Tonbridge Angels 2 St Albans City 2

Match 106/23/2229 - Saturday, 20th April 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 2 Velvick 61 Higgs 80
St Albans City (1) 2 Hutchinson 12 Jeffers 70
Attendance: 1,431
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/7,577

Tonbridge Angels and St Albans City served up an entertaining four goal draw on an emotional day in which the club bade farewell to the legend that is Jonny Henly.

Henly was named as captain for his 304th and final appearance in an Angels side that welcomed back Scott Wagstaff and Mo Dabre to the starting XI with Matty Macarthur and Josh Popoola dropping to the bench.

The nature of the game as a “dead rubber” was not reflected in the impressive attendance of 1,431 gathered in some spring sunshine.

Wagstaff entered the book of referee Lisa Benn within the first two minutes following a challenge that saw the visitors’ Gio Rasulo substituted.

Dabre brought the first save out of either goalkeeper with Michael Johnson saving at the expense of a corner but it was St Albans that opened the scoring after 12 minutes when Shaun Jeffers and Dominic Hutchinson combined on the left side of the box before the latter drove a fierce shot into the roof of the net from around 12 yards.

Johnson got himself into a spot of bother on the edge of the box before the ball was scrambled to safety and Henly saved well from Romeo Akinola and Jeffers in the space of a couple of minutes prior to the break.

Jay Saunders made an early second half substitution replacing Wagstaff with Hayden Velvick and the teenager had an early opportunity but his touch was slightly heavy and Johnson smothered and within a minute Johnson once again denied Velvick this time saving with his feet.

But Velvick’s first senior goal for the club was only minutes away as, just past the hour, Jamie Fielding met a Shields corner with a firm header that could only be parried at his near post by Johnson to the striker who poked the ball home.

Parity was only to last nine minutes as Jake Burger got behind the Tonbridge back line on the left and his cross to the far post was met with a close range touch home for Jeffers for his 27th goal of an ever-productive season.

The Angels were back on level terms on 80 minutes when Fielding’s cross was met with a powerful header from Jordan Higgs that brought about a final 10 minutes in which the Angels threw everything at the visitors with efforts from Velvick, Shields and Lewis Gard but St Albans clung on to return to Hertfordshire with a point which on the balance of play was fair.

Jay Saunders reflected following the game: "It was a decent point but definitely disappointed with the goals conceded, Jonny hasn't had a lot to do other than that. Recent weeks have been tough to get through without a centre forward, but you can't fault the players effort. We showed great character at 2-1, last game of the season, we could have given up, we didn't and even when we got the equaliser we still had a go for a winner, so credit to them for that."

Tonbridge Angels 1 Farnborough 2

Match 100/23/2223 - Monday, 1st April 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Odokonyero 18
Farnborough (0) 2 Haigh 51 Pendlebury 68
Attendance: 1,255
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/7,016

A game of the proverbial two halves saw Farnborough extend their winning run to seven straight games at the Angels expense.

After a first half in which Jay Saunders’ team dominated and led through a Nathan Odokonyero goal, the visitors emerged from the dressing room a different team to score twice to take maximum points back to Hampshire.

Shorn of an almost entire midfield with Scott Wagstaff, Ryan Hanson and Jordan Higgs all missing out through injury, Jay’s squad looked threadbare with Josh Popoola and Lewis Gard returning to the starting XI with three Academy/Under-18’s on the bench.

After a relatively quiet opening quarter hour the game sprang to life when Odokonyero wriggled his way into the box before seeing his shot deflected for a corner from which Jamie Fielding’s header was cleared from the line for another corner.

This time Sean Shields corner was headed back across the face of goal by Fielding to Odokonyero who deftly turned and fired home past a helpless goalkeeper.

Tails up, Tonbridge were creating good chances with Shields only managing to stab a shot wide and Liam Vincent forcing Jack Turner into a good low save and, after 38 minutes, a Shields cross was headed against his own crossbar by Guy Hollis.

Jonny Henly brought rapturous applause from the home support but not in the normal manner after making a double tackle some 35 yards from his goal out on the right touchline.

In a moment, early in the second half, the game turned in the visitors favour as referee Matthew Norton waved away strong claims for a penalty after Odokonyero was brought down and as the ball was swept to the other end, Joe Haigh cut in from the right to bury a shot into the far bottom corner to equalise for the visitors after 51 minutes.

The momentum had swung in favour of Farnborough and Tonbridge had to withstand heavy pressure conceding several corners before a free kick conceded on the edge of the box was well struck by Olly Pendlebury could only be helped into the roof of the net by Henly.

The Angels mounted a spirited last 20 minutes that saw Fielding stretch Turner and an Odokonyero header that drifted narrowly wide. And then, in the final minute of regular time, a cross from Shields saw Turner save from Gard with the follow-up being cleared from the line by Ricky Holmes.

Five minutes of time added brought shots at goal from Vincent and Tariq Hinds but Farnborough stood firm to take the points.

A frustrating afternoon for Jay Saunders who commented after the game: “We had a lot of players missing today, we put a lot of effort in and they key moments leading up to their first goal the officials have had a big part to play in the way the game altered. For all the long balls they throw in I thought we dealt with it well, but key moments in games change things and we’ve had our chances.”

