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| Tuesday, 10 December, 2002: Dr Martens League Eastern Division. Tonbridge Angels 2-2 Banbury United An in-form Angels side came into this fixture against table-topping Banbury with high hopes of another three points - and almost did enough to get them, only conceding an equaliser deep into stoppage time of an entertaining and good quality game. Banbury were first out of the blocks, Norman Sylla outpaced Glenn Cook onto a through ball and brought the best out of Joe Radford, who pulled off a fine save low to his left in the opening seconds. Radford denied Sylla again after 16 minutes, deflecting his fierce shot into the side netting after Danny Tingley had slipped trying to deal with a ball over the top. United continued to create the clearer chances as the first half progressed, Ollie Stanbridge and George Redknapp firing wide when well placed - but the Angels gradually began to exert pressure of their own. Banbury 'keeper Simon Tricker saved at the feet of Mark Greatorex, and Steve Portway headed straight at Tricker after losing his markers at a free kick. Portway quickly atoned by putting the Angels ahead on 41 minutes, slamming a fine cross from Greatorex past a helpless Tricker. Nick Barnes extended the Tonbridge lead after the break, Tricker only able to admire his 25-yard thunderbolt as it flew past him into the top right hand corner of the net. Banbury's Andy Wallbridge put a free header wide with Radford nowhere, then another long-range bullet from Barnes beat Tricker's dive but flashed just over. Banbury's tactic of taking free kicks quickly in the Tonbridge half was causing problems for the Angels, and led to a penalty against them on 71 minutes. Wayne Blossom was judged to have been tripped as he surged into the area, and Adrian Fuller beat Radford from the spot. Banbury threw everything forward, restricting Tonbridge to playing on the break. Just as it appeared the Angels had hung on for the win, a hopeful ball in from the right wasn't cleared and fell to Wallbridge, who swept in the equaliser for a jubilant United side. A classic "one that got away" then, but the Angels more than held their own against a team at the top of the division. Report by: Tony Browne |
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