Welling United 2 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 46/24/2285 - Tuesday, 26th November 2024 - National League South

Welling United (2) 2 Lankshear 11 Redfearn 19
Tonbridge Angels (0) 2 Vincent 60,78 (pen)
Attendance: 503
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 86/3,530

How’s your glass? If it’s half full, then a point from 2-0 down after 20 minutes is a good one. If it’s half empty, then a second half of one-way traffic might well have ended with that elusive first-ever win against Welling at Park View Road.

A first 20 minutes in which the home side didn’t exactly spring from the traps, more so that the Angels didn’t leave them at all, saw them two goals down that could easily have been three, and possibly game over, had it not been for a goal line clearance.

Jay Saunders said of the slow start: “The first half hour wasn’t good enough. Away from home you need to be solid, you need to be hard to beat. I thought we came here and expected the game to be played at our tempo and our own way but the players have to earn the right away from home, especially when you come to a team that have not been on the best of runs but had a great result at Slough (on Saturday), they were obviously up for it and we weren’t awake One of our supporters shouted “wake up” that hit the nail on the head, we just hadn’t got going.”

On a coldish night, mercifully dry, Saunders elected to go with the side that beat Hemel Hempstead Town at Longmead on Saturday and with the relative short journey to South London, there was a healthy following of Angels supporters in attendance.

An 11th minute attack from the home side saw a dangerous cross from Paul Osew that was deflected away for a corner, from which Alex Lankshear was allowed to climb, unchallenged, at the far post, to head home.

Two minutes later another corner spelt trouble for the Angels as Jack Burchill’s stabbed shot needed Charlie Pegrum to head from the line.

Tonbridge threatened to get back on terms after 15 minutes when a through ball from Sean Shields sent Makise Evans clear but the Welling goalkeeper, Rhys Lovett, was quick off his line to smother with the rebound falling to Mo Dabre, who could only shoot into the side netting.

On 19 minutes, the Angels fell two behind, when a cross from the right from Chiori Johnson was met by Josh Redfearn with a touch that took it beyond Matt Rowley and into the far corner.

A reaction was certainly needed and Tonbridge needed to wake from their slumbers and the first seeds of a recovery were planted when they were denied a clear penalty after 23 minutes when Dabre got in front of his marker to be wrestled to the ground only for the appeals to be waved away.

Jay Saunders made two half-time substitutions with Crossley Lema replacing Ethan Sutcliffe and Taylor Maloney replacing Ryan Hanson with a change of shape that saw them going to a four along the back line. Both Lema and Maloney, ex of the parish of Welling, made an immediate impact with Maloney’s cross from the left finding its way across the face of goal to strike the far post and Lema’s cross that saw an effort from Evans clear the bar.

A sigh of relief was breathed when a good opportunity for Burchill was struck wide before, on the hour, the Angels reduced the deficit as a right-sided free kick from Liam Vincent found the gap between Lovatt and his post.

Evans headed over from an inviting cross before, on 78 minutes, a corner from Shields was headed towards the far post and as Evans tried to get to the loose ball he was bundled to the ground by Garrett Kelly, who saw a second yellow and subsequent red for his efforts.

Vincent stepped up to calmly strike the ball into the bottom corner, giving Lovatt no chance.

With the man advantage and momentum, the Angels searched for the winner and the big chance came in the final minute of regular time when Evans was sent clear by Shields but Lovatt made a really good stop with the follow-up from Pegrum clearing the bar.

Jay Saunders summed up: “It was interesting before the game, there were a few of the subs that were disappointed not to start and I said that the subs are going to be massive tonight and, to be fair, everyone of them that came on, first Taylor and Crossley were excellent, Santos came on and made a difference and Deondre when he came on, so that was a positive out of tonight.”

Welling United 2 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 81/23/2204 - Saturday, 17th February 2024 - National League South

Welling United (0) 2 Adigun 68 Fish 90+2
Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 Odokonyero 27,45
Attendance: 570
Admission: £10 Senior
Mileage: 72/5,867

The Park View Road hoodoo continues and lost is the best chance we might ever have of breaking it.

