Dulwich Hamlet 1 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 74/22/2081 - Saturday, 11th February 2023 - National League South

Dulwich Hamlet (0) 1 Owusu 87
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Greenidge 37 Turner 81
Attendnace: 2,961

Admission: Pass
Programme: Not purchased
Mileage: 90/4,988

The seasonal away fixture at Dulwich Hamlet has become an event that is looked forward to by Tonbridge supporters in recent times.

Yes, we enjoy our banter with the hipster supporters that seemingly have very interest in what goes on on the other side of the pitch perimeter fencing; we deride the craft beer and expensive street food whilst the majority partake in some form, especially as the awkwardness of the drive and parking means most allow the train to take the strain. But, most of all, in recent seasons this has become a happy hunting ground.

The support that Dulwich continue to command is nothing short of amazing, if only because on this particular viewing, they are watching the worst Dulwich side that I can remember. Jonny Henly was, for the most part, a virtual spectator as the Angels eased to what should have been a far more comfortable win, whilst being short of their own best.

Jordan Greenidge’s midweek re-signing on loan to the end of the season brought him back into the starting XI along with Devonte Aransibia for Ruben Soares-Junior and Bivesh Gurung who dropped to the bench.

The Angels took charge of the game from the outset without overly threatening the home goalkeeper whilst Joe Felix brought a comfortable save from Henly.

Tonbridge proceeded to dominate the game completely, forcing a number of corners, that came to nothing, with Joe Turner leading the home defence a merry dance .

Just after the half-hour mark, Turner had a shot that was beaten away by Charlie Grainger and he was instrumental in the Angels taking a 37th minute lead. After dispossessing Quade Taylor, he strode forward to deliver an inch-perfect cross for Greenidge to smash into the roof of the net from close range at the near post. It was the big man’s 12th goal for the Angels in just 13 games.

Tonbridge might have gone two-up just before the break, and it would have been no more than they deserved, when Tommie Fagg met a Lewis Gard corner with a firm header but it was cleared from the line.

The second half progressed in much the same manner as the first with Fagg heading over and a shot from Tariq Hinds that was parried away by Grainger.

The only real surprise was that it took until nine minutes from time for the Angels to seemingly put the game to bed when Turner cut in from the right to fire in a shot that took a heavy deflection that wrong-footed Grainger.

So it was frustrating when the home side pulled a goal back in the 86th minute that led to a nervy last 10 minutes including time-added. A low cross in from the right was met at the far post by Nana Owusu, who had a tap-in but the game was seen out with little alarm.

The magic 45 points is safely passed before Valentine’s Day and with the Angels sitting just a point off the play-off places, we are about to enter into a period where, perhaps, the club’s ambition might be tested. That ambition, especially with the Greenidge signing, cannot be questioned at the present time but it might need further signings to make a serious assault on the top seven. This could become very interesting!

Dulwich Hamlet 1 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 127/21/1991 - Monday, 18th April 2022 - National League South

Dulwich Hamlet (0) 1 Mills 90+2
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Olutade 36
Attendance: 2,563
Admission: £5.40
Programme: Not purchased
Mileage: 90/7,344

Inching their way to safety, Tonbridge Angels earned a good point at Dulwich Hamlet, but should have had all three which would have put Billericay and Welling United at a distance that would be almost impossible to breach.

A 92nd minute equaliser for 10 men Dulwich denied the Angels who had missed two glorious chances to put the game to bed.

As usual at Champion Hill, there was a mixture of the weird and wonderful. Over 2,500 in the ground should produce an atmosphere, but that of a football ground not a pub garden. It has been said many times before but it is still a mystery how so many people can pay £12 to gather in groups showing virtual disinterest in the entertainment put in front of them. I do feel sad for the genuine Hamlet supporters who try to support their club with this side show going on around them.

For a team still with play-off pretensions, Dulwich for the most part did very little to capture the attention of their “fans”.

On a warm afternoon, Steve McKimm shuffled his pack following Good Friday’s disappointment. Tommy Wood is injured and Ibrahim Olutade came in for him with Doug Loft, Aaron Smith-Joseph, Ricky Modeste and Jamie Fielding returning to the starting eleven.