Picture: Dave Couldridge

Tonbridge Angels 2 Truro City 1

Match 96/23/2219 - Saturday, 23rd March 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 2 Higgs 84 Fielding 90+3
Truro City (0) 1 Josh Hinds 65
Attendance: 1,033
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/6,814

Jordan Higgs had one of those days! At fault for the goal that saw the Angels slip behind, his shot from the left side of the penalty area brought his side level before a last gasp winner from Jamie Fielding sealed the points with Higgs taking home the Man of the Match award.

On a day at the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium when early arrivals were greeted with a hailstorm but the afternoon turned to bright sunshine, Jay Saunders’ hand was forced with illness and injury hitting the squad. Sean Shields (illness), Nathan Odokonyero and Kodi Lyons-Foster (injuries) dropped out of the squad with Matty Mcarthur making his first start whilst Lewis Gard and Scott Wagstaff returned to the starting XI.

The first half was largely dominated by the Angels, who employed Gard as their furthest forward, but it was little more than gentle probing and the visiting Cornishmen packed their rearguard limiting the home side to precious few openings, the best of which fell to Wagstaff who shot over after two minutes and a free kick from Liam Vincent that similarly cleared the bar.

At the other end, Jonny Henly was largely unemployed, fielding with ease an effort from Connor Riley-Lowe, under a challenge from Mo Dabre.

The second half started and continued in much the same vein. An early chance for Macarthur was too high and, on 58 minutes, Higgs danced his way into the box but found himself crowded out by the massed ranks of red and black striped shirts.

Skipper Scott Wagstaff, who had taken a ball in the face in the first half, was substituted for Josh Popoola.

It was almost unthinkable that, on 65 minutes, Truro took the lead when Higgs stumbled on the ball on the edge of his box to be robbed by Josh Hinds (Tariq’s brother) who had an open goal to roll the ball into.

Tonbridge continued to push forward in search of something out of the game with Academy striker Hayden Velvick now on the pitch and finally, with six minutes remaining, Truro’s resistance was broken when a corner was only partially cleared to Higgs whose cleanly hit shot nestled into the bottom corner.

Now searching a winner, Jamie Fielding was pressed forward and the chances began to open up for the Angels with Gard firing over; Higgs steering a header wide from Liam Vincent’s cross before, in the third of five added minutes, Popoola wriggled his way to the byline to despatch a low cross that evaded bodies to find Fielding at the back post to touch home.

Tonbridge Angels 4 Torquay United 1

Match 93/23/2216 - Saturday, 16th March 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 4 Hinds 22 Odokonyero 71,76 Shields 72
Torquay United (0) 1 Ash 79
Attendance: 1,308
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/6,724

Tonbridge Angels supporters departed the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium full of the joys of spring after watching their favourites demolish Torquay United with three second half goals in a five minute spell. For the visitors, it was the end of a terrible week that had seen a 10 point deduction following their intention to go into receivership.

After a morning of sunshine, cloud cover was hardly spring-like as Jay Saunders made two changes from the side beaten at Aveley on Monday. Kodi Lyons-Foster and Ryan Hanson returned following injury with Jernade Meade and club captain Scott Wagstaff, who had been ill this week, dropping to the bench.

A healthy contingent of Torquay supporters had defied the M25 closure to take their places in an attendance of 1,308.

After a quiet opening 10 minutes the game sprang to life with Torquay’s goalkeeper, Mark Halstead, making a superb save to deny Hanson’s header at the near post from a Sean Shields corner.

Within a minute, the visitors had a great chance when a cross into the box from Bradley Ash found Aaron Jarvis who dwelt too long allowing Jonny Henly to smother at his feet.

Tonbridge took a 22nd minute lead when Shields released Liam Vincent down the left and from his low cross, Tariq Hinds scored from close range at the far post.

The game was delayed when referee Dan England was struck on the head with the ball and within a minute of the official recovering after treatment, Jordan Higgs was similarly struck.

Six minutes before the break, Torquay went close when a cross from Jack Stobbs was back headed by Tom Lapslie but his effort nestled on the roof of the net.

On the cusp of half-time, Nathan Odokonyero saw his effort deflected narrowly wide.

The early part of the second half saw an Odokonyero shot saved by Halstead and after a fine interchange between Hinds and Odokonyero, Shields saw his space denied and the ball was scrambled to safety.

Torquay had a spell in which they dominated the possession before a five minute spell from the Angels saw them surge into an unassailable four goal lead. On 71 minutes Shields sent Odokonyero clear to cooly convert one-on-one with the goalkeeper and a minute later an audacious lob from the right side of the penalty area from Shields left Halstead helpless.

On 76 minutes, brilliant footwork from Odokonyero made space for a shot into the bottom corner and despite Bradley Ash scoring a 79th minute consolation goal for the Gulls the game was as good as done.

The announcement of Ryan Hanson as the Man of the Match brought a complimentary chant from the supporters of his ex-club before the final whistle brought disgruntled boos from same fans whilst the Angels supporters celebrated joyously at the other end.

Tonbridge Angels 2 Eastbourne Borough 0

Match 86/23/2209 - Saturday, 2nd March 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Sutcliffe 36 Dabre 77
Eastbourne Borough (0) 0
Attendance: 1,185
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/6,190

Tonbridge Angels brought to an end their winless run of four games with a comfortable win over relegation threatened Eastbourne Borough, who had Freddie Carter sent off in the first half.

