Dagenham & Redbridge 2 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 15/25/2358 - Tuesday, 19th August 2025 - National League South

Dagenham & Redbridge (2) 2 Wilson 10 Hemmings (pen) 16
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Warren 37 Allen 67
Attendance: 1,523
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 110/989

Tonbridge Angels produced a stunning comeback to secure a well-deserved point at Dagenham and Redbridge on a thrilling evening at Victoria Road.

Undeservedly two goals down after 16 minutes after a bright start, Craig Nelson’s team took the game to their illustrious opposition and a screamer from Matthew Warren and second half finish from Alfie Allen brought delight and appreciation to 178 travelling Angels supporters, who had given their team immense support throughout.

Craig Nelson reflected in his post-match interview: “We worked hard, we ran, we made a lot more forward runs to put them under pressure and we got our just rewards for it. We played really well in patches, particularly in the first half, in the latter part of that half we really grew and if we could have nicked another one, it would have made the second half really spicy.”

Craig made four changes to the starting XI well beaten at AFC Totton with Eddie Simon returning to partner Marcell Taylor-Crossdale up top; Allen and Warren were drafted into midfield with Nazir Bakrin added to the back line. Scott Wagstaff, Brandon Pierrick, Marcus Sablier and Jack Matton took places on the bench.

Tonbridge showed their attacking intent from the outset with Eddie Simon curling a low shot from the left side of the box into the welcoming arms of the Dagenham goalkeeper, Sam Howes.

The momentum was still with the Angels when they went a goal down on 10 minutes. A surging run down the right from Reggie Young took him to the bye-line from where he pulled the ball back for Donovan Wilson who had made space in the box to allow him a smart finish into the bottom corner.

The lead was doubled on 16 minutes, when a run into the box from Joe Haigh was stalled and as the ball ran loose, Ashley Hemming went down under a challenge from Bradley Williams leaving referee Morgan Conn to point to the spot. Hemmings despatched his penalty to leave the Angels with an uphill task.

There was an almost immediate response as Brody Peart cut in from the right to curl a shot that struck the far post, but, for a 10 minute period, the visitors were hanging on to the game by a thread, mainly due to fine goalkeeping from Jacob Adams who saved from Haigh and turned over an effort from Paul Kalambiyi with an acrobatic save.

Another Peart cross, who was enjoying himself down the right brought a deflection from a defender under pressure from Taylor-Crossdale on 33 minutes before a magic moment from Warren cut the deficit to a single goal four minutes later. The ball was fed into midfield from Taylor-Crossdale into the path of Warren, who took aim from 25 yards with a shot that found the top corner.

The half-time break didn’t come at a great time for the Angels as they were ending the half with all the momentum forcing Howes into an added time save.

The second half began with Taylor-Crossdale again testing Howes, who made a very decent save.

On the hour, Adams needed to be alert to save from Kalambiyi before, on 67 minutes time almost appeared to stand still for an agonising moment. Jordan Higgs fired a shot towards goal that took a deflection off Simon, who challenged for the ball with the goalkeeper and a defender as as the ball broke loose Allen was on hand to loft his shot over Howes, whose hand slowed the ball but wasn’t enough to stop its path into the unguarded net.

Dagenham needed a response with their own supporters becoming frustrated and Adams saved well after79 minutes, but the home side’s efforts were mainly desperate going either wide or high and the final act saw a chance for substitute Wagstaff that drifted wide.

A memorable evening in the east end of London was brought to an end to rapturous appreciation from the Angels faithful, who had been truly magnificent.

Tonbridge Angels U18 2 Three Bridges U18 2

Match 14/25/2357 - Monday, 18th August 2025 - Isthmian Youth League

Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 2 Barton 77 Hunt 90+6
Three Bridges U18 (2) 2 Byrne 19 Hayden-Pickering 39
Attendance: 56
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/879

It was Tonbridge Angels Jimmy Glass moment* (which for an Under-18 side is way beyond the dim and distant past).

