Tonbridge Angels 1 Cheshunt 0

Match 111/22/2118 - Saturday, 29th April 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Greenidge 45
Cheshunt (0) 0
Attendance: 1.448

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/7,861

And so, at the blink of an eye, the season was done.

Tonbridge Angels achieved more National South points (70) than ever before; 20 wins for the first time and a highest league position. The play-offs were flirted with but, despite the aforementioned, fell just a little short.

But real progress was made with the 3G surface at the heart of it. Attendances have grown from an average last season of 832 to 1,047 an increase of 26%; the kids soccer camps have been putting out the sold out signs and with it the demographic is getting younger.

The Awards Presentation Evening followed the game with the Marquee packed like I have never seen it before for previous end of season events. There is a positive feeling surrounding the club, and has been all season, so it was disappointing, to say the least, that the decision to commission a new club badge has proved so divisive. Nailing my opinion to the mast, initially and being a traditionalist, I didn’t think it was necessary but attended the video conferences and understood the reasoning even if I still didn’t agree but was prepared to see what materialised. Unfortunately, the design was a long way from what I had hoped and that was the same for many people. Even a redesign following feedback left it falling short in many supporters eyes. We have to embrace change, but does it have to be so radical?

The game itself was an end-of-season affair, won in added time at the end of the first half when Jordan Greenidge added his 17th goal of a successful loan spell.

Emotional farewells were bade to skipper Sonny Miles, who leaves the club with a record 527 appearances to his name and chairman Dave Netherstreet who steps down with Sophie Purves becoming the new chair.

Undoubtedly, the summer will see a great deal of changes. Manager Jay Saunders is not one to stand still, he saw this season as a transitional one and the next step has to be a place inside the play-offs with the new chair harbouring similar ambition.

Damn the badge, but let's not allow that define a season of positivity!

Tonbridge Angels 0 Dartford 1

Match 103/22/2110 - Saturday, 15th April 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Dartford (1) 1 Napa 24
Attendance: 1,484

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/7,196

And sadly, that is pretty much that.

Mathematically, Tonbridge Angels will be taking their playoff challenge into the last three games and perhaps beyond, but the probability is that three wins still wouldn’t be enough.

So, now we go into a period of reflection. There are plenty of what might have been’s but that is a pointless exercise. What we can positively reflect is that the mandate for the season was not to be looking over our shoulders and at no time has this been necessary.

Negatively, we have been unable to turn Longmead into a fortress. Should we beat relegation threatened Cheshunt on the last day, that would take our total to nine wins and we already have 10 away with two to play. I’m not clever enough to reason why.

Manager Jay Saunders has long lamented the giving away of cheap goals and another was conceded that ultimately lost this game against playoff-bound Dartford.

Another bumper attendance piled into Longmead but, in truth, they were treated to a poor spectacle, surprisingly low in quality, poorly officiated and lacking the tension or atmosphere of a vitally important game.

Saunders picked a side with attacking intent, Jordan Greenidge and Jeremy Santos into the starting XI but those aspirations were doused by a superbly marshalled Dartford back line.

The first 20 minutes were a sign of what was to come, a bit of a yawn. The referee, Michael Robertson-Tant, set his stall out early for an afternoon of petty officiating, with a 10th minute booking for Dartford’s Kieran Murtagh; Jordan Greenidge gave Ben Dudzinski some fielding practice but it was dull enough to get distracted by the black clouds threatening the Hadlow area.

Perhaps, on 24 minutes, the two Tonbridge central defenders were similarly distracted when a punt forward from the keeper saw them leave the ball for each other to allow Malachi Napa to nip in between them and plant ball past a helpless Jonny Henly.

The game slipped back into its stupor for the remainder of the half with neither side showing enough imagination that would create an omelette if they had been given eggs. Meanwhile, Robertson-Tant was as frustrating as the game in front of us.

In fairness, Tonbridge got better in the second half and with it the game got a little better. But try as they might they just didn’t have the edge or the guile to unlock the Darts defence with Connor Essam and Tom Bonner the rocks on which many National League South’s attacks have foundered.

As an attacking force the visitors were pretty insipid considering their lofty position and for large parts Henly was just an interested spectator but the Angels just couldn’t create the clear opening that might have yielded a point, that probably wouldn’t have been much help but was better than nothing and something that was deserved, in as much that neither side deserved more.

