Tonbridge Angels U18 2 Raynes Park Vale U18 2

Match 12/23/2135 - Monday, 31st July 2023 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 2 McLeod 20 Barton 70
Raynes Park Vale U18 (1) 2 26,68
Headcount: 30

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/408
Weather: 18degC., dry

After being thankful for the end of the senior team’s preseason, along came an Under-18’s friendly that had all the hallmarks of a top of the table game.

Raynes Park Vale, last season’s Combined Counties Under-18 Champions, provided excellent opposition and Dom Welsh’s Angels needed to fight back from 2-1 down to earn a well-deserved draw.

The Angels’ U18’s fielded a side still short of a couple of what would be considered starting players, at this time of the year, no doubt RPV were similarly short.

After 20 minutes that RPV had slightly edged, Tonbridge went in front after a free kick for the visitors broke down, a defence splitting pass from Felix Waring sent Fin McLeod clear to beat the advancing goalkeeper with a composed finish.

Reuben Etherington brought a good save from the keeper whilst at the other end Toby Edwards turned over a shot from the edge of the box.

Raynes Park Vale equalised on 26 minutes from the spot after the award of a penalty for a foul.

Certainly for the remainder of the half RPV held the lion’s share of the game although just before the break, Adam Larkin saw his shot cleared from the line.

Both sides had second half chances before Raynes took the lead after 68 minutes when they capitalised on a poor defensive clearance with their goalscorer curling a shot into the top corner.

The lead wasn’t to last as the Angels hit back two minutes later when Fiachra Pritchard set up Harry Barton to similarly fire into the top corner with a great finish.

Both sides searched for a winner in the final 20 minutes with the Angels’ best chance falling to Barton, a 15 year-old who impressed from the bench, bringing a good save from the keeper.

A fine evening’s entertainment, belying the perception that preseason is one long trudge.

Tonbridge Angels 1 Margate 0

Match 11/23/2134 - Saturday, 29th July 2023 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Fagg 45
Margate (0) 0
Attendance: 389

Admission: £8
Programme: None
Mileage: 30/370
Weather: 23degC., Warm, brief shower

As I say on this blog at this time every season, the rehearsals have ended and it is time, ready or not, to raise the curtain.

The evidence from this most turgid of friendlies is that, on and off the pitch, most feel the same way. Spectators were distracted, talking among themselves about the issues of the day, as the game in front of them failed to capture their attention. My own perfect example would be that, on the back of a conversation about London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), I missed Tommie Fagg’s 45th minute winner as I was looking up on my phone to see if my friend’s car was exempt from the charge. At least the good news is that it is!

I have more reason than most for being distracted by matters at Tonbridge Angels. I’m not ready yet to go public and might never, but at this moment this is no longer my happy place.

Ahead of next Saturday’s opener at Worthing, overall the Angels look well set. Stefan Payne’s continued absence looks to have offered Fagg the chance to lead the line and his pre-season haul of six goals presses his case.

Opposition at times haven’t quite offered the examinations required, but there’s been glimpses that gives an expectation that the Angels go into the new season stronger than this time last term and therefore with hope that a playoff place is a viable aspiration. But, even the briefest of research tells you that several clubs have made significant investments and that National League South will be more competitive than ever.

But, let the nine months of thrills and spills, elation and despair, victories and defeats, begin.

Staplehurst Monarchs 2 Kennington 0

Match 10/23/2133 - Tuesday, 25th July 2023 - Pre-Season Friendly

Staplehurst Monarchs (2) 2 Gardner 11 Ashton 41
Kennington (0) 1
Headcount: 70

Admission: £2
Programme: None
Mileage: 1/332
Weather: 17degC., dry

The SCEFL gets underway this coming Saturday, therefore this was the winding-up match for preseason at Staplehurst.

I've managed to get to see them twice, both against opposition from the level above, and I believe they are in a good place. Certainly, in this game against Kennington (although I have no idea of the strength of team put out by the visitors) they were by far the better side with the Ashford-based side barely deserving of their added time consolation goal.

The management team at the Jubilee has put together a nice blend of youth and experience with the older heads in the right places, which allows the young guns a licence to use their pace and exuberance to the full.

The SCEFL Division One is never an easy one to call because, unlike the Premier Division, where it is readily identifiable where the.money lies, barring Larkfield and New Hythe, and perhaps Whyteleafe, there are no obvious candidates for this season’s title.

But, with play-offs on the table this season, I would hope that the Hurst can be up and around that top five.