Tonbridge started on the front foot and for the vast majority of the game that’s where they stayed which is the reason for such frustration but for both sides the first half hour was a tale of over hit or under hit crosses that barely tested either goalkeeper.

Tonbridge opened the scoring after 36 minutes when Smith-Joseph got in a cross to the near post from where Olutade got in front of defenders to steer the ball home.

Olutade was having some joy with his channel runs, breaking the offside trap, forcing Grainger into a save on 53 minutes before three minutes later he got clear once more only for Ronnie Vint to pull him back on the edge of the box, leaving the referee with no alternative but to show the Dulwich defender the red card.

The man advantage was no immediate help as Jonny Henly was needed to produce a brilliant save to turn over a close range header.

The first of two gilt edged chances to put the game to bed came on 70 minutes when a superb cross from Modeste found the head of Olutade but he headed over when it seemed easier to score and when Turner also missed a header from a similar spot, alarm bells rang clear that these chances would come back to haunt us.

Some credit should be afforded to Dulwich, who despite their disadvantage in terms of personnel threw everything forward in the last five minutes plus stoppage time in search of an equaliser and keeping their feint play-off chances alive.

Henly made another superb save with three minutes remaining but, into the second minute of five added, a corner to Dulwich was met with a firm header from Danny Mills, and even some of the pub garden party celebrated.

One last half-chance fell the way of Angels’ substitute James Taylor, but he dragged his shot wide. Results at Chelmsford and Welling confirmed that this was a point won, but too many, it seemed like two lost.

Dulwich Hamlet 0 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 77/19/1799 - Saturday, 29th February 2020 - National League South

Dulwich Hamlet (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Turner 86
Attendance: 2,663

Admission: Free
Programme: £3
Mileage: 90/6,035

Football has the marvellous ability to rise above the shit that surrounds it and after a week of heartache there was a glimpse of light at the end of a very black tunnel.

Tonbridge’s pitch problems have been widely reported and there would not have been a single person among their supporters that had not put two and two together and realised that a club that had virtually no income from home matches would be struggling to make ends meet.

A frank statement from the chairman, Dave Netherstreet had spelt out the perilous position the club faced and a plea for help to its owners as a community club and supporters had been made, and thankfully had brought some instant results in terms of cash both received and pledged.

It was almost ironic that the following game would be a trip to Dulwich Hamlet, a club that has had to pass around the bucket themselves on previous occasions.

The elements also served up their own reminder as Storm Jorge produced a howling gale, squally showers, a bit of hale topped off with a glimpse of sunshine.

In National League South terms an absolutely massive crowd had assembled with the Dulwich hipsters a vision of perpetual motion as they wandered to and fro the bars, their hands full of craft beer and expensive, a la carte burgers.

Nobody could dress the game up as a classic, the elements did not allow that, but Tonbridge supporters were sent home with an 86th minute winner when Joe Turner buried a shot into the bottom corner. Tonbridge fans greeted the goal and final whistle with delirium whilst the Dulwich hipsters barely shrugged a shoulder and went back to the bar for another round, so everybody went home happy!

It was a brief moment of happiness, no doubt a pitch inspection on Tuesday will signal yet another postponement and reality will kick in once more. But, on the pitch, with virtually every game being played away from home, Steve McKimm has moulded a side that is resilient and is putting enough points on the table to put National League safety not too far away.

Dulwich Hamlet 3 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 35/18/1628 - Saturday, 22nd September 2018 - FA Cup 2QR

Dulwich Hamlet (2) 3 Ferguson 35 Green 44 Akinyemi 87
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Miles 53
Attendance: 569
Played at Tooting & Mitcham FC

Admission: £5 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 110/2,088

I felt nothing but a sense of injustice walking away from Imperial Fields after another season’s FA Cup ended in despair.

It seems a fait acompli that every season the Gods turn against Tonbridge as this competition unfolds.

National South Dulwich Hamlet, even at their adopted home, was always a poor draw but for large periods of the game, the visitors were the better side.

The game turned in the favour of Dulwich in a two minute period just prior to half-time when not only did the home double their advantage with a disputed goal but Tonbridge Angels were reduced to 10 men when the referee decided that the aggrieved James Folkes had offered a comment too far.