Dartford’s place in the playoffs is assured and they will probably earn one of the two exemption places and home advantage. For the Angels, three games remain to finish as high as possible and then watch an interesting summer unfold.

Pictures: Kathryn Bell

Tonbridge Angels 1 Hemel Hempstead Town 1

Match 99/22/2106 - Friday, 7th April 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Turner 52
Hemel Hempstead Town (0) 1 Castiglione 61
Attendance: 1,312

Admission: Season Ticket

Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/7,053

A result that did no favours for either club’s playoff aspirations, with the visitors, Hemel Hempstead Town, so desperate to pinch the points that they threw their goalkeeper forward for a late corner that he met with a header but steered wide.

Tonbridge Angels season could almost be encapsulated in this one game. The improvement over the season has been significant but, at the end of the season, they might well fall slightly short. The thickness of a post; a miraculous double save from Hemel’s Craig King denied the Angels after a first half in which they had struggled to make an impact on the game.

This was viewed by many (myself included) as a must win and, having not won it, points are now going to be needed from games that perhaps were not considered likely to have any yield.

The terms of Jordan Greenidge’s loan made him unavailable to line up against his parent club with Tommy Wood leading the front line. Tariq Hinds, Devonte Aransibia and Bailey Akehurst were rested to the bench with Jack Wood, Tommie Fagg and Craig Braham-Barrett returning to the starting XI.

A warm Good Friday enticed an impressive 1,300-plus crowd but, apart from the 50 or 60 Hemel supporters, they were not given too much to cheer in a first half in which the home side were slow out of the blocks and never really got up to full speed.

Hemel, who started the afternoon six points off the playoffs, had the best of the first half and went closest after 17 minutes when Montel McKenzie struck the post.

Tonbridge’s best chances fell to Jack Wood who curled a shot into the arms of King and a volley from Fagg that was wide of the target, but overall it was a low key half.

The second half started with a greater intensity and Jonny Henly was called upon to make a double save to deny Charlee Hughes within the first minute.

But it was Tonbridge that got their noses in front after 52 minutes when Joe Turner curled in a shot from the left hand side of the box into the far corner.

This was the period in the game in which the Angels were most buoyant and might have doubled their advantage when a ball across the face of goal from the right by Jack Wood agonisingly evaded Fagg at the far post.

Hemel were back on terms just past the hour with a poor goal defensively from a Tonbridge point of view. A long punt forward from the goalkeeper was met with an unchallenged header and as the ball dropped there were opportunities to clear before a snap shot from Josh Castiglione that found the bottom corner.

With a draw little use to either side, the game opened up and produced an exciting last half-hour with the best of the chances falling to the Angels. Tommy Wood was denied by a terrific challenge when sent clear by Turner and, with seven minutes remaining, the latter struck a post.

King preserved the point for the visitors with a magnificent double save from Turner with the follow-up from Jack Wood miraculously kept out.

For Hemel Hempstead, one would guess that their course is run; for the Angels where’s there’s the maths, there’s hope.

Pictures: Kathryn Bell

Tonbridge Angels 4 Hungerford Town 3

Match 93/22/2100 - Saturday, 25th March 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (4) 4 Jack Wood 15,22 Turner 33 Greenidge 45
Hungerford Town (1) 3 Gyebi 9 Great Evans 77,78
Attendance: 1,169

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/6,505

When a 95th minute Hungerford cross from the right sailed to the far post to be met by the head of the towering, aptly named Great Evans, memories of the January visit of Slough flashed before our eyes. As the best part of 1,200 people held their breath the ball drifted harmlessly wide to the signal the referee’s final whistle. Tonbridge Angels had dodged a bullet and their play-off hopes remained on course.

It should never have been like that. A 4-1 half-time lead against a team in the relegation zone with an abysmal away record had engendered hopes that a confidence boosting, high scoring win was within the Angels’ grasp. But, of course, Tonbridge don’t do easy.

Non-League Day brought an extra couple of hundred through the turnstiles and, hopefully, some of the Football League season ticket holders who entered for a tenner went home having seen an exciting game and encouraged to return. The regulars would have preferred easy street.

The pursuit of a National South play-off spot was given a further boost earlier in the week with the return of Jeremy Santos, on loan from Charlton to the end of the season. Santos took his place on the bench with Bailey Akehurst, on loan from Gillingham, replacing Craig Braham-Barrett, who is on international duty, captaining Montserrat.

