Tonbridge 3 Truro City 2

Match 70/12/1023 - Saturday, 27th April 2013 - Conference South

Tonbridge (2) 3 Gayle 2, Collin 14, 48
Truro City (1) 2 Hayles 12, 70
Att. 582

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 26/5,782

The last day of the regular league season with no nail biting necessary, no incessant refreshing of the mobile phone screen, this was Relax Saturday. The last seven days had seen jobs completed; Gillingham champions and Tonbridge safe. Port Vale and Rotherham, Billericay and Hornchurch could get on with their last day fixtures without any concern from yours truly.

Martin Allen had chosen to take a squad to Burton Albion that showed eight changes from the previous Saturday, and whilst he chose not to call it a reserve team or a weakened eleven, I made the decision that a 400 mile round trip was too far to see a total of six teenagers make their Football League debuts.

Tonbridge, who won a Kent Senior Cup semi-final at Ebbsfleet on Tuesday for the right to meet Charlton Athletic in the Final, also chose to rest several key players for their final Conference South fixture against long-since relegated Truro City. A couple of young reserves, Matt Hardin and Ollie Bankole made their debuts and Bankole, in particular, gave an eye-catching performance.

To quickly run through the events of the afternoon, due to traffic problems, Truro arrived at the ground only 15 minutes prior to kick off and their legs were probably still on the coach as Tonbridge swept into a second minute lead when Aaron Gayle finished following a cross from Frannie Collin, with Bankole involved in its inception. Barry Hayles, who still showed a touch of quality at a level far below where he would have been in his prime, equalised on 12 minutes after getting goal side of Ollie Schulz.

Another sweet passing move that culminated in Collin waltzing around the goalkeeper two minutes later restored the home side's lead. Collin extended the lead early in the second half for his 20th goal of a season in which he supposedly hasn't hit the heights of his Golden Boot year of 2011-12. Truro showed plenty of spirit, on and off the pitch with their vocal following and Hayles dragged the Cornishmen back into the game with a second goal. Unfortunately, the revival stuttered to a halt when they lost Joe Broad to a red card that was seemingly missed by everybody bar the referee, who most definitely will not feature on Truro City's Christmas card list.

So with this unbelievable season heading towards two cup finals in the coming week, it is a good time to reflect on how it has taken its rather bewildering course. Nobody quite knew what to expect from Martin Allen and his remodelled Gillingham team. I was not alone in doubting that his relationship with Paul Scally wouldn't last beyond Christmas. But, holding my hands up, we couldn't have been more wrong. Gillingham started off like a runaway train; had a shaky bit in the middle and when they were found wanting from a gung-ho performance at home to Exeter, the ship was steadied and they ground out performances from that point until the championship was won. Sometimes the football wasn't easy on the eye, but they just didn't lose (until it no longer mattered).

Meanwhile at Longmead, Tonbridge failed to maintain the momentum from their successful first season in Conference South. They flirted with the relegation places for much of the season, but when the stakes were at their highest they produced home wins against Eastleigh and Staines in addition to a trio of draws and with safety confirmed their win against Truro actually elevated them to a lofty-looking 16th place. Once again, many supporters were critical of the quality of the football played, but another season in Conference South is justification enough.

And finally, Tunbridge Wells. They are more than the icing on the cake in this momentous season, on Saturday they are the cake. Can they have their cake and eat it? Probably not, but getting to Wembley is an achievement that I never dreamt possible. My only wish is that the momentum they have lost while playing catch-up with their fixture list isn't going to cost them dear on Saturday.

This Saturday was Relax Saturday . . . I've a strong feeling next Saturday at Wembley won't be.

Tonbridge 1 Eastbourne Borough 1

Match 69/12/1022 - Tuesday, 23rd April 2013 - Conference South

Tonbridge (0) 1 Ijaha 75
Eastbourne Borough (0) 1 Jamie Smith 52
Att. 624

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 26/5,756

Match Report

Two days after the celebrations at Priestfield, this unforgettable season rose to another high, but of a much different nature, as a point for Tonbridge was enough to secure Conference South safety for another season.

A difficult season, second season syndrome perhaps, but not identified as such by manager Tommy Warrilow, was epitomised by a stuttering performance that could easily have ended in tears without the dismissal of Eastbourne captain Ollie Rowe after a clash with Ollie Schulz.

Defeat for Billericay on Saturday had consigned them to relegation alongside Truro and Hornchurch's defeat left them on the threshold of the drop should Tonbridge manage to pick up a single point from either of their final two home games.

Despite a sizeable contingent from the south coast, the majority of the bumper attendance of 624 was willing and able to sing their way to Conference survival.