On a bright afternoon after a morning of rain at the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium, Jay Saunders made three changes from the side that agonisingly lost to Slough Town with Lewis Gard (injured), Jordan Greenidge (sickness) and Scott Wagstaff (suspended) being replaced by the returning Jamie Fielding, Mo Dabre and Ryan Hanson.

After a tepid opening 20 minutes in which only Jonny Henly was tested with a near post save from Decarrey Sheriff, the game came to life when a Sean Shields left sided corner was met with a Kodi Lyons-Foster header that was cleared from the line.

Eastbourne Borough’s goalkeeper, Ben Dudzinski saved well from Mo Dabre, before after 33 minutes, a run from Nathan Odokonyero was ended when unceremoniously brought down by Carter that brought a second yellow and subsequent red card.

With their man advantage, Tonbridge pressed the fast forward button and after 36 minutes, a Shields corner brushed the head of Lyons-Foster before landing at the feet of Ethan Sutcliffe who tucked it home for his first goal for the club.

The Angels ended the half on top with Dudzinski saving from Shields, Jordan Higgs and Odokonyero.

Tonbridge maintained their momentum into the second half with an early run and cross from Odokonyero narrowly evading Hanson.

Shields and Liam Vincent are forming a good understanding down the left hand side and from here a good chance for Dabre was created but his shot was wide.

On 68 minutes a fantastic block from Eastbourne’s Sam Beard denied Tariq Hinds after Dabre’s never-say-die attitude produced a cross from the byeline when most of would have given it up.

Tonbridge doubled their advantage on 78 minutes after a five minute period in which their visitors had looked quite dangerous with a couple of shots at Henly and a corner from Leone Gravata that was scrambled clear at the near post.

But, from that moment of concern, Fielding broke clear down the right before letting fire a shot from the edge of the box that Dudzinski could only parry into the path of Dabre. The midfielder’s shot cannoned down from the underside of the bar before rebounding in off the prostrate goalkeeper.

The Angels eased their way through the closing minutes with efforts from Lyons-Foster, Shields and Odokonyero successfully denied by Eastbourne’s stretched defence.

A satisfied Jay Saunders said after the match: "Lot happier than last week!" Good performance for large parts of it, probably should have been out of sight first half. There were good elements to our play today, workrate and tempo. Chances were cleared from the line or blocked and we had to keep grinding away."

Tonbridge Angels 1 Slough Town 2

Match 84/23/2207 - Saturday, 24th February 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Odokonyero 22
Slough Town (1) 2 Lench 1 Ogbonna 90+1
Attendance: 1,070
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/6,114

Both Tonbridge Angels and Slough Town have flirted with the play-off places in National League South so the importance of the game was apparent. A hard fought encounter ensued, but it was the visitors that enhanced their chances with an added time winner of some controversy.

Jay Saunders, perhaps sensing from Slough’s score a lot, concede a lot season, opted to go with two up top, pairing Jordan Greenidge and Nathan Odokonyero with Mo Dabre making way; the other change being a straight swap of Lewis Gard returning for Ryan Hanson.

Slough Town, coming into the game on the better run of form, flew out of the traps and, after just 35 seconds, David Ogbonna laid the ball back into the path of Matt Lench, whose strike from 30 yards found the top corner.

Slough, with Ogbonna giving the Angels a real problem down the left created further chances for Lench and Slavi Spasov before the Angels gained a foothold in the game.

Sean Shields put in a great cross from the left which Odokonyero headed narrowly wide before, after 22 minutes, a quick throw saw Greenidge pass to Odokonyero who drove the ball under Dan Lincoln.

The Angels finished the first half the stronger with Odokonyero having efforts saved and Jordan Higgs driving a free kick narrowly wide.

The second half was far more of a dogged affair with little in the way of clear cut chances for either side until late on when Shields saw his effort saved before, in the 91st minute, after conceding possession, a cross into the Tonbridge box from the left found its way to Nathan Minhas who saw his shot hit the post with the rebound falling to Ogbonna whose shot was cleared but a linesman’s flag deemed that the ball had crossed the line.

Jay Saunders said following the game: “With regards to the goal, whether it was or it wasn’t, that’s papering over a few cracks, I don’t think we were good today, perhaps the worst we’ve been in a while. The goal is a tough one to take, we’ve seen it back and it wasn’t a goal. The linesman has said that he gave it for the first effort but that has hit the post and come back out. I’m not blaming the officials for the defeat, I’m going to say that we were not good enough in all aspects.”

Tonbridge Angels 2 Yeovil Town 4

Match 79/23/2202 - Saturday, 10th February 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Odokonyero 18 Lyons-Foster 89
Yeovil Town (2) 4 Young 10 Wannell 17,65 Worthington 90+5
Attendance: 1,356
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/5,751

The Green Army came to town and departed with the points and their runaway lead at the head of the table intact but not before they had been given an excellent work out from the hosts, Tonbridge Angels.

The home side will rue defensive errors that contributed to three of Yeovil Town’s goals and an added time header from Jordan Greenidge that was directed straight at the goalkeeper from a couple of yards.

Ethan Sutcliffe returned to the Angels starting XI following his time back with his parent club, slotting in for the suspended Tariq Hinds and Mo Dabre came in for Lewis Gard who dropped to the bench.

