Concord Rangers 3 Tonbridge Angels 3
This group of players never know when they are beaten in National League South, and they kept plugging away to eventually get their reward on Canvey Island.
There was uncertainty among spectators about the future of the season after the postponement of the professional leagues because of the coronavirus, though the National Leagues kept on playing.
The Angels took the lead slightly against the run of play in the 14th minute. From Khale Da Costa’s run down the right the ball was only cleared as far as Ben Greenhalgh, whose angled shot from just outside the area beat Chris Haigh on his left-hand post.
They were not in front for long, as the home side equalised just three minutes later through one of their strongest players, Temi Babalola.
Then Rangers, ahead of their FA Trophy semi-final, took the lead on 21 minutes when an unforced error handed possession to Decarrey Sheriff. He rounded keeper Jonny Henly to place the ball in an empty net, although the angle was tight.
Da Costa was again involved in the build-up as the Angels equalised a minute before half-time, Tommy Wood sneaking in to place his cross neatly past Haigh.
But there was a lack of concentration in the Tonbridge defence a minute later as the Beachboys raided down the left flank and James Blanchfield cheekily back-heeled past Henly to make it 3-2 at the break.
The first 15 minutes of the second half saw the Angels step up their performance, with chances for Greenhalgh, Wood and Da Costa all going begging.
With Angels pushing further forward, gaps started to appear in the away defence, but Concord weren’t able to capitalise – and were to pay a heavy price.
Deep in stoppage time a free kick was awarded to Tonbridge, the ball was worked out to substitute Jarrod Small on the right. He hung up a cross to the far post, Sonny Miles headed it back across goal and Bray rose highest to send an unstoppable header into the net.
Angels manager Steve McKimm said: “Second half we told them to keep getting those crosses in, which we did and eventually it came good for us.
“It’s another point which puts us third from bottom. If this proves to be the last game of the season then we’ve done what we set out to do minimum. If we eventually carry on then there is still work to do, but we have games in hand.”
All fixtures in the National League South have been postponed until at least April 3 due to the coronavirus.