A month ago, Dover’s first half performance was possibly the worst I’ve seen in the National League South but, somehow, Tonbridge put on a second half performance that almost allowed Dover to retrieve the game. Welling, in the first half of this turgid encounter, did their level best to surpass Dover’s ineptitude but a second period of complacency from the Angels saw them earn a point and even make a case that they were unlucky not to win.

Jay Saunders has long bemoaned the Angels slow starts to second half and when Welling halved the deficit with a great strike it was only a matter of time, albeit into added time, before they struck again. I don’t think there was an Angels’ fan present that didn’t see it coming and that it came from ex-Angel Sonny Fish rubbed salt into the wound.

This is likely to be the last visit to Park View Road for a couple of seasons as the decaying stadium is bulldozed for a development that will include over 100 flats. Certainly the present Health Hazard Stadium won’t be missed.

On a day as grey as its environment, Jay Saunders had new signing from Torquay Ryan Hanson on the bench whilst Paris Lock and Jernade Meade missed out through injury with Lewis Gard and Liam Vincent returning.

The first 25 minutes were a poor advert for National League South as both sides seemingly sought to negate the cow patch of a pitch by ensuring that the ball was never on it. Endless bouts of head tennis ensued.

Jamie Fielding, who has endured a stop-start season through injury, succumbed to an early knock to be substituted by Francis Mampolo who had an early opportunity but his shot was wide.

Tonbridge, deservedly at least on the passage of play, took the lead on 27 minutes when Welling lost the ball in the middle of the pitch to a Scott Wagstaff challenge and a single pass forward saw Nathan Odokonyero get between the two central defenders to plant a shot from the edge of the box past Reice Charles-Cook.

On the half-hour a cross in from the right from Sean Shields found Mampolo, albeit stretching, but in front of goal and he couldn’t control his volley and the ball sailed over.

Tonbridge had their first scary moment of the half when, on 40 minutes, a Welling corner found the head of the veteran Joe Ellul but his goal bound effort was cleared from the line by Gard.

On the stroke of half-time, Tonbridge doubled their advantage and seemingly took control of the game. A cross from the right from Mampolo to the far post saw Jordan Higgs cushion a header into the path of Shields whose snap shot was parried by Charles-Cook but Odokonyero following up tucked home from close range.

Two-nil up against a woeful Welling side, a first ever win at Park View Road almost looked assured but whatever was said in the respective dressing rooms during the break a completely different game unfolded in the second half.

As Tonbridge back-pedalled, Welling were winning all the mini battles and although it took a brilliant strike from Jason Adigun on 68 minutes to reduce the deficit, it was one that had been a long time coming.

The goal failed to wake the Angels from their slumbers and although Kodi Lyons-Foster steered a header wide from a good position with three minutes remaining there was a sense of inevitability when a cross from the right was turned in at the near post by Fish.

One final chance saw Shields hit the bar but in the final moments it was Tonbridge that was hanging on desperately for the final whistle.

I’ve walked away from grounds disappointed with results, Hemel immediately springs to mind, but not since the Haringey FA Cup debacle have I actually been angry, on this occasion I was bloody livid. Supporters forgive poor performances, they happen, but when it is complacency at the root of it, then it is much harder to stomach.

Welling United 2 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 57/22/2064 - Sunday, 1st January 2023 - National League South

Welling United (2) 2 Maloney 14 Azeez 45
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Gard 23
Attendance: 932

Admission: Pass
Programme: Not purchased
Mileage: 80/4,082

A family bereavement had already cast a cloud over Christmas and two defeats over the festive period to Welling United failed to add even a slither of sunshine to dispel the personal gloom.

Irritatingly, as with the game at Longmead on Boxing Day, the Angels deserved to take something from the game but Welling are blessed with Ade Azeez, who only needs a sniff of a chance.

Jay Saunders made two changes from the Boxing Day game with Tom Parkinson in for the injured Ben Swift and Joe Turner returning to the starting XI after his hernia operation for Louis Collins.

Park View Road is finally a ground that might soon be in the throes of some loving care. The far end is now condemned and out of use, as is the underneath of the main stand which meant that the teams emerged from groundsharers Erith and Belvedere’s dressing rooms.

Sadly, what doesn’t change is Tonbridge’s inability to win a game there, with no win ever recorded against a Welling side.