The Angels U18’s had fought hard for an equaliser that appeared out of their reach as they earned a 96th minute corner. With nothing to lose, up came goalkeeper Jacob Hunt to add another body into the mix. The ball fell into a melee of bodies but was finally at the feet of Hunt who stabbed it home from six yards to spark joyous celebrations.

Dominic Welsh, who was short of four regular starters from which to choose his first competitive team of the season, commented after the game: “We were poor at times and not on the right side of some questionable decisions, but we regrouped and changed formation to suit the personnel we had. It was a game of two halves but it was just a little chaotic!”

It was a point that seemed highly unlikely as the visitors, Three Bridges, dominated the opening half and went into the break with a deserved two goal advantage.

Three Bridges were on the front foot from the outset and took the lead on 19 minutes. Hunt had made a great save, low to his right, pushing the ball away for a corner. But the reprieve was short lived as from the resultant corner, central defender Zak Byrne rose highest to head home.

The visitors doubled their advantage from the penalty spot on 39 minutes after a foul that allowed Connor Hayden-Pickering to strike the ball into the roof of the net, giving Hunt no chance.

The Angels, obviously responding to a flea in the ear during the break, had a more positive mindset in the second period with Kyler Barton seeing a shot deflected over the bar and Ashton Lucas frustrated by the Three Bridges goalkeeper.

Barton finally got just rewards for his endeavour as a fine through ball sent him clear to beat the advancing goalkeeper.

Three Bridges had chances to put the game to bed before Hunt’s heroics brought the game to its dramatic conclusion.

*Jimmy Glass scored an injury time goal for Carlisle United against Plymouth in 1999 that kept his side in the Football League.

AFC Totton 3 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 13/25/2356 - Saturday, 16th August 2025 - National League South

AFC Totton (1) 3 Lee 41,50 Kasimu
Tonbridgge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 1,006
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 250/841
New Ground: 392

Tonbridge Angels had a disappointing first day on the road as they were soundly beaten by AFC Totton.

The home side celebrated their first ever home game in National League South and their success took them to pole position in the embryonic league table.

Craig Nelson responding to the question of accepting losing to the better team: “No, not at all. We didn’t make them work hard enough to score against us, but fair play they have taken their opportunities. But we didn’t do enough in front of their goal to warrant any points out of the game.”

It was a warm, sultry afternoon down in the New Forest and Craig Nelson made two changes from his opening day starting XI against Slough Town. Eddie Simon was unavailable so Martell Crossdale-Taylor was brought in to lead the line meanwhile Jack Matton started in the back line with Matthew Warren on the bench.

The first half was one of stalemate with neither side creating much in the way of clear cut chances, although the home side were dominant in terms of possession, until the 41st minute when a cross from the right from Ash Clarke found the head of Tony Lee who directed back across goal and into the opposite bottom corner.

The second period opened brighter for the Angels with Brody Peart bringing a low save out of Ryan Gosney in the first minute but, immediately after, Jacob Adams was making a similar save at the other end to deny Clarke.

Totton doubled their advantage after 50 minutes when a free kick was hooked backwards by Clarke for Lee to hit a glorious volley while the visitors appealed for offside in vain.

Tonbridge sought a way back into the game with Peart seeing a cross deflected over the bar; a Jack Matton effort that was also deflected over and after good pass from Marcus Sablier that ended with Scott Wagstaff being denied at his feet by Gosney, the ball switched to the other end for substitute Hisham Kasimu to convert an easy chance to make Totton’s historic day complete.

Tonbridge Angels U18 6 Staplehurst Monarchs 1

Match 12/25/2355 - Monday, 11th August 2025 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 6 Richardson 42,63 Lucas 70 Trialist 77 Bingham 82,90
Staplehurst Monarchs U23 (0) 1 49
Attendance: 36
Admission: Free
Mileage: 38/591

Tonbridge Angels 0 Slough Town 0

Match 11/25/2354 - Saturday, 9th August 2025 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Slough Town (0) 0
Attendance: 1,061
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/553

A banner unfurled by young supporters in front of the North Stand said it all, A New Era Begins.