Hungerford took a surprise lead after 10 minutes with a goal of disappointing simplicity. A corner was partially cleared but the recycled cross from Evans allowed Jeremiah Gyebi a free header.

The curse of Tonbridge’s form against the lower placed sides was quickly lifted with an equaliser within five minutes from Jack Wood. A long ball forward from Joe Turner found Lewis Gard who played in Wood to come in from the right, travel across the face of goal past two defenders, before shooting into bottom right hand corner.

The Angels were in front on 22 minutes with a fine team goal. From the heart of defence the ball was played out to the left where Turner interchanged with Scott Wagstaff who played the ball down the line for Akehurst to deliver a delicious cross that was misjudged by the Hungerford goalkeeper, Jed Ward, and once the ball sailed over his head, Wood was at the far post to touch the ball home for his eighth goal of the season.

Devonte Aransibia forced Ward into a save at his feet before the Angels took a 3-1 lead after 33 minutes through Joe Turner, who received a pass from Jordan Greenidge, who had outmuscled his marker, to shoot under the body of the advancing Ward.

Henly dealt comfortably with a shot from Ryan Jones and a shot from Jake Evans cleared the bar by some distance, before on the stroke of half time, Greenidge capitalised on some calamitous defending, to intercept a woeful back pass from Matt Berry-Hargreaves and shoot past the helpless Ward.

Jack Wood was replaced five minutes into the second period with an injury and when Greenidge steered a header wide soon after it seemed that the big victory was still on the cards.

But the game went strangely flat and little of note happened until 13 minutes from time when the visitors pulled a goal back through Great Evans for little more than a consolation until a minute later when a cross from the left wasn’t dealt with and the ball fell at the feet of Evans to score again and now the home faithful’s nerves were very much on edge.

And live on their nerves they did as Hungerford piled forward until the not-so great Evans header relieved their agony.

In terms of Non-League Day it was a great success; it should have been a day when supporters left Longmead buoyant at a win, heavy in size, but people left grumbling that it was almost thrown away. I’m grateful that the Slough feeling was just about avoided.

Pictures: Kathryn Bell

Tonbridge Angels 1 Ebbsfleet United 1

Match 85/22/2092 - Saturday, 12th March 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Wagstaff 84
Ebbsfleet United (1) 1 Wright 42
Attendance: 1,770

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/5,912

Draws bring a range of emotions. They can be a fair result; they can bring disappointment when you feel your side deserved more or they can feel like a win and this was the emotion as Tonbridge Angels took their fourth point of the season from the champions-elect, Ebbsfleet United.

All week I had labelled this encounter as a free hit with low expectation. True, the Angels were in decent form but their opponents were 14 games unbeaten and coming in off the back of a 7-2 demolition of play-off chasing Worthing. But, for manager’s, there is no such thing as a free hit and Jay Saunders surprised many with his team selection that saw leading goalscorer Jordan Greenidge rested to the bench.

Plenty of people in an attendance of 1,770, a league game record for Longmead, heeded the advice to arrive early and the bars and tea shacks were busy over an hour before kick-off. Naturally enough, given their runaway status at the top of National League South, Ebbsfleet brought a healthy support, estimated at around 600.

Through the first half, the game seemed to be taking its expected course with the Angels aiding the visitors cause with a half in which they gave the ball away, too often and far too cheaply.

But, in truth, despite a huge amount of possession, clear cut chances for Ebbsfleet were few and far between. After 10 minutes, Jonny Henly saved comfortably a low shot from Omari Sterling-James and it was another 25 minutes before he was tested again, taking a knock for his trouble.

In between, Tonbridge had their moments with Mark Cousins saving at his near post from Tariq Hinds and a Joe Turner free kick from a good position clearing the bar.

Greg Cundle had the ball in the Angels net on 35 minutes but was clearly offside and as the clock ticked towards the break, hopes of getting to the dressing room unscathed were dashed when a shot from Josh Wright came back from the crossbar and as bodies tumbled in the box, the ball landed back at Wright’s feet to stab it home.

Devonte Aransibia was introduced for the injured Jamie Fielding at the break and immediately Tonbridge retained possession better and with it Scott Wagstaff’s influence grew.