Welling started the brighter and in the fourth minute Jamie White hit the crossbar following a free kick and three minutes later another Wings free kick went inches wide of Jonny Henly’s right hand post.

Angels simply couldn’t get the ball down and create any kind of cohesive play and there was an air of inevitability about Welling opening the scoring after 14 minutes. A cross from the left was touched back into the path of Taylor Maloney whose shot from 20 yards flew into the top corner.

Shaken out of their early lethargy, the Angels settled and started to give the Welling defence something to think about. After 23 minutes, Devonte Aransibia moved the ball out wide to Scott Wagstaff, whose cross was partially cleared but only to Lewis Gard who moved to the right to strike between the goalkeeper and his near post from a fairly acute angle.

Four minutes later, Jack Wood was denied by a brilliant last ditch challenge but it was Welling that regained their lead a minute before the break when Daniel Nkrumah, a fine prospect on loan from Leyton Orient, turned Jamie Fielding on the left to put in a cross that Azeez met at the near post.

Gard had an opportunity in first half added time but his deflected shot was well saved by Myles Roberts.

After 63 minutes, Papadoplous hit the post for the hosts but from then until the final whistle it was the Angels that were the dominant side. A shot from substitute Tommie Fagg, dipped late and only just cleared the bar and when in the final seconds of the game the ball fell inviting to Ruben Soares-Junior it seems a well-earned point was to be had, but as the ball sailed over the bar it signalled just another frustrating afternoon at Park View Road.

Welling United 2 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 124/21/1988 - Tuesday, 12th April 2022 - Kent Senior Cup QF

Welling United (1) 2 Saunders-Henry 39 Akinyemi 86 (pen)
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Embury 9 Olutade 70
Welling United win 4-3 on penalties
Attendance: 214
Admission: £5
Programme: Not purchased
Mileage: 74/7,201

Certainties in life (apart from death and taxes) are that Tonbridge lose at Welling and, unless you are of a certain vintage, the wait for a Kent Senior Cup success will go on. An almost certainty is that once a game goes to penalties we can start the walk to the exit despite that being broken this year against King’s Lynn in the Trophy.

Yes, the inevitable happened and, if at the end of the season, Tonbridge stay in National South and Welling are relegated, they can enjoy their day in the sun, whenever that might be. How the semi-finals and final are going to be fitted in before player’s contracts expire in early May, goodness only knows.

If that sounds like glad we are out, far from it. Our win against Maidstone and this penalties defeat have been hugely enjoyable watching Academy lads stepping into senior football and looking the part.

As a game it was probably justice that it went to spot kicks with Welling definitely edging the first half but the Angels enjoying the better of the second.

Academy starlets Joe Tyrie, Luca Woodhouse and Ben Hermitage were starters with Tom Green coming off the bench and Sutton Common Rover’s Under-18 goalkeeper, Toby McKimm, took his place between the sticks, and didn’t the boy do good!

After a quiet opening, Tonbridge took the lead, against the run of play, when a pinpoint cross from Aaron Smith-Joseph was volleyed home from close range by Jake Embery.

Welling had a goal chalked off four minutes later and went on to dominate the possession for most of the half with McKimm starting to excel. But the young keeper had no chance when a cross from Ben Allen to the far post found the waiting Mason Saunders-Henry who had little more than a tap-in to finish.

The second half started with the Angels more to the fore but, after 58 minutes, Welling were awarded a penalty after the referee took his time before adjudging that he had seen a handball in the box. Alfie Matthews’ spot kick was low, but McKimm guess the direction to bring off a good save.

Tonbridge regained the lead on 70 minutes when Embury was sent clear. Samuel Jackson, the Welling goalkeeper, plunged at his feet but Embury’s shot looped up, off his body, and Ibrahim Olutade was on hand to steer it home.

Joe Turner, on as a substitute, and Woodhouse had chances that might have put the game to bed but on 84 minutes Welling were awarded another penalty following a clumsy challenge and this time Dipo Akinyemi sent McKimm the wrong way to level the scores.

With two minutes remaining, McKimm produced a stunning save to turn over a close range header from Akinyemi over the bar and thus ensuring that the game went to the dreaded shoot out.