Craig Nelson said of the atmosphere: “It was excellent, the young fans told me a couple of weeks ago that they were doing something for me and it was really breathtaking. I didn’t expect it, they wanted to celebrate a new beginning. I was really honoured and proud to step out and manage our first game, it was really humbling.”

It was a hot afternoon that greeted Pitts’ first competitive fixture, hot enough to warrant water breaks in each half, and an attendance in excess of four figures arrived with all the expectation that a new season brings.

Ultimately, the goalless draw against Slough Town might not have been the desired result but a resolute performance at the back brought a point against a side that were dominant in the match for long periods.

“Taking the positives out of the game, we were very good defensively, we didn’t fold under the pressure and we didn’t concede. So, a point and a clean sheet is something to build on, but none of the boys will be happy with the performance,” remarked Craig in his post-match interview.

Tonbridge began the game brightly with a move down the left side between Brandon Pierrick and Scott Wagstaff that opened up a sniff of a chance for Eddie Simon that was smothered.

Following the early raid on their goal, Slough settled into the game and, on six minutes, Jared Myers got free down the right and his shot across the face of goal rebounded off the far post. Three minutes later, the right hand post was also struck as Myers, a handful throughout the first half, pulled a pass back for ex-Angel Jordan Greenidge to find the woodwork from close range.

The visitors were dominating with Reiss Greenidge heading over from a corner before the first half drinks break brought an opportunity for Craig Nelson to get some instruction into his team and this almost brought instant reward as a fine move involving Marcus Sablier and Brody Peart ended with a Simon shot that was repelled by a Slough block with Jordan Higgs firing over the rebound.

Peart was now emerging as the Angels most dangerous outlet and another surge down the right and a laid back pass for Matt Warren whose cross was comfortably collected by Adam Desbois.

The visitors regained the momentum in the closing moment of the half with Jordan Greenidge tamely shooting at Jacob Adams, who calmly held on to the effort.

The half-time break saw the Angels with significantly more forward momentum but it remained Slough that were creating the better chances, no more so than just past the hour, when Jordan Greenidge fed with a pass from his brother Reiss, found himself at the near post, six yards out with only Adams to beat but he didn’t ask a question of the keeper as he shot wide.

Adams was asked a serious question though, on 69 minutes, when Jaiden Drakes-Thomas unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box that was pushed to safety with a superb low save.

Perhaps it was the heat, perhaps the desire of both sides to avoid an opening day defeat, but the game rather petered out in the last 20 minutes that also brought the usual cluster of substitutions.

Craig reflected: “The boys did well in the second half, nullified their threats but we just needed to be better on the ball. If we were, we got into some nice spaces but that final bit of detail was just missing today. So if we get that right, there are loads of positives to take out of that because the boys are in the right areas, now it is just about the quality in those moments.”

Tonbridge Angels 1 Kingstonian 0

Match 10/25/2353 - Saturday, 2nd August 2025 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Higgs 29
Kingstonian (0) 0
Attendance: 311
Admission: £7
Mileage: 38/515

Tonbridge Angels ended their pre-season campaign with a single goal win against Kingstonian at the Yeomans Community Stadium.

A Jordan Higgs goal, on 29 minutes, proved enough but the Angels will reflect on a total of 17 attempts on goal that should have brought a greater margin of victory.

Much speculation among the attendance of 311 would have been around how close to next Saturday’s opening National League South line-up was Craig Nelson’s starting XI, for that we have to wait and see, but the first half brought a fluent performance that only lacked better finishing.

In the sixth minute, Kingstonian’s goalkeeper Liam Allen was pressed into action saving from Brody Peart and within seconds he was denying Brandon Pierrick, who had been set up by a sublime flick from Marcus Sablier.