The Angels’ 10 men strove every sinew to rescue the game in the second period and can walk away from the game with a great amount of pride.

Tonbridge started the game with the confidence borne from their league form and were inches away from a seventh minute lead when Adem Ramadan’s pass across the face of the goal eluded Joe Turner by the said inches.

Preston Edwards in the Dulwich goal was tested by Tommy Whitnell and Turner before ex-Angel Nathan Green forced Jonny Henly into his first save, low to his left.

On the half-hour a good interchange between Alex Read and Whitnell ended with Preston deflecting the ball for a corner with his feet. From the resultant corner, Tommy Parkinson’s headed effort only found the hands of Edwards.

After 34 minutes, Dulwich carved out their best chance with Henly making a fine stop at his near post to deny another ex-Angel Jay May. But the resultant corner found Nathan Ferguson making a late, unchallenged run into the box and his powerful header gave Henly no chance.

Tonbridge nearly benefited from May inadvertently directing the ball towards his own net but Edwards reacted well to palm the ball to safety.

The controversial, and defining, moment of the game came with a minute of the half remaining when a ball into the box was about to be cleared by Folkes when May slid in, felling the Tonbridge full back with the ball running loose to Green who had a relatively easy finish.

The visitors were naturally aggrieved with the decision not to award a free kick and, in the confusion, a red card was shown to Folkes for foul language.

Manager Steve McKimm reacted during the break by withdrawing Ramadan in favour of defender Liam Smith.

Tonbridge were not about to roll over and bow out of the FA Cup with a whimper despite their adversity and were quickly back in the game after 53 minutes when a corner from Turner fell at the feet of Sonny Miles who finished sharply into the bottom corner with the deftness of a proven striker.

With their tails up, and with little to lose, McKimm introduced Jared Small for Craig Stone for more forward momentum.

Tonbridge created chances and the Dulwich defence looked nervy as a ricochet off Turner saw the ball looping towards the goal for Edwards to save and headed chances for Smith and Parkinson were wide of the target.

Hearts went into mouths as Ifeanyi Allen went to ground in the area but as the referee appeared to point towards the spot he actually booked the Dulwich substitute for simulation.

Tonbridge continued to search for the goal to take the tie back to Longmed but were always in danger of getting caught on the break and Miles needed to be at his defensive best to clear after Henly had parried a Nyren Clunis effort.

But the inevitable was about to happen and from a Tonbridge attack the ball was swept downfield and a cross from the right was met with a tap-in for Dipo Akinyemi for seal the game for Dulwich Hamlet.

Henly made saves in added time from Gavin Tomlin and Akinyemi to prevent the scoreline from becoming even more flattering that it already was.

A sense of injustice doesn’t see Tonbridge’s name in the hat for the next round, time to file it away and return to the task of maintaining their position at the head of Bostik Premier.

Dulwich Hamlet 1 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 117/17/1567 - Tuesday, 10th April 2018 - Bostik Premier

Dulwich Hamlet (0) 1 Green 90+5
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Akrofi 42 Bantick 45+3
Attendance: 581
Played at Tooting and Mitcham

Admission: £5 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 104/7,935

In a glorious example of Tonbridge’s ability to be consistently inconsistent they placed one of Glenn Tamplin’s loathsome hands on the Bostik title with a surprise, but well-deserved, win at Imperial Fields, home of Tooting and Mitcham and the temporary residence of Dulwich Hamlet.

Whilst Dulwich, with a heavy schedule to complete, had a bench that included Ashley Carew, Ricky Hayles and Gavin Tomlin, Tonbridge had to make do with a couple of Under-21s and a name slightly older than that, the Gaffer, Steve McKimm.

Tonbridge started brightly with Nathan Elder’s first minute header comfortably saved by a nervous-looking goalkeeper, Amadou Tangara.

Dulwich had their opening opportunity after 10 minutes when Nathan Ferguson fired narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

Jonny Henly made the first of a series of great stops through the evening after 16 minutes, saving at the feet of Nyren Clunis. Tonbridge supporters, who had made a second journey to Tooting in three days, breathed a sigh of relief when Dipo Akinyemi rounded Henly but saw his shot cleared from the line by Sonny Miles.

