It can only be described as a missed opportunity for Angels. Sitting in 8th position and their opponents nine paces below them the pundits would have predicted a home win on the 3G pitch.  Punditry thankfully doesn’t determine the outcome of football matches, it’s what happens on the pitch that decides results and on this occasion Taunton found a way to win by a combination of bravery, calmness and taking their chances, well three of them,  when they came along.  

A win for Tonbridge and anything less than a win for Chelmsford (2-2 at Eastbourne Borough) would have seen Jay Saunders side claim the last play off place at least for the time being but it wasn’t to be. It seemed that all that hard work at Bath and Hampton was somewhat undone. 

Midfielder Lewis Gard was restored to the Angels starting line up with Tommy Wood making his first start since returning to the club.  Tommie Fagg was unavailable due to sickness and Joe Turner took a place on the subs bench; if supporters were surprised by that it should be remembered that Turner had taken part in every game since returning from a Hernia op. With  Craig Braham-Barrett still out injured the squad had a rather thin look to it

However, for Angels fans it did appear that everything was going along as planned at least so far as the 1st half was concerned. 

In the first period Angels had the more clear cut chances and a 2-1 advantage at half time to the home side was probably a fair reflection of the play.  There were chances for Angels through Aransibia, Wood, and Greenidge but the deadlock was broken in the 21st minute when Greenidge on the angle was able to execute a powerful shot past Taunton keeper Irish.  

Sims- Burgess and Stearn for the visitors reminded the home side that Taunton were here to make a fight of it and eventually on 37 minutes Foulston with a fantastic 20 yarder that gave Angels keeper Henly no chance saw the two sides level. 

A spectacular strike from Aransibia on 39 minutes restored Angels lead and the  home side should have increased that lead on the stroke of half time when Greenidge and Wood combined but the latter’s finish was just over. It was something that they were to regret as things turned out and certainly Taunton had shown enough to suggest that the 2-1 scoreline in a sense was potentially a tricky scoreline and so it proved. 

Taunton came out for the second period prepared to take the game to their hosts with Stearn and Chamberlain both having efforts to restore parity but they didn’t have to wait long to draw level.  In the 64th minute they were awarded a penalty and Stearn duly converted.  There were to be no heroics from Jonny Henly this time round as the Taunton striker sent the Angels keeper the wrong way.  

It got even better for the Peacocks in the 68th minute when following a Taunton corner, Tonbridge failed to clear with eventually the ball falling to Wannell who made no mistake from close in.  

The home side attempted to get something from the game but never really worried the Taunton defence over much.  In the 82nd minute with Irish out of his  goal following an Angels free kick, it seemed certain that Tonbridge would equalise but somehow the visitors scrambled the ball off the goal line, survived a strong penalty shout  and soon thereafter were heading back to Somerset with a valuable three points and the double over their hosts. 

Afterwards a very disappointed Saunders said: “In a game where we could have moved into the play off places, against a struggling side, we should have done better”

Picture : David Couldridge.  Jordan Greenidge opens the scoring for Angels