A mild afternoon with light rain developing greeted an attendance of 1,356 with a healthy following from Somerset.

There was an early effort from Paris Lock that was deflected for a corner but it was the visitors that took a 10th minute lead when a tackle won in midfield by Sam Pearson who surged forward before releasing a pass to Jordan Young who finished clinically.

On 17 minutes Tonbridge found themselves two down when a corner from Young was met with an unchallenged header from Jake Wannell that took a wicked deflection to wrong foot Jonny Henly.

There was the proverbial mountain to climb but the Angels at least set up a base camp within a minute when Nathan Odokonyero seized on a misplaced header from Michael Smith to finish well past Joe Day.

When half-time came it was unwelcome to the hosts as they had Yeovil hanging on by their fingertips. A effort from Lock was narrowly wide whilst Day saved from Sean Shields and Odokonyero.

A relatively quiet start to the second half ended on 65 minutes with a third goal that I’m sure would’ve infuriated Jay Saunders as much as it did me. A corner from the right was met with the easiest of unchallenged headers from Wannell.

Tonbridge supporters should take great pride that their team didn’t roll over at this point but took the game to their illustrious opponents.

Greenidge entered the fray for the last 20 minutes and Tonbridge buzzed around the Yeovil box like the proverbial flies but couldn’t find a finish until the ball was scrambled away for a Jordan Higgs mishit shot to find its way invitingly to Kodi Lyons-Foster who squeezed a shot between the goalkeeper and his post with a minute left on the clock. Too little, too late we guessed, but …

A minute later, Shields put in the most delicious of crosses from the left that cleared the Yeovil defender for Greenidge to dive in, but his header was only directed at Day, who made a good, instinctive save, any deflection would have made it hard for the keeper. Day’s parry looked to be falling at the feet of Gard, who was brought down, but Steven Hughes, the best referee in the league who had another fine game, saw no reason to point to the spot.

A last gasp corner saw Henly go forward and Shields corner was met by the Angels’ goalkeeper but his header drifted wide and with the final play of the match an Angels attack broke down with everyone bar Henly in the opposition half which allowed Matt Worthington to stride forward and with Henly 30 yards from his line slot into the unguarded goal.

This was a great watch, a great advert for National League South and, even in defeat, a great advert for Tonbridge Angels. Yeovil Town will not be around next season, they have never played a league match at Longmead before and perhaps never will again.

Stunning photograph from Kathryn Bell

Tonbridge Angels 2 Chippenham Town 0

Match 78/23/2201 - Saturday, 3rd February 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Lyons-Foster Shields
Chippenham Town (0) 0
Attendance: 1,005
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/5,713

We did enough without having to do too much. Tonbridge Angels eased themselves back into winning ways with a relatively comfortable win against a Chippenham Town side that have never won at Longmead Stadium.

It was comfortable rather than easy as the visitors played some pretty stuff but lacked any sort of firepower to trouble Angels’ goalkeeper, Jonny Henly, throughout the afternoon.

Unfortunately, referee Eugene Robinson decided to take centre stage and issue a second caution to Tariq Hinds which somewhat took the shine off a satisfying afternoon.

Jay Saunders had the luxury of an almost complete squad to pick from and decided to go unchanged from the side beaten at Weston-super-Mare last week.

Great defending from Jamie Fielding blocking an attempt from Matt McClure prevented early work for Henly but from that point Tonbridge were dominant.

A poor clearance from Chippenham goalkeeper, Will Henry, fell at the feet of Paris Lock, who began a dribble from around 30 yards out, that saw him forced out towards the right of the goal and when he momentarily lost possession on the touchline you thought it was the end of the move but he won it back immediately, and brought the ball back towards the edge of the box before letting go a shot that Henry brilliantly turned over to atone for his initial mistake.

Sadly, it was to be his last contribution to the game, as after 10 minutes he was brought down by Freddie Grant, who received a caution and although he returned to the field of play, he needed to be substituted after 16 minutes with the introduction of Mo Dabre.

After 21 minutes, a free kicked floated into the box by Sean Shields saw Liam Vincent’s volley strike the post but two minutes later the Angels were in front.

Shields curled a shot from the left hand corner of the 18 yard box that Henry tipped onto the crossbar but the rebound fell invitingly to Kodi Lyons-Foster to finish from close range.

Early in the second half an effort from Nathan Odokonyero only found the outside of the roof of the net before in the 56th minute, the ball was worked out well from the right side into the centre from where a superb pass from Lyons-Foster found Shields, who had plenty to do as he cut in from the left to find the space to get his shot away and into the top corner.

With 12 minutes to go, Shields back to his best and deservedly taking home the man of the match award, got to the byeline crossed for a partial clearance under pressure from Dabre that only found Lewis Gard, but his shot spun off the outside of the boot and wide.

On 84 minutes Hinds failed to keep a ball in play, picked the ball up and walked a couple of paces before rolling it back to where the throw should be taken and for that received his second yellow and consequent dismissal. It was petty, quite bizarre refereeing.

Despite their man disadvantage, Tonbridge saw the game out comfortably with Chippenham’s disappointment only heightened by a late disallowed goal.

Tonbridge Angels 0 Worthing 1

Match 72/23/2195 - Saturday, 20th January 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Worthing (0) 1 Pearce 62
Attendance: 1,337
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/5,094

A first unsuccessful penalty of the season from Lewis Gard ultimately signalled the end of Tonbridge’s 10 game unbeaten run at Longmead.