The game was decided in the first half with Mackenzie Gardner’s good finish following a long ball forward after 11 minutes and Dan Ashton’s effort from 15 yards after the ball dropped to him following a cross into the box. Ashton certainly looked a player that will add a lot to Staplehurst this season and there were a couple of youngsters that caught the eye and their development will be watched with interest.

Tonbridge Angels U18 1 Kings Hill 1

Match 9/23/2132 - Monday, 24nd July 2023 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 1 Martin-Coward 28
Kings Hill (0) 1
Headcount: 35

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/331
Weather: 16degC., dry

Due to unavailability, Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s opening friendly at home to Kings Hill's first team morphed into a joint Academy run out as Dom Welsh mixed the two sides.

In a game, ridiculously competitive for a friendly, the youngsters were subjected to a physical test that they are unlikely to experience within their age groups this season. But, they stood up to the challenge, more than deserving of their share of the spoils.

Despite the first chance of the game falling to the Angels, the goalkeeper saving from Fin McLeod, it was the visitors who made the early running with Jay Blake saving a header and another missing the target.

But once the Angels settled their extra pace had the Kings Hill defence struggling with McLeod hitting a post and Hayden Velvick being sent clear but denied by the goalkeeper.

Words out of turn saw goalkeeper Blake sin binned with stand-in skipper Adam Larkin having to sit out the 10 minute penalty whilst Blake was substituted for Toby Edwards.

Leo Vowles showed all the qualities that has taken him into the first team squad with a cross that begged a touch before setting up the opening goal following a corner routine that saw him jink along the by-line before supplying a low cross for Ben Martin-Coward to score from close range after 28 minutes.

With Larkin returning to bring the Angels back to a full complement, the post was struck again this time by Josh McArthur, quickly followed by a header from Velvick that was narrowly wide.

Kings Hill almost went into the break on level terms when a free kick from the edge of the box was well saved by Edwards with the loose ball being shot against a post.

Kings Hill came out with a purpose in the second half and were level within five minutes when the ball was bundled home at the far post and for a while they were the dominant side.

As the half progressed the game became an even contest again but it was the visitors that were offered an opportunity to go in front as they were awarded a penalty following a trip. But the spot kick was missed.

It was the Angels youngsters that finished the stronger as McLeod brought a save from the keeper and then when sent through, a barge in back saw a Kings Hill defender shown a red card. The free kick from the edge of the box sailed over and the referee drew down the curtains on a rather spicy friendly.

Manager Dom Welsh thought his side stood up well to the challenge and played some outstanding football at times.

Tunbridge Wells 4 Eastbourne Town 1

Match 8/23/2131 - Saturday, 22nd July 2023 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tunbridge Wells (2) 4 McCreadie 17,36 Velvick 72 Lewins 81
Eastbourne Town (0) 1
Headcount: 80

Admission: £3
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/293
Weather: 15degC., wet

Pre-season drew to a close for Tunbridge Wells with a comfortable win over Eastbourne Town after a turbulent week that saw the departure of manager, Luke Carpenter.

The ongoing rail dispute saw my trip to Scarborough cancelled which was a great disappointment as these northern games have become the highlight of preseason.

Culverden’s pitch looked superb with the falling rain making it slick. It would be nice to think that I might still be saying the same in November, but we all know its history.

Sadly the club house, burnt out last year, shows no sign of being restored.

With no team sheet or white board and unfamiliar faces, a detailed report is impossible. The Wells played well, but within the context that Eastbourne were pretty poor.

In a difficult preseason, Wells’ fans can take heart that leading goalscorer Trevor McCreadie is still around and his two first half goals gave the home side a deserved first half advantage. After 17 minutes, an exquisite through ball sent him clear to slip his finish past the advancing keeper and on 36 minutes his header from a Rhys Bartlett cross made it two.

On 72 minutes, Angels Academy player, Hayden Velvick converted at the far post from a McCreadie cross after good work from the stand out Billy Lewins, who got his name on the score sheet with a close range goal from a Bartlett cross.

Eastbourne pinched a consolation goal in the last minute.

The SCEFL season starts next Saturday and with the likes of Faversham spending big to gain a quick return to the Isthmian along with others, I don’t think even the most diehard of Wells supporters are expecting their 50-odd year stay at this level to be ended. Whoever takes the reins has a big job on their hands, but where there’s McCreadie there’s hope and if you can’t be blessed with that in July, what’s the point.