That’s not to say that Ebbsfleet didn’t have their chances early in the second period to put the game to bed. Cundle was through one-on-one with Henly, but the goalkeeper came out on top.

But now the home side were creating their own chances as Turner shot into the side netting and Jack Wood fired over after good work from Hinds and when, with seven minutes remaining, an ugly clearance from Haydn Hollis bounced of his own bar, you sensed that the league leaders were wobbling.

And from the resultant corner, Ben Swift headed back into the centre from beyond the far post, Tommie Fagg challenged and as the ball dropped, Wagstaff stabbed home at the second attempt.

An Aransibia effort from 20 yards dipped at the last moment and only narrowly cleared the bar to deny what would have been a celebrated double.

Disgruntled Ebbsfleet fans were heard grumbling about their team and the miles travelled as they departed. Cheer up guys, you’ll win the league by more than 20 points and next season Gateshead is a mere 300 miles away.

Pictures: Kathryn Bell

Tonbridge Angels 2 Taunton Town 3

Match 82/22/2089 - Saturday, 4th March 2023 - National South

Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 Greenidge 21 Aransibia 41
Taunton Town (1) 3 Foulston 37 Stearn (pen) 64 Wannell 68
Attendance: 933

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/5,765

Let’s start with a few appropriate phrases:
Counting chickens;
Putting the cart before the horse; and
Getting in front of oneself.
Who might be guilty of all three, me and I really should know better.

After two hard-earned victories on the road had pushed the Angels into striking distance of a play-off place, the visit of Taunton Town, struggling at the wrong end of the table and in poor form appeared the perfect opportunity to leap into the shaded area in the table.

At half-time, 2-1 to the good and with results elsewhere, we had indeed made that jump, but we have form with teams from the lower reaches of the table, especially at home and two goals in four minutes turned the game on its head and sent home, all bar the clutch of supporters from Somerset, disappointed.

Jay Saunders opted to go with two big strikers, coupling Tommy Wood with Jordan Greenidge with Joe Turner dropping to the bench.

The opening 20 minutes, saw the Angels carve out a couple of chances without any great pressure on their own goal, although Taunton were playing some neat and tidy football. Devonte Aransibia had a sixth minute effort that cleared the bar by some distance and Greenidge and Wood had shots that were comfortable saves for Lloyd Irish, but, on 21 minutes, the Angels went ahead through leading goalscorer Greenidge who rode a couple of challenges before firing in an angled shot past Irish.

Taunton responded and were good value for their equaliser when the ball fell to left back, Jay Foulston who arrowed a shot into the far corner from 20 yards giving Jonny Henly no chance.

An equally spectacular strike from Aransibia on 41 minutes from the edge of the area restored the Angels lead and they should have gone into the break with a little breathing space as Wood fired over after a good combination with Greenidge.

As we know from the reverse fixture, it is a long way to Taunton and the visitors made it clear from the outset of the second period that they wanted something to ease the journey home.

The streetwise Ross Stearn went close on 50 minutes and further efforts from Jake Wannell and Ollie Chamberlain sounded alarm bells for the Angels and, it has to be said, Taunton were deserving of their equaliser on 62 minutes when Stearn converted from the penalty spot after Zak Smith had been brought down.

Four minutes later, the Angels support was in shock as Taunton went in front through Wannell after Tonbridge had failed to clear from a corner.

Worrying injuries to Greenidge and Aransibia saw them out of the game as Tonbridge huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser. The referee denied what looked a clear cut penalty appeal with 10 minutes remaining but the Angels never looked like breaking down a resolute Taunton defence.

As it happened, results elsewhere limited the damage, but for me, lesson learned. One game at a time with no chickens counted.

Photos: Kathryn Bell

Tonbridge Angels 2 Concord Rangers 2

Match 77/22/2084 - Saturday, 18th February 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 Aransibia 15 Greenidge 37
Concord Rangers (1) 2 Bettemer 23 Modeste 71
Attendance: 1,075

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/5,102

For all the analysis that is done post match on Sky or Match of the Day, the one element that the experts cannot quantify is Lady Luck.

Watching the last 20 minutes of Aston Villa v Arsenal in the bar prior to the Angels home game against Concord Rangers, Arsenal benefited from their share of Lady Luck’s handouts when a shot from Jorginho rattled the woodwork only to rebound off the back of the Villa goalkeeper and into the net. Now, it might well be argued that the Gunners deserved the points anyway but without that stroke of good fortune they were only destined for a draw.