In a really good game, Worthing showed all the credentials of a promotion winning side including the must have, a prolific striker in Ollie Pearce, whose goal took his total to 21 for the season.

That be said, in my opinion, Tonbridge deserved something out of the game and with the sharper finishing that their visitors possessed, they would have got what they deserved.

After the freezing temperatures of the last few days, the mercury rose a little but it was still pretty chilly as another bumper crowd, boosted by a strong following from West Sussex, of 1,337 was in attendance.

Tonbridge paraded two new loan signings, Nathan Odonkonyero, a striker from Ebbsfleet United and Liam Vincent, a left back from Portsmouth. Jordan Greenidge, Sean Shields and Jernade Meade were absent through injury.

Worthing showed their attacking intent from the outset and had a futile penalty appeal waved away followed by Jonny Henly making a save to thwart Jake Robinson, but the best chance of the opening minutes fell to Paris Lock who was fed a pass on the left side of the area from Mo Dabre, but his shot was well saved at the near post by Josh Jeffries.

A weaving run from the left from Lock ended with a Dabre shot that was comfortably collected by Jeffries and Odonkonyero pulled a shot wide as the Angels were enjoying the better of the play.

On 38 minutes, Worthing’s Danny Cashman was sent clear but blazed wastefully over whilst a minute later, Jeffries was the hero of the hour as he brilliantly clawed a Lock effort out of the top corner.

As the curtain came down on the first period, feeling was there was little between the teams with perhaps the Angels shading it.

In the 62nd minute, Worthing opened the scoring with some patient play down the left that retained possession before a long cross to the far post was headed back across the face of goal by Michael Klass for a typical poacher’s goal from Pearce, knocking in from close range whilst under pressure.

On 71 minutes a chance on the edge of the box fell to Gard, but his shot was high and wide. With 10 minutes remaining Lock’s persistence and quick feet saw him drive into the box where he went down under pressure from Finlay Chadwick.

Six successful conversions previously this season, Gard was probably due to miss one, and this was that time with a spot kick that comfortably cleared the bar.

The home side pressed hard for an equaliser, Tariq Hinds went down in the box in added time but this time the referee was unmoved.

Worthing proved their worth, no pun intended, and the Angels can only reflect that the difference between the sides has been the clinical striker, that Pearce is. That sort of quality doesn’t come chief and is beyond the means of most National League South clubs.

Tonbridge Angels 2 Weymouth 1

Match 68/23/2191 - Saturday, 6th January 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Greenidge 35 Lyons-Foster 71
Weymouth (1) 1 Bearwish 43
Attendance: 1,130
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/4,788

Tonbridge Angels returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Weymouth, who might return to home to Dorset a little disappointed such was the evenly contested nature of the game.

It is a case of home, sweet home for the Angels, who are now nine unbeaten at the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium, a run that stretches back to early September.

Jay Saunders was able to welcome back Sean Shields from the starting XI against Maidstone United and there was a return to the bench for Jamie Fielding after his head injury sustained against Dartford prior to Christmas, but the manager would have been disappointed to lose his captain Scott Wagstaff to injury. New signing Paris Lock dropped down to the bench with Ansu Janneh starting.

Tonbridge started well against a Weymouth side, who had a good Christmas with four points from their back-to-back games with Weston-super-Mare, but the best chance of the opening 20 minutes fell to Brandon Goodship, who spurned a golden opportunity at the far post after the ball had been delivered across the face of goal from the right and a couple of minutes later Dorking Wanderers loanee Alfie Rutherford brought a save out of Jonny Henly.

Tonbridge edged their way back into the game and good work from Mo Dabre opened up a shooting opportunity for Ansu Janneh that Weymouth goalkeeper, Gerrard Benfield was equal to.

A meandering run from midfield from Tariq Hinds saw him progress to the edge of the box before his shot took a deflection for a corner.

The Angels finally got their noses in front after 35 minutes when Lewis Gard danced his way along the left byeline before sliding a pass into Jordan Greenidge who had a tap-in from about a yard out against one of his former clubs.

The goal prompted the visitors into a positive response with a header from Harry Parsons saved by Henly before, two minutes before the break, a well worked move down the left saw Rutherford slip the ball inside to Tom Bearwish, who finished well from a tight angle to even things up at the break.

Saunders, not best pleased with his side’s first half performance, made a half-time substitution with Paris Lock replacing Ansu Janneh.

Lock immediately brought some pace and directness to the Angels attack and was only denied by the feet of the advancing Benfield after 56 minutes and 10 minutes later he was narrowly wide of the far post after being sent clear by Hinds.

The Angels regained the lead on 71 minutes when a Shields corner was met with a stooping near post header from Kodi Lyons-Foster from edge of the six yard box into the bottom corner.

The result remained in doubt throughout the last 20 minutes as Weymouth pushed hard for an equaliser but were reasonably contained by the Angels back line that had been reinforced with the introduction of Fielding for Dabre.

In time added, Benfield was robbed a long way from his goal on the left touchline by Lock whose audacious effort sadly only found the side netting.

The win elevates the Angels to ninth position in National League South ahead of next Saturday’s visit to Hemel Hempstead Town.