No need to name and shame, but the woodwork played a big part in the shoot-out with the frame being used to good and bad effect before Matthews struck home Welling’s sixth penalty to win 4-3.

If I carry on paying my taxes, perhaps one day we will win at Welling and that will probably be the year we win the Kent Senior Cup.

Welling United 1 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 57/21/1921 - Saturday, 13th November 2021 - National League South

Welling United (1) 1 Stevenson 23
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 767

Admission: £10 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 72/3,237

Sadly, it’s a broken record. Chance after chance, save after save and one piece of shabby defending and it’s another goalless, pointless Saturday for Tonbridge Angels.

The visitors have never won a league game against Welling at Park View Road and probably will never have a better chance as, despite their improvement under Peter Taylor, they were average at best.

Steve McKimm made two changes, Harry Hudson was rested to the bench and Joe Turner, how he was missed, was unavailable. Tom Parkinson returned after his midweek absence through injury and Doug Loft was restored to the starting line-up.

Tonbridge were on the front foot from the outset with Ricky Modeste to the fore and his sixth minute cross flashed across the face of goal but nobody was gambling and the chance went begging.

Next few minutes, Adam Lovatt’s shot deflected for a corner; Ibrahim Olutade’s header is straight at Welling goalkeeper, Jack Sims and Tom Beere shoots a free kick narrowly wide of the post. Chance after chance.

On 22 minutes, the ball was lost deep in Welling’s half and one punt into the left hand channel saw ex-Angels loanee, Bradley Stevenson clear to finish past Jonny Henly.

Welling had their best spell of the match following the goal and another ex-Tonbridge player, Kristian Campbell put a shot wide and a well timed tackle from JJ O’Sullivan saved the day.

The momentum for the visitors was restored with a Beere cross failing to find a striker in the right place and a Lovatt shot saved by Sims followed by a Modeste effort that goes over. Chance after chance.

The second half began with Henly brought into action but this was followed by a Parkinson header saved by Sims and a double attempt by Olutade that ended being deflected for a corner. Chance after chance.

By now McKimm has rolled the dice with his attackers with Tommy Wood replacing Aaron Smith-Joseph and after 63 minutes, Jake Hutchinson for Olutade.

68 minutes, Beere shot wide; Sonny Miles header from a corner into the hands of Sims. Chance after chance.

What Tonbridge needed was a lucky break and when Wood was manhandled to the ground in the penalty area, the appeals were loud and somewhat desperate, but the referee waved it away.

Corners were many but the time ebbed away and once more the Angels faithful trooped away disconsolately. There was no chorus of boos, no calls for heads on platters, but without doubt there is genuine concern. Tonbridge Angels supporters are in the main a realistic lot, they understand there is not a budget for an £800 a week striker and the clubs at the top of the table have these strikers anyway and won’t be releasing them anytime soon.

Steve McKimm’s Radio Kent interview was as usual honest and forthright. He said: “I’ve got to look at myself, I’ve got to look at the players and I’ve got to speak to the board and see what the best thing is for the club because this cannot continue.”

Welling United 1 Gillingham 1

Match 04/14/1113 - Saturday, 19th July 2014 - Pre-Season Friendly

Welling United (0) 1 Healey 60
Gillingham (1) 1 German 9
Att. 500-ish

Entrance: £8 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 76/188

Match Report

Up and down the country, football supporters have an affinity with a local lad that is making good for his local club. When things are not going as well as they might, supporters cut the player a little slack and when things are going well, then he’s one of us.

Josh Stanford might not be a local lad to Gillingham but as a former Tunbridge Wells player with the legendary status of the goalscorer on their Wembley occasion in 2013, he is a player who I desperately would like to see make the most of his trial period at Priestfield and earn himself a contract to play alongside Leon Legge, who plied his trade at Tonbridge Angels and, possibly Gary Borrowdale, also previously at Longmead, who is also trying to earn a contract.

This was my first look at Gillingham this pre-season and they left me with a glass-half-full feeling. They dominated the first half, in which Stanford played and certainly didn’t look out of place, but their second half eleven were quite poor and, had it been not for a missed penalty, would have suffered their first defeat of pre-season.