Despite some sloppy defending that allowed relegation threatened Concord two goals, Tonbridge really should have eased to a comfortable victory but Lady Luck, in the shape of the woodwork struck three times and some heroic goalkeeping from Mitchell Beeney intervened.

In what was a repeat of the reverse fixture at the Aspect Arena, Tonbridge dominated for the entire game but, somehow, have conspired to collect just a point, which was at least one more than in November.

Scott Wagstaff returned to the starting XI with Tommie Fagg dropping to the bench.

Beeney probably got a fair indication of a busy afternoon ahead with routine saves from headers by Jordan Greenidge and Jamie Fielding in the first five minutes.

After 15 minutes of one-way traffic, Tonbridge went ahead when a great cross from Tariq Hinds found the head of Devonte Aransibia at the far post to finish into the top corner.

Concord equalised after 23 minutes from their first real attack. A corner was poorly dealt with by the home side and when Jimmy Wallace crossed, Mohammed Bettamer scored with an overhead kick into the far corner.

The Angels went back in front after 37 minutes with a carbon copy goal of the first. This time Hinds' pin-point cross was met by the diving head of Greenidge for his 12th goal of a 13 match loan spell.

A Lewis Gard shot that curled wide and a glancing header from Joe Turner might have increased the Angels lead but at the break it remained 2-1.

Four minutes into the second period saw a Turner cross headed against the crossbar by Greenidge, who, on the hour, had the ball in the net only to be ruled out for offside.

On 65 minutes a 25 yard effort from Aransibia was touched onto the bar by Beeney and, from the resultant corner, the post was struck.

But the Angels fell to a sucker punch on 71 minutes when Ola Ogunwamide was able to play the ball across the face of goal to the back post where ex-Angel Ricky Modeste was on hand to touch the ball home from close range.

There was a distinct feeling that there was a winner to be had in this game with plenty of time in which to get it, but Beeney was to have other ideas.

A back pass that fell short saw substitute Ruben Soares-Junior intercept but Beeney smothered at his feet; Wagstaff’s effort was saved comfortably but then the keeper excelled again with a Greenidge effort turned over the bar.

As the clock ticked into added time, strong claims for a penalty (for which I was convinced) when Aransibia was brought down were denied by referee, Jack Bloxham. Aransibia was injured in the challenge but got to his feet to make it back to the centre circle where he went down again to be ultimately stretchered off.

With seven minutes of added time played, Beeney made his last, and his best, save of the afternoon saving at his near post a Fagg header. Beeney deserved to take something out of the game, even if Concord Rangers didn’t.

Lady Luck, and a superb goalkeeping performance, were enough to deny the Angels and perhaps no more analysis is needed.

Photos: Kathryn Bell

Tonbridge Angels 2 Worthing 1

Match 72/22/2079 - Saturday, 4th February 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 2 Hinds 59 Turner 79
Worthing (1) 1 Wills 22
Attendance: 1,163

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/4,860

A half time substitution, a cosy chat in the dressing room during the break and a subtle adjustment to formation and Tonbridge Angels came out for the 2nd half looking a completely different side. Instead of allowing Worthing to totally run the game in that first period, straight from the 46th minute Angels were in their opponent’s faces, making the tackles and often winning those 50/50 balls. Great credit to Angels Boss, Jay Saunders and his backroom staff for effecting those changes but also the players who clearly took everything on board, and their reward - an exciting win over one of the play off contenders.

Jordan Greenidge was not fully fit while Devonte Aransibia Jack Wood dropped to the bench. Captain Sonny Miles was restored to the starting line up and it was a first start for Maidstone Utd loanee Midfielder Bivesh Gurung

Worthing arrived at Longmead with just one previous league defeat on the road and it was easy to see why. Right from the kick off they took over control with some delightful passing movements and it was no surprise when they took the lead in the 22nd minute through Kane Wills who had been set up by Davide Rodari. The Rebels certainty didn’t sit on their lead but continued to press their hosts with Chambers and Wills at the heart of proceedings.

There was the occasional raid by Angels attempting to beat Worthing’s off side trap but often the first touch was poor or Male in the Worthing goal was far too quick off his line and any chance was stifled. Tonbridge will have been relieved to get to half time just the one goal adrift.