Tonbridge Angels 4 Gillingham U21 0

Match 7/23/2131 - Tuesday, 18th July 2023 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (3) 4 Fagg 3 Fielding 14 Soares-Jr 25 Lyons-Foster 50
Gillingham U21 (0) 0
Attendance: 644

Admission: £8
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/255
Weather: 20degC., cooling quickly

Pre-season ploughs on with some degree of frustration. When Charlton Athletic and Gillingham were announced, in good faith, it was presumed that, as EFL clubs, they would arrive with competitive squads but for the second time supporters were left disappointed. Not disappointed with the home side, they did what they had to do and did it well. Supporters of step two, or below, clubs know that EFL clubs no longer send first team squads pre-season but should there not, at least, be a sense of pride to field a team that makes a game of it?

The most frustrating element for me, as a Tonbridge Angels supporter, is that in both games they’ve played well. Partnerships all over the pitch are developing nicely; goals are being scored even without a recognised striker and defensively sound as a bell. But how good are they, because of the weakness of the opposition, how are we to know until we visit Worthing?

On Saturday, at Scarborough, with opposition of similar standing, perhaps a clearer indication might be becoming. Sadly, due to a train strike, I cannot be there to witness.

The evening ahead for Gillingham was set in the opening two minutes when, after 10 seconds, an over-zealous trialist piled into the back of Jamie Fielding followed by two cynical fouls that required the referee to remind the perpetrators of the game’s status. Desperation was already the watchword and for the next 45 minutes the blue shirts (Tonbridge were in their mint away kit) they chased, not particularly successfully, shadows.

Makeshift striker Tommie Fagg put the Angels in front after just three minutes when he turned the ball home at the near post following a right wing cross from the once again impressive Ruben Soares-Junior.

In the Gills goal, Tait Holtam did well, until the 14th minute, when a header from the left hand angle of the six yard box, trickled past him and into the bottom corner.

When Soares-Jr touched home a Lewis Gard right-sided cross for 3-0, a rout looked the only outcome. So perhaps this Gillingham side deserve some credit that this was avoided, albeit with the help of the woodwork four times.

After five second half minutes, defender Kodi Lyons-Foster showed some nimble footwork to create a yard of space and slot the ball home from eight yards for 4-0 but, from that point, multiple substitutions disrupted the flow of the game.

Following last week’s 800-odd against Charlton, the feel good factor surrounding Tonbridge Angels continued with another 644 attending despite the knowledge that Gillingham’s first team were entertaining Charlton at Priestfield.

The phoney war’s conclusion is fast approaching, unlike Saturday morning’s train to Scarborough.

Staplehurst Monarchs 1 Tunbridge Wells 1

Match 6/23/2130 - Saturday, 15th July 2023 - Pre-Season Friendly

Staplehurst Monarchs (0) 1 Latunde 84
Tunbridge Wells (0) 1 Trialist 47
Headcount: 70

Admission: £2
Programme: None
Mileage: 1/217
Weather: 20degC., windy

Tonbridge Angels 5 Charlton Athletic U21 1

Match 5/23/2129 - Tuesday, 11th July 2023 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (1) 5 Boachie 26 Soares-Jr 57,75 (pen) Fagg 69,85
Charlton Athletic U21 (0) 1 Viggers 47
Attendance: 833

Admission: £8
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/216
Weather: 17degC., cooled to the point that I wished a coat

Four pre-season games in and you start to see a pattern of team selection and have your own thoughts on who might make up the starting XI come 5th August and then along comes some individual performances within a great team performance that absolutely blow those thoughts out of the water!

Let’s not get carried away, this was a younger Charlton Athletic side than their Under-21 billing suggests but for 45 minutes they remained competitive with Jeremy Santos, given the warmest of welcomes, still drifting around the Longmead midfield with a purpose.

I had nine names in my thoughts, possibly 10 as Ruben Soares-Junior enjoys a productive pre-season, with just the man up front open to question. But then Tommy Fagg produces a performance that shouted to his manager, “don’t forget me”; and in midfield where Lewis Gard and Scott Wagstaff sat out the first half, there was Johl Powell making his point and further forward, Nathan Green, also giving due notice that he doesn’t want loan spells away this coming season.

It was massively encouraging, as was an attendance of 833, that, you can guess, came along principally to see Tonbridge, as there had been no pretence that this would be anything other than an age group Charlton side, especially as Addicks fans would have known that their first team is presently in Spain.

Jay Saunders side were not only good, they were very good! Barring a couple of lapses of concentration at the back with wayward passes, they played with a flair that was very pleasing on the eye.

