|
|
|
|
Tonbridge Angels 3-1 Chelmsford City, Tuesday 23rd January 2007, Longmead Stadium, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Ryman League Premier Division.
The Clarets sank to their third Ryman League defeat in a row at Tonbridge courtesy of a trio of strikes from sought-after striker Jon Main at the Longmead Stadium. City now sit three points off the pace after this latest loss with new faces being promised to liven the squad up for the weekend trip to Boreham Wood where three points are fast becoming a necessity to maintain a challenge for the title. Some clinical finishing from one of the League's top scorers was the difference as he made the most of Angels' limited shots on goal to re-start his own team's season, while Jeff King was left to pick-up the pieces and work-out what to do next. On this occasion, the decision was made to leave out Gavin Heeroo and select Chris Duffy in the holding midfield role, with Jason Hallett also being chosen in place of Dwain Clarke. Hallett took his place as the lone striker up-front, with Kezie Ibe moving to right wing and Ricky Holmes initially swapping to the left side. In the 8th minute Hallett powered through on goal but his prod was deflected to safety as the Clarets started brightly. Then Ben Chenery tried his luck from a corner's rebound but he could only hack over three minutes later. Some intelligent play from Ibe worked Holmes into a 20th-minute shooting opportunity and the young forward's effort crept agonisingly wide of the far post though seven minutes later Tonbridge took the lead with their very first strike of the game. The ball ricocheted back and forth across the box until Main stuck out his leg and diverted it past 'keeper Richard McKinney into the net. Five minutes later the confident striker Main had bagged his second, a crafty lob after spotting McKinney off his line which rifled home to hand the hosts a two-goal interval lead. After the break it was essential Chelmsford made a quick dent in the deficit but just two minutes past the resumption Main helped himself to his third to seal a wonderful hat-trick. He executed an emphatic half-volley into the corner from outside the box and finished the game as a contest. Thankfully for the Chelmsford defence he was substituted just after the hour mark to prevent further damage but City couldn't take full advantage of the territorial grip they held over their mid-table opponents. Nine minutes from time, though, Dwain Clarke sent a free-kick to the far post where Jeff Minton headed home from a yard to add an ounce of respectability to the scoreline. City: 1 Richard McKinney Tonbridge Angels: Aaron Kerr, Scott Gooding, Ray Powell, Robbie Kender, Steve Aris, John Beales, Nick Barnes, Ryan Maxwell, Ian Parkes, Jon Main, Fraser Logan. Subs: Mark Green, Adam O'Neill, Mike Power, Luke Piscina, Mike Cramp. Bookings: Tonbridge: Powell (85, foul), Logan (89, delaying the restart of play). Referee: A. Slaughter (Brighton). Assistant Referees: G.S. Cross (Battle) and D. Spain (St. Leonards-on-Sea). Attendance: 353. City Man of the Match: Chris Duffy. |
|
By
Chris Evans
(Picture by Matt Bradshaw)