On a hot afternoon, with temperatures touching 30degC, the first half eleven played some effective football that was also pleasing on the eye, a vast improvement on last season’s offerings. On view were new signings Jermaine McGlashan and John Egan, who both had good 45 minutes, but the player that caught the eye was one that was much derided last season, Antonio German, who looked sharp and a real handful for the Welling defenders, but at the same time endured a mixed half in front of goal.

Gillingham went ahead on nine minutes when a long pass from Adam Barratt was headed on by Danny Kedwell into the path of German who finished well. Within a couple of minutes, Kedwell narrowly headed wide at the far post as the visitors looked to establish a comfortable lead.

With an entirely new eleven taking the field in the second period, Gillingham lost control of the game as a much younger side struggled to contain the physically strong Conference side. New signings Doug Loft, who took on the captaincy, Glenn Morris in goal, Luke Norris and Brennan Dickenson featured among the youngsters.

A corner on the hour was only half cleared and with his back to the goal, Joe Healey managed to find the corner of the net with an overhead kick. Devante McKain’s far post header from a corner clipped the bar before, with a couple of minutes remaining, Callum Davies brought down Malachi Hudson to concede a penalty. Welling’s new signing Kieron St Aime committed Morris to an early decision to dive to his right but then contrived to send the ball high over the bar.

There seems to be a greater strength in depth about the squad this season. Luke Norris showed that Kedwell and McDonald have to be on their game to be continually picked and Dickenson, McGlashan and, possibly, Stanford are going to offer the pace that missing last term. On the debit side, there is still no obvious competition at left back for Joe Martin and another mobile central defender would be a welcome addition.

Welling United 2 Newport County 0

Match 35/12/988 - Saturday, 24 November 2012 - FA Trophy 2R

Welling United (1) 2 Healy 36, Martin 60
Newport County (0) 0
Att. 441

Entrance: £8 Senior
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 76/2,225

Match Report

For the first time this season (and with the weather we have been having, I would imagine not the last) a postponed game forced me to change direction from my original destination. The postponement of Tunbridge Wells’ Kent League fixture against Deal Town came as no surprise as their previous home game had suffered the same fate as a result of a waterlogged pitch.

The choice was made therefore to go to Welling to watch the FA Trophy match against Newport County, dubbed by Tonbridge fans as Kinch v Minsh, two former Longmead favourites. That personal encounter was something of a damp squib as Scott Kinch only made the Welling bench and was not used, whilst Lee Minshull was substituted after an hour. Also on the Welling bench was another Tonbridge, and I think I can use the word legend, Jon Main. The Park View Road pitch didn’t look the best, but was perfectly playable.

Newport County came into the game, third in the Conference, but in a poor vein of form having lost four of their previous five games. But they settled into the task in the early stages and Welling goalkeeper Sam Mott was forced to make a couple of good saves. But having survived their early scares, Welling took the game to their Welsh opponents and were worth their lead on 36 minutes when player-manager Jamie Day delivered the perfect cross for Joe Healy to rise at the far post and score with a free header.

There was a long delay in the closing minutes of the first half when Fraser Franks collided with his own goalkeeper and was stretchered off and subsequently an ambulance arrived to take him to hospital. He tweeted later that evening that it was originally thought he had punctured a lung, but, thankfully, it was just bruised.

On the hour, Day produced a carbon copy of his first half cross and this time it was Franks’ replacement Ben Martin that profited at the far post. Ex-Gillingham goalkeeper, Alan Julian, had no chance with either of the goals, but for several fine saves from him, the score could have been quite embarrassing for the Conference high-flyers.

Certainly, this can be considered to be a Trophy upset, but truth was that Newport County were very disappointing and this must have been a really frustrating afternoon for the sizeable Welsh following that had braved the atrocious conditions both at the game and en-route.

Welling United 3 Tonbridge 2

Match 11/11/898 - Tuesday, 23 August 2011 - BSq Conference South

Welling United (1) 3 Pires 45, 75 Pugh 70
Tonbridge (2) 2 Collin 6,20
Att. 545

Entrance: £6 Senior Citizen
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 94/777

Match Report

Despite moving into a two goal lead at Park View Road, Tonbridge were offered another lesson as to the difference between Conference and Ryman football. As the teams lined up for kick off, it was visibly apparent just how big this Welling side were. They were big and they were strong, I don’t subscribe to the viewpoint that Tonbridge were outclassed but I certainly would consider them outmuscled.