After 26 competitive minutes the Angels went in front as Soares-Jr weaved his way towards the right-hand bye-line to cross short to the new post from where Joe Boachie, another staking a claim, found the net with a cheeky back heel.

This was followed, just two minutes later, with Fagg hitting the bar from 20 yards.

Charlton fashioned an equaliser within two minutes of the restart through Ryan Viggers but from that moment on, the home side took control of the game and never loosened their grip.

On 57 minutes, a right hand corner saw a towering header at the near post from Jamie Fielding come back off the crossbar for Soares-Jr to stab home from close range.

Fagg got the goal he deserved on 69 minutes when a cross from Gianni Crichlow was nodded in at the far post and six minutes later when a panicked Charlton hand in the box led to a penalty, up stepped Soares-Jr with the confidence to Panenka the goalkeeper.

After Fagg hit the post a second time, the game was wrapped up with five minutes to play when the makeshift striker scored with a spectacular near post header from a Crichlow cross after some good work from the Academy’s Hayden Velvick.

Proof is that with three friendlies yet to be played, no one in the squad can rest assured of their place at Worthing.

Tonbridge Angels 1 Stansfeld 1

Match 4/23/2128 - Monday, 10th July 2023 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Payne 39
Stansfeld (1) 1 Parkinson (pen) 24
Est. attendance: 150

Admission: Free Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/178
Weather: 23degC., cooling

This pre-season friendly against Southern Counties East (Step 5) club Stansfeld offered the opportunity to blood Academy players alongside several trialists in a competitive game.

Assistant Manager Tom Parkinson said after the game: “That was a good exercise. It was good to see some academy players, who we are looking to get out on loan, and see how they fare against a step 5 team, and it was good to see a couple of trialists. Stansfeld are good, physical, and they’ll be challenging near the top and that’s the level we’ll be looking to get some of these boys out to.”

The Angels made most of the early running with the Stansfeld goalkeeper, Charlie Cottrell, excelling, especially in the fourth minute when he first saved a Joe Tyrie header but also managed to repel two further efforts on goal from the resulting melee in front of goal.

The only senior Angels player on show, Stefan Payne getting some valuable minutes, brought good saves from Cottrell before ex-Angels leading goalscorer, Ben Hermitage brought a smart save out of his former team mate, Nat Gibb.

Stansfeld were gaining a foothold in the game when they went ahead on 24 minutes when Macey Malyon was brought down by a trialist which allowed Dan Parkinson to send Gibb the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Payne saw a free kick from the edge of the box go narrowly wide and was also denied by Cottrell with a near post save before equalising on 39 minutes. A through ball was brilliantly dummied by Hayden Velvick who allowed the ball to run on to Payne, who produced a composed finish past the advancing goalkeeper.

The referee brought the first half to a close a few minutes early as Stansfeld’s Parkinson sustained a nasty head injury.

Second half substitutions included an appearance for Ned Lewis, ex-Academy striker who has been on a scholarship at Harcum College in Pennsylvania.

On the hour a multitude of substitutions were made with several Academy players and a couple of Isthmian League Under-18’s entering the fray, including goalkeeper Jay Blake, who last season played Under-16’s Kent Youth League for the Angels.



The game remained competitive with a trialist hitting the post for Tonbridge on 55 minutes, whilst the woodwork also denied a goal for former Angels’ favourite Tommy Whitnell.

Picture: Dave Couldridge

Tonbridge Angels 0 Ebbsfleet United 1

Match 3/23/2127 - Friday, 7th July 2023 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Ebbsfleet United (1) 1 Wright (pen) 34
Attendance: 495

Admission: £8 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/140
Weather: 26degC. Very hot day, barely cooling

The Angels produced a competitive performance against their newly-promoted National League visitors, Ebbsfleet United, but fell to a narrow defeat courtesy of a first half penalty.

A very hot day had only fallen off by a couple of degrees by kick off time as Tonbridge paraded for the first time their new Hope+Glory supplied kit.

The starting XI was: Henly, Hinds, Lyons-Foster, Swift, Fielding, Wagstaff, Higgs, Gard, Soares-Jr, Tommy Wood, Turner and this group played for the first hour of the game.

Ebbsfleet paid their hosts the compliment of fielding a strong squad and the early stages of the game was played mostly in the middle of the pitch with very few chances created.

On 33 minutes, Jonny Henly made the first real save of the match, saving at his near post, a well struck shot from Greg Cundle.

A minute later, Ebbsfleet were awarded a penalty as Shaq Coulthirst cut across the face of Ruben Soares-Junior and fell to the ground with the referee pointing immediately to the spot. Josh Wright converted from the spot sending Henly the wrong way.

