Full-time: Tonbridge Angels 2-1 Chelmsford City
Taylor Maloney’s second-half volley earned Tonbridge Angels a 2-1 victory over Chelmsford City on Non-League Day.
The Angels were quick off the mark and were rewarded for their fast start when captain Sean Shields slotted a low shot into the bottom corner from inside the penalty area in the 11th minute.
However, City responded quickly, with Nico Valentine drawing the Clarets level just five minutes later. After receiving a ball over the top from Charlie Ruff, Valentine cut inside from the right wing and finished clinically across goal to equalise. Robbie Simpson’s men finished the first half strongly, with both Valentine and Saleem Akanbi having opportunities to put their side in front.
Akanbi was denied again by Tonbridge goalkeeper Matthew Rowley early in the second half after Valentine set him up following an impressive solo run which started in his own half. Moments later, Ruff also came close but couldn’t direct a header from close range on target.
Tonbridge grew into the second period and almost regained the lead in the 74th minute when a goalmouth scramble from a corner saw them hit the woodwork. Maloney then made his side’s next opportunity count when he found the back of the net just two minutes later courtesy of a half-volley. Clarets academy forward Taylor Legg made his senior debut late in the match, but despite going close with a late header in added time, the 18-year-old was unable to help his side find an equaliser.
Changes to the squad from last week’s loss to Weston-super-Mare saw Ruff, Akanbi, and Jordan Greenidge start from the beginning.
Tonbridge began the match strongly and fired an early warning shot moments before taking the lead when Ronny Nelson’s header was acrobatically tipped over the crossbar by Collins. The hosts maintained their early pressure and broke the deadlock when Shields fired a low shot from the edge of the area, which proved too powerful for Collins to keep out and nestled into the bottom corner.
The Clarets responded well and levelled the scoreline five minutes later. Ruff played a ball over the top to Valentine, who outpaced his defender, cut inside and calmly slotted his shot across goal and into the net. City came close to going in front before the half-time whistle with a series of chances created by Ruff. In the 20th minute, Greenidge, Ruff, and Akanbi combined well, but Akanbi’s shot was saved by Rowley. In the 35th minute, Ruff and Valentine linked up again, and after Ruff passed to Valentine inside the penalty area, his shot was deflected behind for a corner.
Simpson made a half-time switch and moved Akanbi up front after Greenidge was replaced by Kalvin Kalala, who played on the left of City’s front three. The Clarets nearly took the lead early in the second half when Ruff, Kalala, and Akanbi pressed high and forced a turnover in a dangerous position, which resulted in Akanbi fizzing a shot wide from the edge of the box. Akanbi was in the thick of things again just minutes later when Valentine’s run from his own half set up a close-range shot, which Rowley kept out. Ruff then had a chance to put City ahead from the rebound, but his header went over the bar from close range.
Tonbridge began to ask more questions of City again as the second half progressed, and nearly regained the lead via a 74th minute corner, where a goalmouth scramble resulted in a shot that hit the crossbar. Another effort on the rebound was bravely blocked by a City defender in front of goal. Maloney’s winning goal came in the 76th minute after a save by Collins from a similar shot moments earlier. Collins had denied Christie Ward from long range, but the rebound fell to Maloney, who fired a half-volley into the bottom corner which beat the outstretched Collins.
Simpson made the maximum number of substitutions he could make in the second half, including introducing Legg for his first senior appearance. Legg nearly played a pivotal role in the final moments when he almost set up Kalala with a square pass across goal. However, Kalala was crowded out by Tonbridge’s defenders before he could get a shot away. The ball was then cleared only as far as Valentine, whose delivery to the back post found Legg, but despite getting good contact on the header, the forward’s effort went over the crossbar.
After being consigned to a second consecutive defeat, City now have until next week to put things right when they welcome title-chasing Truro City to Essex.
Tonbridge Angels XI: Rowley (GK); Nelson, Maloney, Wood, Fielding, Ward (Akehurst 78’), Vincent, Bakrin (Richardson 90+2’), Peart (Ottaway 58’), Shields (C), Cook (Berry 58’).
Unused substitutes: Dubov.
Yellow cards: Nelson 66’, Vincent 68’
Chelmsford City XI: Collins (GK); Penney, Barbrook, Oguntayo; Tamplin, Blackman (C) (Appiah 82’), Bland; Valentine, Ruff (Donaldson 77’), Akanbi (Hyde 77’ ) (Legg 81’); Greenidge (Kalala 46’).
Unused substitutes: none.
Yellow cards: none.
Match officials: Jack Bloxham (Referee), Jamie Jadvirsis (Assistant Referee), Nick Garside (Assistant Referee), Pablo Aguilar Cabanes (Fourth Official).
Attendance: 1028
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