Tonbridge Angels 1 Maidstone United 1

Match 64/23/2187 - Tuesday, 26th December 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Higgs 90+4
Maidstone United (0) 1 Rush 57
Attendance: 2,806
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/4,654
Weather: 12degC, dry

An incredible Jordan Higgs strike in the last minute of time added brought a euphoric response from the vast majority of the record Longmead crowd of 2,806 as the Angels salvaged a point from their A26 neighbours, Maidstone United.

In order to accommodate the attendance, almost 400 in excess of the previous high of the 2011 play-off game against Lowestoft Town, the kick-off needed delaying for 15 minutes.

Jay Saunders, who was given a warm welcome from the travelling Stones support, made one enforced change from the side that took a point at Taunton, with skipper Scott Wagstaff failing to regain full fitness following a knock on Saturday.

The Boxing Day crowd, full of noise and anticipation at the outset, became subdued during a first half in which the sides cancelled each other out, although Maidstone held a greater share of possession, forcing three corners in the opening minutes and eight before the break.

The first incursion into Maidstone territory came on 12 minutes when Mo Dabre flashed a cross but Jordan Greenidge was unable to rise high enough to meet it.

Despite having the majority of the ball, the visitors were not really troubling the Angels back line but the closest either side came to scoring came on the half-hour when a long range strike from the visitors’ George Fowler was narrowly wide.

On 35 minutes, Maidstone’s goalkeeper, Lucas Covolan, was asked to make his first save, turning away a Greenidge shot at his near post.

That brought down the curtain on what had been a largely disappointing first period from both sides.

Maidstone opened the scoring on 57 minutes when Harry Kyprianou got free down the left hand side before driving a cross at the far post that was met and bundled home by one-time Angels loanee, Matt Rush.

On 64 minutes, Mo Dabre put a Jernade Meade cross just over the bar and on to the roof of net as the Angels searched for an equaliser as the visitors put. numbers behind the ball to protect their lead.

The clock was ticking down as Sean Shields and Tariq Hinds saw efforts blocked by weight of numbers.

As the board was raised showing four additional minutes, Lewis Gard had a long range effort comfortably fielded by Covolan and when the Angels won a corner on the right, goalkeeper Jonny Henly was sent forward in desperate last effort.

The corner was firstly headed clear to the edge of the box to Hinds who headed it forward once more for another headed clearance that fell to Higgs on the left hand side of the 18 yard box. His beautifully struck volley flew into top corner with Covolan grasping a thin air.

The celebrations were brought to a halt in front of the visitor’s technical area and the melee that followed brought a flurry of yellow cards and a red card for a member of the Maidstone contingent.

Jay Saunders said after the game: “Obviously that late in the game, you take a point all day long, and that strike was probably worth the admission money alone. It wasn’t a great spectacle, a typical local derby and we are a little disappointed that with the crowd we didn’t give a proper account of ourselves.”

Tonbridge Angels 4 Dartford 0

Match 62/23/2185 - Saturday, 16th December 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (2) 4 Greenidge 22,77 Gard 25 Dabre 33
Dartford (0) 0
Attendance: 1,237
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/4,578
Weather: 10degC, dry

Tonbridge Angels produced a pre-Christmas Cracker of a performance for their supporters to demolish near-neighbours Dartford with a first half display that swept their visitors aside.

Jay Saunders was able to recall Sean Shields to the side following his absence with a virus for the trip to Torquay United with Francis Mampolo dropping to the bench.

Mercifully dry, if a little cold, Tonbridge gave due warning to the Darts, for many years a bogey side of the Angels, in the opening minutes of their second clash of the season. After five minutes, Jernade Meade fired over the bar and a minute later Sean Shields' effort escaped the right post, followed by a Jordan Greenidge shot that wasn’t too far wide.

After 16 minutes, Mo Dabre and Scott Wagstaff combined to create another chance, with the skipper delivering a cross that Greenidge steered onto the outside of the post.

  The goal that the Angels had threatened, and thoroughly deserved, arrived on 22 minutes when Greenidge met a Shields left-sided corner at the near post to turn the ball home to the delight of the Angels support behind the goal.

Three minutes later those fans were in absolute dreamland when the Angels doubled their advantage with a superb goal on the break. As a Dartford attack was broken down, the ball was played out to Shields who made ground before sending Dabre clear to cross into the box to Lewis Gard who withstood the challenge of a defender to slot past the advancing Darts goalkeeper, Ryan Sandford.

Dream time for the Angels; nightmares for the visitors as the home side cruised into a three goal lead on 33 minutes. Dabre who had already been heavily involved with his energy and workrate, added his name to the scoresheet when he met a Wagstaff cross to score from the edge of the six yard box.

Before the break, Jamie Fielding took a blow to the face which saw him on his way to hospital being replaced by Tom Parkinson. The referee, Lisa Benn, only reached for a yellow card despite what appeared a raised elbow from Harvey Bradbury who had been warned for a similar offence earlier in the half on Jordan Higgs.

A fourth goal would surely have put the game to bed and this very nearly came after 37 minutes when a shot, heavily deflected, from Tariq Hinds was brilliantly turned aside by Sandford.

Dartford made a double substitution at the break in an attempt to reinvigorate their performance, but despite a slight increase in possession, Tonbridge kept them at an arm’s length with relative comfort with Tyrell Miller-Rodney’s effort into the side netting their only real opportunity.

