Recap
Report
Nick Grimes salvaged parity for the Peacocks with an equaliser deep into stoppage time. Anything less than a point would have been rough justice on a Town side which appeared to be safely heading for only their second win in nine League games until a see-saw end to proceedings threatened to make it a Blue Christmas (with no claret).
Fielding the same line-up as the one which had begun the match at Havant a week earlier, the hosts made a sprightly start with Ollie Chamberlain slicing into the Angels’ area but his pull-back unable to fall cleanly for a teammate while Joe Guest found Zac Smith on the edge of the box, and he took a touch inside to locate the crossbar with a fine effort after ten minutes. Town were displaying some far-improved football from seven days prior without carving out a clear opportunity before Tonbridge began to enjoy a prolonged spell of possession but again with no chances on the end of it as the gusty wind blowing down the ground frustrated some intentions.
Ross Stearn latched onto a loose ball to post a shot which Angels’ custodian Jonathan Henly comfortably pouched just past the half hour as Town pushed for an opener, but it was the visitors who nearly drew first blood when Jordan Greenidge broke clear, only to be denied by Austen Booth’s well-timed challenge with the stray ball falling to Lewis Gard who contrived to steer wide of the target. The Peacocks made Tonbridge regret that miss when they took the lead on 37 minutes, Chamberlain feeding Nat Jarvis down the right and his short cross to the near post was expertly controlled by Morgan who turned to fire home via the inside of the far post. Lloyd James then saw his low volley clutched by Henly after Jarvis had chested down as the half ended with Town’s noses in front and on the balance of play probably deserved.
Attacking the Somerset Campervan Co Stadium after the break, Town remained firmly in the driving seat for the first half of the second half (if you get my drift..) Chamberlain’s shot was deflected for an early corner and Morgan’s delivery at goal from the right was claimed by Henly ahead of Jarvis who then evaded two Tonbridge defenders with some great skill to earn a corner from which Booth guided a near post header over. Nick McCootie replaced Stearn on the hour with Town conscious that a second goal was ideally required, especially with the Angels enjoying a promising period with around twenty minutes to go. Dan Ball did well to flick away Tariq Hinds’ dangerous cross at the expense of a corner and when that was recycled Lavercombe was forced to punch clear. The Town keeper then palmed away a Hinds effort after the Tonbridge man had made inroads into the area following a Greenidge lay-off.
The home side rode the storm and menaced themselves when McCootie embarked on a dominant run across the edge of the box, setting up Chamberlain for a strike which Henly blocked and then repeated the feat from the follow-up. A delay for treatment to Tonbridge skipper Scott Wagstaff extended the wait for the final whistle but all seemed under control until the 87th minute when the ball broke for Sean Shields who had time to take aim and rifle an 18 yard shot past Lavercombe for an equaliser which frankly came out of nowhere.
Into nine minutes of stoppage time we went and valid appeals for a penalty after Smith was seemingly hauled down by Francis Mampolo were given the cold shoulder by referee Warren. A deflected shot from Obed Yeboah which went for a corner then paved the way for a shock second goal for the visitors four minutes in, the ball cleared and finding its way to Jordan Higgs who smashed a shot past the startled Lavercombe. A Merry Christmas of sorts was now in severe danger of turning into Bah! Humbug but Peacocks captain Grimes was in no mood to let Tonbridge travel away with the Xmas pressies. Six minutes of added time had been played when Chamberlain’s cross was poked away and collected by Grimes who steadied himself before thrashing a 20 yarder in to the right-hand corner of Henly’s net, cueing joyous scenes on pitch and terrace alike, to ensure a point in the festive stocking for Town which will boost their confidence for the double header with league leaders Yeovil Town during the coming week.
Line-Ups
Taunton: Dan Lavercombe, Nick Grimes (captain), Dan Ball, Austen Booth, Ollie Chamberlain, Lloyd James, Nat Jarvis (Malachi Linton 90+7), Joe Guest, Ross Stearn (Nick McCootie 60), Zac Smith, Dylan Morgan. Unused subs: Rabby Tabu Minzamba, Marcus Day, Callum Dolman
Tonbridge: Jonathan Henly, Kodi Lyons-Foster, Lewis Gard (Ansu Janneh 50), Jordan Higgs, Tariq Hinds, Mohammed Dabre (Francis Mampolo 72), Ethan Sutcliffe, Jordan Greenidge, Jernade Meade, Scott Wagstaff (captain) (Obed Yeboah 80), Sean Shields. Unused subs: Billy French, Nat Gibb
Officials
Referee: George Warren (London)
Referee’s Assistant 1: Callum Waller (Plymouth)
Referee’s Assistant 2: Ryan Cornelius (Plymouth)
Attendance
768
Reaction
” I thought we were really good today in every area and every aspect…………” watch the match reaction of Rob Dray on Peacocks TV HERE
Highlights
Match highlights can be seen on Peacocks TV HERE
Photos
Match photos from club photographers Debbie Gould can be viewed HERE and Darren Harris HERE
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance MOM
Dylan Morgan receives the Taunton Town Man Of The Match award from Ultimate Pool professional Shane Thompson who the club sponsor