The Angels almost replied within a minute with the Fleet goalkeeper, Mark Cousins, saving well from Soares-Jr and then turning over a Ben Swift header from the resultant corner.

With a couple of minutes to go before the break Henly saved well from Coulthirst and at the other end, Cousins made a great save to deny the Angels’ skipper, Scott Wagstaff.

Whilst Tonbridge made a good start to the second period, the best of the chances fell to the visitors with Henly saving well from Cundle, quickly followed by David Amoo striking a post.

On the hour, both sides made mass substitutions with Parkinson, Powell, Boachie, Nathan Wood and a trialist coming on for the Angels and followed within five minutes by the introduction of Fagg and new signing, Stefan Payne.

Nathan Wood had the ball in the net on 64 minutes but the fans cheers were cut short by a rather late linesman’s flag.

Although the Angels pushed hard to the end, with a couple of free kicks clearing the bar, they couldn’t find a way through the Ebbsfleet defence to find an equaliser.

Despite the defeat, Jay Saunders was pleased with the performance, commenting after the game: “We got a lot out of it. The tempo was good, it was a different test to what we have had and that is what we want.”

Folkestone Invicta 0 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 2/23/2126 - Tuesday, 4th July 2023 - Pre-Season Friendly

Folkestone Invicta (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Soares-Jr 57
Attendance: 342

Admission: £3 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 64/102
Weather: 16degC. Torrential rain

The rain that had pounded Wimbledon’s Centre Court roof so loudly that through the TV you could not hear the ball hitting the racket duly arrived at Folkestone Invicta just prior to kick off and it fell in monsoon proportions.

Credit must go to the Folkestone ground staff who had prepared a pitch that was just about the best that its been in recent visits and one that despite an obvious amount of standing water survived not just the 20 minutes that some of us envisaged but a full length game.

And, to be fair, for a pre-season friendly, it was a decent watch.

From a Tonbridge Angels point of view, there were extra minutes added from Saturday’s opener at Rusthall. The starting eleven progressed to the hour mark to be replaced with a first look at Joe Boachie, who looked lively and a clutch of Academy lads, none of which looking out of place.

Ruben Soares-Junior over the two games has looked like a player that is saying to his gaffer, I want to play my football for you this season, not out on loan. He was a constant threat and a spectacular overhead kick that took a deflection to loop it over the goalkeeper proved to be the winner. Technically, it was perhaps an own goal, I’m taking the moral high ground and awarding it to RSJ.

During the first half, the best of the chances fell to the home side with Ira Jackson forcing Jonny Henly into a 11th minute save and a free kick from the edge of the box that was touched over by the Angels’ keeper.

The second half saw more attacking intent from Tonbridge and following Soares-Junior’s goal on 58 minutes, Boachie won a penalty on 70 minutes, but Joe Turner’s driven shot from the spot crashed down from the underside of the bar and to safety.

Pre-season games are never remembered for too long but at least the weather will have registered itself in the memory for a while.

Rusthall 0 Tonbridge Angels 3

Match 1/23/2125 - Saturday, 1st July 2023 - Pre-Season Friendly

Rusthall (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (1) 3 T. Wood 45 Soares-Jr 57 Fielding 81
Attendance: 342

Admission: £3 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/38
Weather: 21degC. Warm sunshine with some cloud

Season 2023/24, an 18th for That’ll Be The Day, is underway. A season that, if all goes to plan, is going to be arduous in terms of travelling, so it was good to get a nice, gentle opener at Rusthall.

The SCEFL club were good enough to step forward when Dulwich Hamlet threw their toys out of the pram and cancelled a fixture.

The game was what you expect from the opening of preseason, a few trialists; new players finding their feet and a few Academy lads thrown in to get some first team minutes.

As you would hope, Tonbridge dominated the proceedings but had to make do with a single goal lead at the break with Tommy Wood converting a Joe Turner cross with a shot that went through the goalkeeper.

Ruben Soares-Junior rode a couple of challenges, after being sent on his way by Chester Smith, to bury a shot into the bottom corner.

Jamie Fielding wrapped up proceedings with a goal, nine minutes from time, fastening on to a half clearance to score.

A minute later, Hayden Velvick struck a post after rounding the keeper, and Rusthall had a couple of late chances that gave Nat Gibb an opportunity to excel.

The Ashes is only a Test old; Wimbledon is yet to happen, but football is back! I’m not complaining!