Thirteen minutes remained when Wagstaff stood up a cross from the right to the far post for Greenidge to nod home and wrap up a fine afternoon’s entertainment for the Angels support.

The win will give the Angels confidence going into the hectic Christmas period with a trip to Somerset and Taunton Town next Saturday before the double header with local rivals Maidstone United.

Tonbridge Angels 4 Havant & Waterlooville 1

Match 55/23/2178 - Saturday, 25th November 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 4 Gard 51 (pen) Greenidge 55 Hinds 90,90+3
Havant & Waterlooville (0) 1 Phillips 65
Attendance: 1,025
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,860
Weather: 6degC, dry

Two late goals from Man of the Match Tariq Hinds eased the Angels to a comfortable victory against bottom of the table Havant and Waterlooville, who had been reduced to 10 men from the 28th minute.

Jay Saunders made one change from the side that took a point off second placed Aveley on Tuesday with Jernade Meade returning from international duty with Montserrat, Billy French rested to the bench alongside new signings Mohammad Dabre and Obed Yeboah, a 19 year-old Dutch striker who joins from Truro City having spent his youth career at AFC Wimbledon.

It was a cold afternoon at the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium and supporters from both sides in a healthy attendance of 1,025 needed some distraction from the numbing of their fingers and toes. Sadly, a turgid first half failed to achieve this.

But, after 28 minutes of the half, came the major incident that shaped the game with a big call from referee Steven Hughes. Havant’s James Roberts, who had been shown a yellow card just two minutes earlier for a challenge on Scott Wagstaff, was booked and subsequently red carded for simulation after going down in the box. Referee Hughes was perfectly placed to make the judgement and it brought little argument from the Havant side.

After 20 minutes of very little action, the Angels carved out the opening opportunity when a through ball from Sean Shields sent Francis Mampolo clear but the Havant goalkeeper, Ross Worner, was quick to cut down the angle and turn the ball away for a corner.

And as real chances go, that was about as good as it got in a disappointing first period.

Whatever Saunders had to say in the confines of the dressing room the words had the desired effect as the Angels came out with renewed sense of purpose alongside the introduction of Dabre for Mampolo.

Dabre’s opening contribution was a tricky run and cross that was met by the head of Jordan Greenidge but steered wide. But, five minutes into the second half, the big striker won a penalty after a run into the box was ended by a clumsy challenge from Yoan Zouma. Lewis Gard stepped up to retain his perfect record from the spot sending Worner the wrong way to convert his sixth penalty of the season.

Four minutes later a good combination down the right ended with Shields placing the perfect cross onto the head of Greenidge, who got in front of his marker to nod home from close range.

Now in full control of the game, Ben Swift went close with a header from a corner, but in turn was injured and needed to be substituted. A moment’s lapse in concentration following his departure saw a long cross from Jake McCarthy find Kieran Phillips at the far post to head home.

Although the reduced deficit made the game slightly more uncomfortable the chances to put the game to bed were falling the Angels way with efforts from Meade and Greenidge bringing good saves from Worner.

Any worries were finally dismissed in the last minute of regular time when a pass was laid across to the edge of the box from where Hinds drove the ball home.

A fair reflection of Tonbridge’s dominance was added three minutes into added time when Greenidge won the ball with is back to goal and laid it back to Hinds to lash home from 20 yards.

The win lifts the Angels to eighth in the table with only goal difference separating them from a play off position.

Tonbridge Angels 1 Aveley 1

Match 54/23/2177 - Tuesday, 21st November 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Swift 65
Aveley (1) 1 Odembi 45 (pen)
Attendance: 741
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,822
Weather: 7degC, dry

Tonbridge Angels 0 Hampton & Richmond Borough 0

Match 48/23/2171 - Tuesday, 7th November 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Hampton & Richmond Borough (0) 0
Attendance: 656
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,420
Weather: Cold, 9degC

Tonbridge Angels 1 Chelmsford City 1

Match 46/23/2169 - Saturday, 4th November 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Wagstaff 8
Chelmsford City (1) 1 Jenkins 33
Attendance: 1,050
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,344
Weather: Very wet, 14degC

Tonbridge Angels 3 Bath City 2

Match 42/23/2165 - Saturday, 21st October 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 3 Fielding 8 Gard 69,88 (2 pens)
Bath City (2) 2 Cooke 27 Wilson 31
Attendance: 883
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/2,556
Weather: 16degC., heavyish showers

One of the great unquantifiables, be that in football or in life, is luck. Over the course of a football season it supposedly evens itself out. If it doesn’t then you are either Manchester City (who don't need it) or destined to finish a distant last in whatever division in which you compete.

Whatever the shade of fortune you endure or enjoy, it isn’t only the fickle finger of the good Lady, much is of your own making but when that rub of the green isn’t going your way there is little you can do until a break comes your way.

In his programme notes, Tonbridge Angels manager, Jay Saunders, bemoaned their rotten luck so far this season and I’m inclined to agree that we deserved a break.

But when Tonbridge, 2-1 down in the closing moments of the first half saw a ball cleared from a couple of yards beyond the goal line it appeared that nothing was about to change anytime soon but Lady Luck was about to have her say. In the midst of the passage of play that led to the goal that wasn’t, Bath City’s goalkeeper, Ollie Wright, suffered a dislocated shoulder that needed hospital treatment and without a keeper on the bench, right back Joe Raynes took the gloves. Bath were not the same side in the second half, the Angels took advantage and the rest is history.

