the 34th minute Heybridge themselves nearly equalised when a long throw into the area was headed back into the area by the by-line by Callender for Ryan Henshaw but his header from 6 yards was easily save by Henly.
The last chance of the half came in the 44th minute when another long throw into the area saw a flicked header pushed away by Henly.
The second half continued in the same vain as the first, in the 51st minute Chris Kinnear latching onto a clearance saw his shot from 25 yards tipped over the bar by Sambridge, three minutes later a ball into the area was headed down by Thompson for Vidal & his shot from 20 yards flew past the post.
Heybridge had their first half chance in the 56th minute when Luque down the left saw his cross into the area cleared away under pressure by Sonny Miles. Heybridge were now starting to create chances & in the 72nd minute a long cross to the back post saw Substitute Ricky Sappleton head just past the post & two minutes later Sappleton was put through & his attempted chip was saved by Henly.
In the 81st minute Heybridge equalised when the ball went forward into the area & Adonis-Taylor challenged Callender & had the misfortune to slip allowing Callender 8 yards out to shoot past Henly.
In the 90th minute Tonbridge nearly got the winner when Jack Parter running down the left wing crossed to the near post where Vidal was but unopposed he directed his header wide of the post so both teams have to go again on Tuesday night.
TONBRIDGE ANGELS:
- HENLY 2. C.STONE 3. J.PARTER 4. C.KINNEAR 5. S.MILES 6. C.ADONIS-TAYLOR 7. L.BLEWDEN 8. X.VIDAL 9. D.THOMPSON (77) 10. A.McCOLLIN 11. J.TURNER
SUBS USED: 17. N.ELDER (77)
SUBS NOT USED: 14. T.WHITNELL 15. D.WELSH 16. S.COPELAND
BOOKINGS: 2. C.STONE (14)
HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS:
- SAMBRIDGE 2. G.RAMON 3. B.SAMPAYO 4. B.GRIFFITHS (71) 5. R.HENSHAW 6. J.CAWLEY 7. K.KRASNIQI 8. L.DARK 9. L.CALLENDER (82) 10. S.BANTICK (71) 11. J.LUQUE
SUBS USED: 12. J.FABOHUN (71) 14. R.SAPPLETON (71) 17. E.SILIGATO (82)
SUBS NOT USED: 15. R.CONWAY 16. H.CHATTING
BOOKINGS: 7. K.KRASNIQI (59) 9. L.CALLENDER (62)
REFEREE: Mr S.FARRER
ASSISTANTS: Mr N.LIAPPIS & Mr S.MATTHEWS
ATTENDANCE: 405