When twice in the space of three minutes the ball smacked against an upright, it started to become clear how the afternoon would unfold. An 11th minute free kick from Bailey Akehurst hit the right hand post and, after a great interchange between the Wagstaff and Peart, the latter’s effort struck the left hand woodwork.

The chances continued to come and go before the Angels finally opened the scoring when Sablier lofted a ball forward for Higgs to run onto and despatch into the bottom corner.

The home side continued to dominate, creating chances almost at will, whilst in the Angels goal, Jacob Adams was barely troubled. With Peart giving his marker a torrid time down the right further opportunities fell to Higgs, Sablier and a Bradley Williams header from a corner but, at the break, the single goal lead remained.

Mass substitutions, and a marked improvement from Kingstonian, saw some of the momentum of the opening half diminish but Peart continued to create havoc bringing another good save from Allen.

Bumni Babajide was through on goal after 70 minutes but Allen was equal to his effort deflecting the ball to safety and, five minutes later, the Angels suffered a big scare when a free kick lofted into the area brought a scramble and couple of blocked shots.

So, chances aplenty but only one goal that proved enough, Craig Nelson said of the performance in his post-match interview: “I’m really happy with the way the boys applied themselves, particularly in the first half they were excellent. They’ve learnt a lot in pre-season and it is starting to come together. I wouldn’t say I was disappointed that we didn’t score more goals, but it will come. They are in the right areas, doing the right things and replicating what we have asked them. But we could have had a couple more for sure and put the game to bed.”

Tonbridge Angels 2 Lewes 1

Match 9/25/2352 - Tuesday, 29th July 2025 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 Babajide 7 Unwin 41
Lewes (1) 1 Asiedu 1
Attendance: 249
Admission: £10
Mileage: 38/477

Tonbridge Angels got back to winning ways at the Yeomans Community Stadium on Tuesday with a 2-1 win over Craig Nelson’s ex-charges, Lewes.

Looking to end a three game spell without a pre-season win, the Angels got off to an inauspicious start going behind in just 47 seconds to a cross-cum-shot from Clement Asiedu, that somehow nestled into the net to the bemusement of everybody from goalkeeper, Jacob Adams to the gathered attendance. The home side hit back lead at half-time with goals from Bunmi Babajide and Bobby Unwin.

Craig reflected on the performance: “The win was important for the team, they want to win every game but it meant a little bit more because of recent performances. After the start and the goal, they didn’t drop their heads.”

On a coolish evening, the manager shuffled his pack to give some extended minutes to some of his squad including formerly unnamed trialists, Antonio Morgan, Ben Mundele and Jamie Watson.

After the initial first minute shock, lightning very near struck twice as another cross-cum-shot from Ryan Berdal this time nestled on the top of Adams’ goal.

Tonbridge settled into the game and were level on seven minutes when a driving run from Morgan was rewarded when his cross was laid back by Unwin for Babajide to turn home from around eight yards.

Unwin was involved again, two minutes later, when his cushioned header fell at the feet of Academy player, Mackenzie Richardson, but the youngster’s shot cleared the bar.

Lewes were playing some decent football themselves and Mundele had to be at his best with a saving challenge and ex-Angels youth team player, Devonte West saw his shot narrowly go narrowly over the bar.

Tonbridge took a deserved lead into the break with a goal after 41 minutes. A corner led to an initial shot being blocked with the rebound falling to Unwin who finished nicely with a shot in, off the far post.

The home side dominated the second period without adding to the scoreline, but not without trying as an effort from Eddie Simon, from around 25 yards, smacked against the crossbar. A well-worked interchange between Brandon Pierrick and Simon ended with the goalkeeper smothered the former’s shot and a late header from Simon that went over the bar.

Craig reflected in his post-match interview: “We need to be better when we’ve got the ball and that will allow us to get a foothold in the game. We have had a defensive unit week, that’s what we have been working on and we limited them to next to nothing in terms of chances.”