The second half saw a dramatic improvement for the home side with a much more incisive performance and preventing Worthing from running the show as they had done in the first half.

On 59 minutes with Worthing not quite managing to clear their lines the ball fell to Hinds who volleyed magnificently from outside the area to draw the scores level. At that stage, no one in the 1163 crowd could have predicted the outcome with both sides giving their all. It was however the home side who then broke the deadlock in the 79th minute with another quite magnificent strike from Turner following good work by Fagg and Gard.

There was still plenty of time for Worthing to equalise and despite seeing plenty of the ball they couldn’t break the Angels defence.

Afterwards Saunders on Hinds’ strike said: “People don’t realise how much quality it takes to score a goal like that, it was pure class.”

Tonbridge Angels 1 Gillingham 1

Match 70/22/2077 - Tuesday, 31st January 2023 - Kent Senior Cup 2R

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Fagg 3
Gillingham (0) 1 Clarke 77
Tonbridge Angels win 4-1 on penalties
Attendance: 452

Admission: £5 Senior
Programme: £1
Mileage: 38/4,784

Angels proceed to the quarter finals of the Kent Senior Cup after knocking out Gillingham but needed a penalty shoot to confirm the win.

The home side fielded a strong line up with normal skipper Sonny Miles dropping to the bench and leading scorer Jordan Greenidge rested. Ruben Soares-Junior and Jack Wood were the replacements with Jamie Fielding dropping to the back line. Joe Turner was wearing the captain's arm band.

It took Angels just three minutes to take the lead. Soares-Junior had made a good run down the right and having squared the ball it was eventually picked up by Tommie Fagg whose effort took a wicked deflection and ended up in the back of the net.

Seven minutes later it was again Soares-Junior causing problems for the Gillingham defence but his final effort went just over the bar.

The unmarked Lewis Gard was presented with a big chance on the edge of the area but he ballooned his shot well over the bar.

On 18 minutes the Angels keeper Jonny Henly made a huge save having to adjust his body when a shot came from close in.

Tariq Hinds was catching the eye for the home side on the right with some fine control and was always ready with good distribution.

Jack Wood had a couple of chances for Angels but despite their overall dominance the side was unable to add to the score line. Just before half time Soares-Junior might have supplied that moment but after some fine trickery he ended up too deep and the cross was easy for Gills keeper Jake Turner.

Five minutes into the second half Joe Turner was upended in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Devonte Aransibia took the penalty but Jake Turner made an excellent save to keep the score at 1-0 to the Angels

As the half progressed there were chances for Jack Wood and Joe Turner but following some Tonbridge pressure there was a Gillingham breakaway and Jaden Clarke found himself clear finishing well past Henly to level the scores. v Lewis Gard and Jack Wood had chances to win it for Angels but the game concluded with the dreaded penalty shoot out. Within the mind games of penalty shoot outs, it might be said that the Gills held the advantage having equalised relatively late on and Angels already having missed a spot kick during the game. There was however one distinct advantage for the home side; they won the toss and were facing their own supporters in the South Stand. Historically Angels don't have a particularly good record in these events but in fact it proved rather easy for the home side who scored four times with Gillingham only able to make one of their efforts count. In particular Aransibia who had missed the earlier penalty award bravely stepped up to take the second penalty and made no mistake. The action was capped off when Soares-Junior cheekily chipped Jake Turner which put the tie beyond the reach of Gillingham.

Tonbridge will now face Ramsgate away on a date to be determined.

Afterwards Angels Boss Jay Saunders said: "I wasn't overly pleased with our performance tonight but very pleased to get through to the next round."

Tonbridge Angels 0 Braintree Town 0

Match 69/22/2076 - Saturday, 28th January 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Braintree Town (0) 0
Attendance: 1,001

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/4,746

With both these teams level on points perhaps a draw was the predictable outcome and so it proved and whilst no goals were scored there was plenty of decent football played by both sides as they attempted to battle their way towards the play offs. Traditionally, Angels have often found the Iron a difficult nut to crack and it was considered that possibly one goal either way might well settle the encounter. In the event, neither defence was breached although to be fair to both sides it wasn’t for the want of trying.

For the Angels starting line up Ben Swift came in for Tommy Parkinson and Tommie Fagg was the replacement for the injured Scott Wagstaff. New signing Bivesh Gurung on loan for one month from Maidstone United saw the match out from the Bench but will have gained a good appreciation of how Tonbridge set up and play.

