MATCH REPORT: Chippenham Town 2-2 Tonbridge Angels | National League South | Saturday 22nd April 2023
This game was notable for the return of Pablo Martinez who suffered a cardiac arrest at the Bluebirds first home game of the season back in August 2022 and fittingly came off the bench in stoppage time in their final home game of the campaign.
The match itself was played out in front of 779 supporters which was the largest home league crowd of the season bar the New Year’s Day derby with Bath City.
The match was also attended by a contingent of the Norwegian branch of the supporters’ club.
The game was something of a slow burner as there was little action in the opening twenty five minutes apart from a Will Richards header being blocked at a seventh minute corner and two off target shots from Tonbridge’s Jack Wood.
The opening goal came on twenty six minutes when Joe Turner was played in on the left of the area and he slotted home a fine individual goal.
The Bluebirds were level four minutes later when Ed Williams’ ball went across the face of goal where Owen Windsor beat Jonathan Henly with a low shot at his near post.
Will Henry then did well to parry an effort from Tommy Wood whilst Tariq Hinds squandered a good chance inside the area when he lost his footing.
Scott Wagstaff’s cross then deflected off a defender into the arms of Henry, whilst before the break Windsor cut the ball back to Craig Fasanmade but he shot over and the former also had an effort blocked.
HALF TIME: Chippenham Town 1-1 Tonbridge Angels
After the break Williams found Windsor whose shot was held by Henly above his head.
Tommy Wood then laid the ball back to Hinds but his shot went just wide.
Chippenham took the lead on fifty six minutes after Fasanmade had been fouled on the edge of the area and Caine Bradbury’s free kick curled into the near top corner. Henry held a free kick from Turner whilst Spencer Hamilton shot wide.
The Kent side equalized on seventy four minutes when Jamie Fielding met a corner and although Henry got a touch to the headed effort he could not keep the ball out. A minute later a free kick landed at the feet of Fasanmade close in but he could not get a shot away.
In the eighty ninth minute an overhead kick from Tonbridge substitute Devonte Aransibia was held by Henry whilst a minute later Turner shot wide.
At the end of the match Luke Russe was presented with the Supporters’ Player of the Year Award.
FULL TIME: Chippenham Town 2-2 Tonbridge Angels
Chippenham: Will Henry, Spencer Hamilton, Will King, Ollie Tomlinson, Will Richards, Tom Mehew, Joe Hanks (Pablo Martinez 90), Ed Williams (Joe Parker 55), Caine Bradbury, Owen Windsor (Marcel Lewis 80), Craig Fasanmade subs not used: Alfie Santos, Alex Bray
Tonbridge: Jonathan Henly, Jamie Fielding, Craig Braham-Barrett, Sonny Miles, Lewis Gard, Tommy Wood (Jordan Greenidge 57), Jack Wood, Joe Turner, Tariq Hinds (Devonte Aransibia 77), Scott Wagstaff, Jeremy Santos (Bailey Akehurst 65) subs not used: Ben Swift, Tommie Fagg
Ref: Shaun Taylor
Ass Refs: Joshua Brookland, Sean Jenkins
Match report by Wil Hulbert
