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Chelmsford City 3-2 Tonbridge Angels, Monday 25th September 2006, Chelmsford Sport & Athletics Centre, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Ryman League Premier Division. By Chris Evans (Picture by Matt Bradshaw)
City once again raced into a comfortable interval lead, this time with a three-goal cushion, but once more made hard work of the second half and a goal nine minutes from the end courtesy of Luke Piscina ensured Jeff King's men again had to defend a slender advantage until the final whistle. Mario Noto's one-game suspension meant Chris Duffy slotted into the right of midfield, while Ricky Holmes was rested with a virus and Kezie Ibe was given a start up-front. Though it was Tonbridge who produced most of the early opportunities and twice City had Ben Chenery to thank for last-ditch saves. Just 3 minutes into the game he headed away a goal-bound cross and five minutes later prolific striker Jon Main suspiciously breached the offside trap and lifted the ball goalwards only for the skipper to get back and nod away. Chelmsford survived and launched attacks of their own within minutes, Jeff Minton supplying a short cross and Tony Battersby taking a touch before seeing his effort blocked. But on a slippery surface tackles were flying in and one particular challenge from Angels' Scott Gooding floored Minton just inside the penalty box on 16 minutes, resulting in a booking for the Tonbridge defender and a spot-kick which Minton customarily stroked home into the bottom corner for his seventh goal of the campaign. In an attempt to get back in the rhythm the side enjoyed in the beating of Ramsgate at the weekend, Ibe turned and struck at goalkeeper Aaron Kerr on 21 minutes and Duffy almost bagged the rebound but needed too much time. Tonbridge gave City a wake-up call in the 35th minute as Main had the ball in the net only to be ruled offside then, three minutes later, the hosts punished their visitors for the missed chances when Ibe again twisted swiftly and rammed the ball inside the far post from ten yards and celebrated with the fans behind the goal. The Blues were being run ragged at this point, resulting in a third goal three minutes before the break as Minton's accurate near-post corner ball was flicked into the top corner by left winger Spencer Knight and Chelmsford entered the interval with a more than formidable lead. However, anyone who'd watched the Clarets so far this season will have known a match is rarely over at the break whatever the cushion at half time so when Main found space to shoot over then head in to make it second time lucky three minutes after the resumption the supporting Chelmsford fans began to nibble at their nails. Another home goal would have settled the nerves and Battersby headed onto the crossbar in the 54th minute though he was pulled-back for an earlier foul to render the chance obsolete. Without testing Richard McKinney in goal too often, the visitors pinned Chelmsford back into their own half for the majority of the second half, with Jeff King's side sitting deep to prevent further erosion of the deficit. Though they couldn't stop substitute Luke Piscina picking-up the pieces of an attack on the edge of the box to lob the ball into the net nine minutes from time as the Angels sniffed a point. City were required to hold firm as the final whistle approached after five minutes of injury time and they finally held-on to the three points though the result was by no means as clear-cut as it could have been. City: 1 Richard McKinney 12 Jason Hallett (On for Ibe, 80) Tonbridge Angels: Aaron Kerr, Scott Gooding, Mark Green, Robbie Kember, Steve Aris, John Beales, Michael Power, Scott Kinch, Andrew Martin, Jon Main, Fraser Logan. Subs: Jon Heath, Alex O'Brien, Adam O'Neill, Luke Piscina, Drew Watkins. Bookings: City: Duffy (29, foul), Ibe (38, goal celebration), Manuella (70, handball). Tonbridge: Gooding (15, foul), Kinch (22, foul), Power (68, foul), Main (94, foul). Referee: Mr J. Steel (Sutton). Assistant Referees: Mr I.R. Hogg (Basildon) and Mr A. Crysell (Braintree). Attendance: 681. City Man of the Match: Kezie Ibe. |
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The Clarets' brutal first
half demolition of Kent high-flyers Tonbridge ultimately earned them three
points, though the Angels made them work right up to the final seconds.