Henly was once needed to thwart Akinyemi before Tonbridge ended the half not only on the front foot but in control of the game. Joe Turner whistled a shot narrowly past the left-hand post before, after 42 minutes, Alex Akrofi received a pass inside his own half and went on a 45 yard run that took him to the left side of the box from where he curled a shot into the top corner giving Tangara no chance.

The Angels went into the break two goals up when, after three minutes of time added, Akrofi’s initial cross was retrieved by Elder who crossed for Turner to plant a diving header against the post with the rebound falling to Sam Bantick to finish.

If a second half onslaught was to be expected from a Dulwich side that could afford no slip-ups in their challenge to Billericay, then it really did not happen. Henly was asked to make a super save after 66 minutes from substitute Tomlin but overall their shooting was wayward in the extreme.

On the break, Tonbridge looked just as likely to add a third with Turner firing just wide.

Dulwich finally got their goal that denied Henly a well-earned clean sheet with virtually the last kick of the game when ex-Angel Green stabbed home after a goalmouth scramble.

With the handing of the title initiative back to Billericay, it might have been a case of not knowing whether to laugh or cry at the final whistle but ultimately this was a performance that deserved greater reward than a rise in the table to ninth, but that is where the season's inconsistency has left Tonbridge.

Dulwich Hamlet 2 Tonbridge 1

Match 81/15/1286 - Monday, 28th March 2016 - Ryman Premier

Dulwich Hamlet (2) 2 Akinyemi 3, 10
Tonbridge (1) 1 Allen 70
Attendance: 1,434

Entrance: £4 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 94/5,968

Match Report

Storm Katie blew its way through the south-east early on Easter Monday and wreaked an amount of havoc; by the afternooon the wind had subsided but a hipster storm blew Tonbridge away in the first 10 minutes of this clash of promotion-challenging clubs.

Dulwich Hamlet certainly opened the game like a side that had reached the point of desperation in their quest for a play-off spot, a poor run of form leaving them outside of the top five, but although their counter-attacks were swift, Tonbridge were very much the architects of their own downfall.

This was a must win for Dulwich, whilst a point would be welcome for their visitors, and a big crowd (but not quite as large as expected) assembled with high expectation with a very healthy, boisterous contingent from Tonbridge ready to go verse for verse with their south London counterparts.

Just three minutes had elapsed when a Tonbridge attack broke down with a poor Luke Emblem pass that left James Folkes stranded upfield. Jordan Hibbert ran into the space offered by Folkes' absence before crossing into the path of Dipo Akinyemi, who only needed a tap-in to open the scoring.

After ten minutes, Tonbridge gave themselves the proverbial mountain to climb when they once again cheaply conceded possession. Jack Dixon sent Nyren Clunis away down the right, the midfielder stood up the perfect cross for Akinyemi, whose header was brilliantly saved by Anthony Di Bernardo but the 18-year-old loanee from Stevenage had another tap-in to double Hamlet's advantage.

It was very frustrating, Tonbridge had as much of the opening exchanges, but really poor retention of the ball had cost them dear.

Tonbridge's luck worsened after 20 minutes when captain Jeromme Sobers went down with a strain and was unable to continue, being replaced by Laurence Ball.

It took Tonbridge almost to the half-hour mark to have a meaningful shot on target, a Luke Allen free kick that was comfortably caught by Preston Edwards.

The visitors desperately needed to get a foothold in the game before half-time and right on the stroke of 45 minutes, Nathan Elder steered a header wide and in the time-added Tom Parkinson's header was touched over by Edwards.

Tonbridge survived a scare after 10 minutes of the second half when some great tracking back from Blewden denied Akinyemi after Di Bernardo had made a good parrying save.

The Kent side's tale of woe in their central defensive position was compounded after the hour when Sonny Miles' shoulder once again dislocated and after a long time on the ground behind the goal he was eventually stretchered away and onwards to hospital.

The route back into the game was so nearly found after 66 minutes when Jack Parter stood up a cross for Elder to bury but the striker's header struck a post and Miles' replacement, Charlie Webster, saw his follow-up shot saved on the line from Edwards.

Hope was restored after 70 minutes when a Folkes pass allowed Webster to pull the ball back from the bye-line to Allen who buried his chance from 10 yards.

