


Angels stun Romans with late winner
If last Monday evening was very disappointing for Angels fans with a late winner for Chelmsford then for those same supporters who made the long journey down the M4 all was forgotten as the visitors won the game with a magnificent 88th minute strike from Jack Wood who was probably playing his final game for Tonbridge before returning to parent club Southend United. It was the Angels first win at Bath City since 1958.
The afternoon was very much the story of the two Woods. Jack and Tommy both started their afternoons on the bench but were to play significant roles in the match.
Ever since the news broke on Thursday evening that Tommy Wood was returning to the club that on his own admission he enjoyed playing for you could sense the anticipation and excitement within the Angels support.
As far as the starting line up was concerned new signing Marcel Elva- Fountaine made his debut and there was also starts for Tariq Hinds and Lewis Gard with Crag Braham-Barrett unavailable because of injury with Tommie Fagg and Tommy Parkinson dropping to the bench. George Bentley also made his debut in goal for Tonbridge as Jonny Henly was at a pre-arranged event. It was Sonny Miles 500th start in all competitions for the club.
It was the new signing Marcel Elva-Fountaine who made an early run forcing an Angels corner but it came to nothing. On six minutes a strong Bath attack was well thwarted by man of the match Scott Wagstaff. At the other end Hinds had a dig and then just after the 15 minute mark Gard threatened along the bye line but was injured in a tackle by a Bath defender. Gard’s cross in the end rolled harmlessly along the goalmouth.
On 18 minutes Aransibia was through into a good position but Bath dealt with the threat and there followed a good period of Angels possession.
The 33rd minute saw the debutant Angels keeper Bentley make a decent save pushing the ball round the post for a corner. On 35 minutes Gard was forced off due to feeling unwell and this meant supporters favourite Tommy Wood took to the pitch with heartfelt applause.
On the stroke of half time there was a big chance for Bath when the ball fell to their number three unmarked at the back post but he blasted high over the bar.
Four minutes into the second half, Wagstaff found himself in space but the effort was straight at the Bath keeper. There was more good work from the midfielder eight minutes later on the right flank but the home defence held firm.
A combination of Ben Swift and the post preserved the Angels clean sheet and that was followed by a coming together of the Bath keeper and Jordan Greenidge with a decision for the referee to make. That decision went the way of the Romans.
By now Tommy Wood was becoming more influential with the most noteworthy intervention on 72 minutes when Greenidges cross just eluded the striker but his movement and hold up play was starting to make Tonbridge more of a threat.
There was a Bath piledriver on 83 minutes just over the bar and the hosts did force a number of corners but Miles and Swift were superb in the air.
On 85 minutes Jack Wood replaced Aransibia and just three minutes later he was weaving through the Bath defence before planting a beautiful shot into the far corner of the home goal. It was sublime and sent the Angels fans into raptures.
Afterwards a delighted Angels Boss, Jay Saunders said: “A moment of magic has won us the game. We needed that win to keep us in the hunt for a play off place.”
Picture top right : Ian Clear. Back in Blue. Tommy Wood makes his third debut for Angels
Picture below : David Couldridge : On target! Jack Wood shoots past a bemused Bath City defence for the only goal of the game.