TONGHAM 2, CHIDDINGFOLD 2

SUBSTITUTE Liam Henchy scored twice as Tongham came from 2-0 down to earn a worthy draw against Chiddingfold at Poyle Road.

Tongham were looking to bounce back from the previous week’s 5-1 drubbing by league leaders Laleham. Chiddingfold, meanwhile, were hoping to build on a promising start to the season and arrived on the back of two wins.

Availability problems meant that Tongham manager James McArthur had to shuffle his pack. Dan Thody and Gavin Broomfield came in at centre-half and right-back respectively and Neville Tuck returned to central midfield, while new signings Henchy and Dan Jones started on the bench.

Tongham got off to the worst possible start as Josh Bleach gave Chiddingfold the lead in the opening minutes. The visitors’ work-rate and desire was shining through and Tongham could not match them.

This bought out the best of keeper Nick Garwood who made a top-class save to tip a header round the post.

The Reds finally got going and a Lewis Cocklin header forced a fine save from keeper Will Midmore. Then a great chance went begging as Dan Carter failed to convert a cross from Nathan Tull.

With a minute remaining in the first half, Chiddingfold counter-attacked to lethal effect and a long ball over the top was finished neatly by Mark Pocock, giving Garwood no chance.

Tongham, with a mountain to climb, introduced Carl Allwork for the second half, while Jones replaced the injured Dan Bailey at left-back.

And the home side upped the pace, passing quickly, making clever runs and showing real determination. But although they camped in the Chiddingfold half, they just couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net.

That all changed when striker Henchy came on for his debut and Carter moved out wide.

It proved to be an inspired move. Within seconds, Henchy won a 50-50 with keeper Midmore and scored with his first touch as a Tongham player.

Henchy, a handful up front, scored again to level the scores. A cross was won by Carter, whose effort was tipped onto the bar by Midmore and Henchy was there to tap in from five yards.

With Tongham pressing for a winner, Henchy found himself one-on-one with the keeper, but this time Midmore made a good save low to his left.

“I think both teams deserved a point,” said Tongham boss McArthur. “You can’t play like we did in the first half and expect to win games. I was pleased with how we reacted second half and got ourselves back into it. Also how well the two new lads did.”