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| Saturday, 27 December, 2003: Dr Martens League Eastern Division. Tonbridge Angels 2-2 Fisher Athletic A dramatic conclusion saw Fisher claim a point they hardly deserved, courtesy of two fortunate goals right at the death. Nick Barnes' 88th minute penalty had put the Angels 2-0 up and looked to have sealed the points - but Fisher never gave up, and a last-ditch assault paid dividends as Tonbridge relaxed. The Angels team for this one had a slightly different look about it following the week's managerial and squad upheavals. New signing (and Fisher old boy) Leroy Huggins made his debut up front alongside Luke Piscina (in for the suspended Ray Powell). Barnes moved into midfield as replacement for the departed Peter Overton, with John Beales stepping into the wing-back position. For Fisher, Richard Brady (scorer of 19 goals already this season, including a hat-trick against the Angels in the League Cup) only made the bench. An entertaining first half saw plenty of action at both ends, with Tonbridge just about shading it. Jamie Turner was at full stretch to cut out a dangerous cross from the tricky Goma Lambu early on before Fisher 'keeper Robert O'Hara had to make the first of many good saves, keeping out Hamid Barr's effort after good work from Piscina. O'Hara's best save came on 24 minutes, a superb reaction block denying Huggins from six yards. Beales had a goalbound effort blocked after more good work from Piscina before Craig Roser rescued the Angels, clearing Taf Islam's shot off the line. O'Hara denied Huggins again after he beat the offside trap, then Turner and Tony Dolby combined to block out Steve Taylor's close range shot following a mazy run by the Fisher fullback. The second half was played in a downpour. Tonbridge began to dominate proceedings - Huggins was inches wide with an overhead kick, then was felled by a bad tackle from Al James Hannigan, the Fisher centre-back being lucky to stay on the field. Adam Young flung himself in the way of Barnes' close-range shot to keep the game scoreless, but the Angels finally broke through after 62 minutes. O'Hara failed to hold Barr's 25-yard free kick and Huggins tucked away the loose ball. O'Hara saved twice more from Huggins in one-on-one situations, then, with time running out, Huggins broke away again - this time to be brought down by O'Hara inside the box. Barnes stepped up to convert the penalty in place of Barr, replaced moments earlier by Steve Searle. That appeared to be that - but Fisher surged forward, and pulled one back when Barnes put through his own goal attempting to clear a cross. Turner then produced a wonder save to claw away Islam's goalbound effort, but it was to no avail. With virtually the last kick of the game, Fisher sub Daniel Fletcher's 25-yard drive took a cruel deflection off Beales and left Turner helpless. Hamid Barr took his second successive Angels Man of the Match award as nominated by Match Sponsor Graham Russell, for another skilful & probing performance at the heart of the team. Huggins settled into the side straight away, and also gave the Fisher defence problems throughout. Report by: Tony Browne |
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