Supporters arriving just after kick off may have been confused to see Braintree playing in the Tonbridge change strip. A clash of colours forced the referee to insist on the dress code change.

The home side definitely had the better of the first half giving the Braintree defence plenty to think about with Greenidge having a chance in the 4th minute and from the resulting corner the ball had to be cleared off the line.

On 18 minutes a lovely Hinds cross for the home side was headed onto the bar by Turner when it seemed easier to score and there were further chances for Tonbridge through Hinds, Aransibia and Fagg but perhaps the closest Angels came to opening the score was on 38 minutes when Greenidge hit the woodwork with a header followed by Turner again through but his final effort drifted just wide of the left hand post. With Braintree offering little in that first period there was concern that Angels hadn’t been able to get their noses in front while they were on top. Surely the visitors would up their game and so it proved.

For the first 10 minutes of the second period Tonbridge continued their dominance with chances for Braham-Barrett with s 30 yarder which brought a good save from Sims, and Greenidge from close in who claimed vociferously that he had been held. But gradually events started to turn in favour of the visitors who began to get a foothold on the game with substitute Boachie in particular asking questions of the Tonbridge defence. Former Angel, Matt Rush had an effort from distance and at the other end Fagg should have done better on 78 minutes but delayed the shot and the chance was gone.

As the game began to reach its conclusion, Braintree continued to look the likelier to break the deadlock but a combination of poor shooting and the hard work of the Tonbridge defence saw the two teams having to settle for a point apiece which over the 90 minutes was probably a fair result.

Afterwards, Angels Boss Jay Saunders said: “In the end I have to be happy with the point. Earlier in the season it was a game we might well have lost.”

Pictures: Kathryn Bell

Tonbridge Angels 4 Dover Athletic 0

Match 67/22/2074 - Tuesday, 24th January 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (2) 4 Turner 7 Greenidge 16,50 Wood 90
Dover Athletic (0) 0
Attendance: 661

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/4,628

Angels cruised to a convincing win against Dover Athletic that takes them to just two points off the play off zone.

It was an unchanged starting line up following the win at St Albans with a welcome return of Ben Swift following injury to the squad although he had to be content to start his evening on the bench.

Tonbridge were out of the blocks very quickly with a Gard effort as early as the 4th minute which was pushed round the post by Whites keeper Nelson. It was a warning to Dover which seemingly they didn’t heed as Angels then went ahead three minutes later. Fielding played in Hinds whose cross reached Turner and having made the space for a shot he fired past Nelson into the roof of the net.

On 15 minutes Angels doubled their advantage. The goalscorer this time delivered a fine cross and there was leading scorer Greenidge with a thumping header that no goalkeeper was going to save.

Although Dover improved their rate of possession they just couldn’t create any realistic chances with the Angels defence easily able to deal with all that was thrown at them.

As the half reached its last few minutes Angels could have gone further ahead following another defence splitting run from Turner which put Tariq Hinds in but it was a decent save from Nelson.

On resumption one might have expected something of a fight back from the visitors but instead it was the hosts that should have gone further ahead through Gard with a Turner assist , but then they did get the third goal that likely killed the game. It was that man Greenidge again this time outrunning the Dover defence with his 11th goal in 11 games and his second of the night.

Once again Dover did have periods of possession but its how you use that possession and with respect they seemed bereft of creative ideas.

Greenidge should have had his hat trick on 63 minutes when once again he found himself clear but this time keeper Nelson made a good block. Eight minutes later Swift now on for Parkinson who had suffered slight concussion, had a chance with a header from a Gard free kick and on 83 minutes it was another substitute Jack Wood who forced the keeper again into serious action saving his shot following a Tommie Fagg pass.

Wood however was not to be denied when in the 90th minute he scored Angels 4th goal of the night and it could have got even worse for Dover when Gard found himself clear of a tiring Whites defence but the hit was straight at Nelson.

Angels Boss, Jay Saunders, said afterwards: “Delighted with the win with everyone playing their part. We were both clinical in attack and sound defensively.”

Tonbridge Angels 2 Faversham Town 0

Match 61/22/2068 - Tuesday, 10th January 2023 - Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 Wood 7 Turner 19
Faversham Town (0) 0
Attendance: 58

Admission: £4
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/4,248