Di Bernardo kept the game alive for the Angels when he made two great saves, a plunging save low to his right and another from Clunis.

Into the last ten minutes and two chances went begging, if it hadn't been previously confirmed, proved it wasn't Elder's day. He had a tough ride from Ethan Pinnock all afternoon. He steered another good heading chance wide and a couple of minutes later a shooting opportunity also failed to find the target.

Dulwich successfully saw out time, in fact they had the final opportunities.

So it was that the hipsters returned to the Village with hope renewed and their tummy's full of gourmet burgers and sausages washed down with cask conditioned ale. Good luck to them, they are a friendly bunch who we might just lock horns with once more in April.

Picture courtesy of David Couldridge

Dulwich Hamlet 2 Tonbridge 0

Match 48/14/1157 - Tuesday, 9th December 2014 - Ryman Premier

Dulwich Hamlet (2) 2 Carew 18 (pen), Koroma 45
Tonbridge (0) 0
Att. 421

Entrance: £4 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 86/3,512

Match Report

An only to be expected but, nonetheless, awkward journey into south London was the precursor to a Tonbridge performance that had an encouraging opening ten minutes and a final ten in which they threw what they had left in an effort to retrieve a game that had been lost in the intervening time. An early two junction delay on the M20, followed by the tiresome stop-start nature of the south circular at rush hour (or any other hour, for that matter) eventually arriving at Champion Hill in good time for the kick-off but still half-an-hour later than the satnav had originally predicted.

This was my first visit to Champion Hill in the lifetime of this blog and also a first with Dulwich Hamlet as the hosts. My only other visit was a memorable occasion back in 2005, when Tonbridge visited for an FA Cup tie against the then high-flying, big spending Fisher Athletic. Nobody expected Tonbridge to win on that day, but a couple of goals from Jay May and a solid backs-to-the-wall display in the last 20 minutes saw the visitors to a now almost legendary 3-2 victory.

Positioned at the rear of Sainsbury’s (which is very handy for parking) Champion Hill boasts a fine grandstand that incorporates the bar, changing rooms and offices and a covered terraced enclosure on the opposite side.

Dulwich Hamlet are, undoubtedly, a good side that chased the Ryman Premier League title last season alongside Maidstone United, before both were overhauled by Wealdstone and eventually failing to gain a play-off position. This season they have retained that impetus and currently sit in third place behind M&M (Margate and Maidstone) and a win for Tonbridge might have been considered as momentous as that 2005 victory.

The visitors started brightly with the wingers Dee Okojie and Flavio Tavares to the fore. The latter intercepted a poor pass back to the goalkeeper but pulled his shot wide after four minutes and then a fine move ended with Okojie shooting into the side netting. Tom Parkinson put a header over the bar before the hosts took the lead from the penalty spot against the run of play.

Jordan Hibbert took a pass into the box from where a challenge by Nathan Campbell brought the player down. It looked a clear penalty from my vantage point, but there were Tonbridge protests both at the time and after the match. Ashley Carew, a former Gillingham youngster, stepped up to convert the spot kick.

Dulwich Hamlet took control of the game for the remainder of the half with Tonbridge now reduced to sporadic attacks. As half-time approached, Dulwich added to their lead to give the Angels a second half mountain to climb. Hibbert caused further problems, but his cross into the box offered the Tonbridge defence a couple of opportunities to Row Z the ball, however these were not taken and the ball fell at the feet of Omar Koroma who stabbed it home.

Dulwich should have put the game to bed in the second half before Tonbridge rallied in the final quarter-hour. Harry Ottaway spurned a couple chances before Steve McKimm reinforced the front line with the introduction of Alex Teniola and Royce Greenidge. If nothing more a consolation goal was deserved from this final assault as Teniola saw his shot rebound off the goalkeeper’s legs and Parkinson put a header narrowly over. With five minutes remaining an Okojie cross was met with a Jack Parter header that was cleared from the line before the Angels’ despair at refereeing decisions doubled when Marvin Williams was brought down on the edge of the box, the official deeming that the foul had taken place outside, whilst the players claimed it was inside.

The journey home still found the south circular slow at 10 p.m. and another hold-up on the M20, it was just that sort of night.