Last week at Weymouth, injuries, suspensions and unavailability led to a selection shorn of any attack; this week roles reversed, no defenders and with Bath carrying one of the more potent strike forces in National League South, the outlook was ominous.

If the theory was that the best form of defence was attack, Tonbridge flew out of the traps and were ahead after just eight minutes when a corner delivered by Sean Shields was met with a towering header from Jamie Fielding that looped over Wright and into the far corner.

Scott Wagstaff, filling in at right back was finding Ewan Clarke a difficult opponent and after 11 minutes Fielding was needed to clear from the line and, on 23 minutes, they were relieved to see a linesman’s flag after Scott Wilson had the ball in the Angels net.

The equaliser that was coming duly arrived four minutes later when Clark delivered a cross to the far post from where Cody Cooke bundled the ball home from close range.

On 31 minutes the visitors were in front when a long clearance saw Tommy Parkinson misjudge a header and with a swivel and a first time shot from 35 yards the ball sailed over a stranded Jonny Henly.

Tonbridge responded and in the second minute of added time Wright did well to claw away a shot from Charlie Pegrum that was heading for the top corner, but from the resultant corner, two shots from Lewis Gard were saved before the ball was bundled over the line with Wright left prostrate as arguments raged around referee Eugene Robinson.

The referee whistled for half-time and almost the entire break was taken treating the Bath goalkeeper before he was ferried to hospital by a Tonbridge official.

The visitors were clearly unsettled by the loss of the keeper and virtually disappeared as an attacking force in the second half. Peppering of the makeshift goalkeeper from the Angels didn’t really materialise and it took until the 68th minute when a low cross into the box from Turner was handled by Jordan Thomas giving Lewis Gard the opportunity to convert from the spot which he did despite the despairing fingertips of Raynes.

With just two minutes remaining, Tonbridge were awarded another penalty, this time for anyone of three offences, which Bath City manager Jerry Gill honestly admitted it was a penalty whichever the offence and Gard stepped up again to score his fourth penalty since taking on the spot kick role. Once again Raynes managed to get something on the ball but failed to keep it out of the net.

So Lady Luck more than had her say, as did some wayward officialdom. It was our day to enjoy her fickle finger.

Tonbridge Angels 3 Hemel Hempstead Town 3

Match 38/23/2161 - Saturday, 7th October 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (2) 3 Greenidge 5 Shields 42 Gard 94+4 (pen)
Hemel Hempstead Town (2) 3 Brown 12 Williams 20,78
Attendance: 932
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/1,968
Weather: 23degC., Is it really October!

Tonbridge Angels 0 Taunton Town 3

Match 26/23/2149 - Saturday, 10th September 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Taunton Town (2) 3 Morgan 7,26 McCoodie 67
Attendance: 852

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/1,417
Weather: 33degC., swletering, suffocating

Taunton Town returned home convincing winners after the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium had sweltered in 33degC of September sunshine.

Jay Saunders had to shuffle a threadbare squad with captain Scott Wagstaff suspended, Lewis Gard failing a late fitness test and Jernade Meade continuing to be away on international duty. Ruben Soares-Junior returned to the starting XI with two Academy players, Hayden Velvick and Noah Millis taking places on the bench.

Despite the Angels striking a post through Soares-Junior within the first two minutes, it was the visitors, who took a seventh minute lead before going on to largely control the first half.

Ben Swift gave up possession inside his own half for Dylan Morgan to run on and fire across the face of goalkeeper Jonny Henly into the far, left hand corner to give the Somerset county town side the lead.

Taunton, who came into the game in a confident mood following a fine start to the season, took the game to their hosts and might have doubled their advantage when a header from Nick Grimes following a free kick lofted into the box was narrowly wide.

Referee Abigail Byrne sensibly utilised injury stoppages as water breaks as the heat was unrelenting.

Morgan flashed a shot across the face of goal before, after 26 minutes, a poor throw out from Henly landed at the feet of Zak Smith who quickly sent Morgan clear to double Taunton’s advantage.

The Angels fought to work their way back into the game before the break with Jordan Greenidge failing to get any purchase on a couple of headers and Ibby Akanbi bringing a save from Dan Lavercombe.

The home side showed their intent early in the second period when Akanbi shot wide and, on 48 minutes, a shot from Soares-Junior came back off the crossbar only for Akanbi to plant a weak header at Lavercombe.

After having the majority of the early second half play, Kodi Lyons-Foster misjudged a ball on the right touchline that allowed Taunton’s Nick McCootie to stride on to plant a shot past Henly within a minute of entering the game as a 66th minute substitute.

As both sides wilted in the extreme heat, Taunton did precisely what was needed to see the game to its conclusion whilst the Angels produced just a couple of glimpses, through Joe Turner and Akanbi, of a consolation goal.

A disappointed Jay Saunders said after the game: "We did a lot wrong in the final third. I take nothing away from Taunton but we have gifted them three goals ... We've probably had more chances in the last couple of home games than we had at Slough [where we scored five]. I don't want to make excuses, it's a tough one to take. I want to be putting on a performance for the home fans and we are not doing it. There's no point in sulking, we will take criticism no doubt but we will move and work hard before Saturday's FA Cup game at Haringey."