Goals from skipper Tom Wraight, Leroy Lita and substitute Tom Knowles saw Chelmsford City come from behind to defeat Tonbridge Angels at The Melbourne Stadium and pick up a big three points in interim boss Robbie Simpson’s first game charge.
It’s been a tough few week’s for the hosts after the departure of long term boss Rod Stringer, and three straight defeats leading into this contest had seen them drop into midtable, and were actually closer to second bottom and relegation threatened Tonbridge than they were to the play off places.
And the visitors recent form wasn’t to bad, unbeaten in their last four games in recent times, so they were looking to pull themselves out of the bottom two and up five places with a win themselves in what is a congested bottom half.
A big game then, especially for interim boss Simpson who needed to see a response from his side after those three straight losses, and it was the hosts who had the first effort at goal when after visiting keeper Henly had come out and not connected with the ball, an eventual effort towards the visitors goal was headed away by the defence.
Tonbridge reacted to this by launching an attack and saw hosts keeper Laurie Walker beaten to the ball by Jason William but the latter’s back heel was saved, but in the 17th minute the visitors punished the hosts for a defensive error.
A ball played forward looked to be running out of play, and the defender attempted to run this out, but it didn’t and allowed Tonbridge to nip in and square the ball for Joe Turner who applied a first time finish into the net, and the hosts were behind.
This would certainly test the character of the home side now, and they almost responded when glancing wide from a corner, but then almost fell two behind when a visitor’s free kick was headed wide themselves.
In the 27th minute though Chelmsford did pull themselves level as a flick on into the path of skipper Wraight saw him nip ahead of the onrushing Henly before firing into the net from an angle, and the hosts were back on terms.
City then should of led moments later when they somehow headed wide of the far post, but the hosts were very suspect at the back and gave the ball away but managed to then block an effort from the visitors before the loose ball was eventually curled off target.
It meant the game remained level at the break and with both sides still with a chance of winning it, it was a tense atmosphere with both knowing that three points was oh so important for both.
Half Time Chelmsford City 1 Tonbridge Angels 1
After those important half time team talks, it was the hosts who reacted the better and led two minutes after the break when a cross into the box saw Leroy Lita send a powerful header at goal, and although Henly tried his best to keep it out, he could only push the ball into the roof of the net, and City had the advantage.
Both benches then clashed soon after following an incident on the touchline near the Tonbridge bench, this threatened to get out of hand but was calmed down with a booking each, but this was a big game for both, so tensions were rather high.
City then almost gifted a leveller to the visitors when Walker came and cleared but straight to Khale Da Costa whose effort back towards the empty net went wide of the target, and the majority of the 611 crowd breathed a sigh of relief.
The visitors then charged towards the hosts box but sent a weak effort straight at Walker, before Lita should really have sealed the game for the hosts when after being played in on goal, it looked for all the world he would slot home, but his finish went the wrong side of the post.
A Tonbridge defensive clearance was then charged down and saw the hosts in down the left, but a poor square ball into the box went straight to a defender who managed to clear, but deep into stoppage time City sealed their win.
With the visitors pressing for a leveller deep into stoppage time, a free kick was awarded to them and saw keeper Henly come up for it, but after this was cleared the ball was sent in the direction of substitute Knowles. And after he had got it under control he turned towards goal and with Henly unable to get back into his goal, the City attacker sent an effort from his own half into the empty net and end the hosts recent poor run.
It means the hosts rise two places to tenth and are now seven points off the play-off places, and more importantly ten points ahead of second bottom Tonbridge who remain in the bottom two, two points off safety.
Full Time Chelmsford City 3 Tonbridge Angels 1
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