Tonbridge were given an early shot across the bows when Lee Clarke put an unchallenged header over the bar from close range after just a couple of minutes. Tonbridge moved into the lead soon after, Frannie Collin won the ball in midfield, moved inside and let fly a shot from 25 yards that sped its way across the damp turf past the outstretched hands of Dan Thomas.

For the remainder of the half the game took the course that would ensue for the entire match. Welling were so much stronger, they overran the Angels in midfield and this put unrelenting pressure on Tonbridge’s back line. Lee Worgan was forced into several saves and Jon Heath cleared from the line after ex-Gillingham striker Andy Pugh had poked the ball goalwards.

Five minutes remained of the half when Tonbridge delivered a real sucker punch. In a rare attack, Ade Olorunda fired in a shot that was parried by Thomas but only into the path of Collin who tucked the ball home from close range. Any Tonbridge supporter present, and plenty of them had made the journey to South London, could hardly have believed their eyes.

Tonbridge needed to see their lead to the break and as the clock had ticked past the minute added time it appeared that they had done so. Unfortunately the referee’s watch didn’t tick as fast as mine and he awarded a free kick on the box following a foul by Anthony Storey. The free kick from Clarke was saved by Worgan but Loick Pires was able to knock in the rebound to send the Wings to the dressing room with renewed vigour.

A second half equaliser was only a matter of time as the home side pressed continuously and it eventually came on 70 minutes when Ben Andrews slipped on the wet turf allowing Pugh a clear run and a cool finish. The Tonbridge resistance was now broken and within five minutes Welling were in front when a Pires header found the bottom corner from a Lou Fazackerley corner. The comeback was complete and it was no more than the Wings deserved.

Tommy Warrilow introduced Jon Main from the bench but he was not allowed to make any impression as Welling continued to the finish with their dominance.

Tonbridge will be stronger, especially in midfield, once Lewis Taylor and Scott Kinch are fit to return (both were involved in the pre-match warm up). It remains to be seen whether the squad that took the club from the Ryman is going to be strong enough for this Division. The quality is almost certainly there, the muscle is not.

Welling United 2 Gillingham 2

Match 05/07/622 - Saturday, 4th August 2007 - Pre-season Friendly

Welling United (0) 2 Sodje (og) 46 Blackman 85
Gillingham (0) 2 Sodje 47 Brown 54
Att. 543

Entrance: £10
Programme: £1.50
Mileage 71/313

Match Report

As much as pre-season is eagerly anticipated, more so this year for the reasons given in the Thamesmead report, it is a welcome relief when the phoney war is over and the competitive action can begin. And so it was that we pitched up at Park View Road for a last look at our heroes(!!) before next week's grand entry at Cheltenham.

Unfortunately, the heroes never turned up, just a bunch of journeymen in Gillingham shirts, certainly not a team that is going to achieve the promotion we all hope for. Perhaps it was the weather, after the drudge of a summer we've endured, just in time for opening day, 30degC turns up, cricket weather indeed. To sideline at this point, while the footballers were labouring, Kent's county cricketers were achieving glory at Edgbaston with a semi-final win against Sussex and later in the final against Gloucester, now that was thrilling.

Welling made a decent fist of the game, scoring the best goal and generally matching their League One opponents. For the Gills, Derek Stille made his first appearance in goal and generally did OK, for myself a first look at Steve Lomas, signed before the 4-2 Tuesday night win against Colchester, when according to reports he ran the midfield, not so today. All over the pitch, Gillingham looked insipid, almost tired, perhaps it was just pre-season boredom.

Park View Road has changed a little since I last visited with a new stand replacing the old covered terracing. The open end backing on to the road, still enables you to watch the Red London buses passing by when the tedium takes hold, but for Conference South it is a nice little ground. It would doubtless need further improvement should the Wings attain promotion to the Conference National.

Final point would be that was good to see Neil Smith on the line as manager of Welling, replacing another old Gills favourite, Ade Pennock and on the pitch, Chippy Carpenter and Kevin James now plying their trade at a lower level.