Eastbourne Borough came to Longmead safe in the knowledge that their Conference future was secure and this should have allowed them to play with a freedom that the home side could not afford, but this failed to materialise in a first half that was scrappy and had the look of a nervous relegation six-pointer, which, of course, it was not.

Early in the second half, Eastbourne scored to increase the tension around Longmead Stadium. A cracking 25-yard drive from Jamie Smith into the top corner leaving the home support momentarily silenced.

Tonbridge's lifeline was handed to them on the hour when a scuffle in the visitors' penalty area ended with Schulz prostrate on the ground holding his face. The referee, who was only inches away from the incident, produced an immediate red card to the horror of Rowe, who clearly felt that the Tonbridge defender had feigned injury.

The impetus was passed to the home side, but not before an almighty scare when Jonte Smith struck wide of the post when it was a whole lot easier to score. Tonbridge's salvation arrived on 75 minutes when a long throw from Nathan Green, the Angels' best player on the night, was only cleared to the edge of the box to David Ijaha whose shot found the bottom right corner of the net. Ironically, Ijaha had one of those nights known in the game as a bit of a mare.

The game might have been put to bed when an effort from Henry Muggeridge was well saved by the Eastbourne goalkeeper, Danny Potter before the visitors also spurned a chance in the dying minutes when a free header from a corner was put high and wide by Darren Lok.

The celebrations on this occasion were those of relief but, nonetheless, just as joyous. This season has one last high on to which it can rise . . . Wemberlee!

Tonbridge 1 Weston-super-Mare 1

Match 63/12/1016 - Wednesday, 3 April - Conference South

Tonbridge (0) 1 Lovell 55
Weston-Super-Mare (0) 1 Grubb 90+2
Att. 283

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 26/5,288

Match Report

If you've watched the game for a long time, the culmination of this game was something that you would have seen many times before. A team, fighting for their lives at the bottom of a division, not getting the breaks and with Tonbridge struggling in Conference South, an injury time equaliser was a real kick in the teeth as just a couple of minutes earlier they had seen a Frannie Collin effort hit a post and roll agonisingly along the goal line before spinning out of play.

But then, the saying "what goes around, comes around" rang hollowly true as the last gasp point earned against Billericay on Easter Monday was reversed.

An early April evening fixture should be presenting a little bit of comfortable spectating but this never-ending Winter offered up another evening when light snow showers and a biting wind eventually bit hard at the extremities.

The first half was one of limited opportunities, Weston-super-Mare probably having the best of them, before Nathan Green forced Lewis Carey into his first real save of the half. Ex-Angels’ loanee Kayne McClaggon was a constant threat and put a couple of chances wide of the post.

The feature of the second half was the impression that both wingers, Green and Henry Muggeridge, were able to make whenever they were given the opportunity to run at their full backs.

Tonbridge opened the scoring ten minutes into the half. Lee Browning laid an inch perfect cross from which Mark Lovell steered the ball into the bottom corner. Green might well have doubled the advantage two minutes later when through one-on-one with the keeper, but his shot was straight at Carey who saved comfortably.

There were several chances for both sides in what became an entertaining encounter before the final dramatic moments and the one that could define Tonbridge’s season. Muggeridge skipped a couple of tackles in a run along the bye-line before pulling back a pass to Collin, whose shot first hit the post and then ran along the line before spinning out for a goal kick.

Almost immediately, Dale Grubb, who was probably the best player on the pitch, took an advantage of a slip from Gary Elphick and curled a fantastic 25-yarder into the top corner for a heartbreaking equaliser with 92 minutes on the clock.

You feel that Tonbridge can take some consolation from what was a good performance on the night and, from reports, a much improved display from their Bank Holiday Monday encounter against Billericay. But not just character is going to see the Angels get out of this relegation fight, a little bit of Lady Luck might go some way to helping.

Welling United 4 Tonbridge 1

Match 58/12/1011 - Tuesday, 12 March 2013 - Conference South

Welling United (2) 4 Acheampong 39,80 Lafayette 43, Clarke 62
Tonbridge (0) 1 Collin 49
Att. 447

Entrance: £7 Senior
Programme: £1.00 (from postponed fixture)
Mileage: 76/4,520

Match Report

The season is warming up nicely for an exciting last six weeks, it's a shame that the weather cannot do likewise and make the watching a tad more comfortable. Promotion for Gillingham is within touching distance, Tunbridge Wells' focus may well be on the FA Vase, but they are competing on several other fronts, but sadly, Tonbridge's last month is going to be nervously looking over their shoulders unless victories can be obtained in a trio of six-pointer home fixtures.

As the board displayed four minutes of time added, I took my leave from Park View Road, the cold had permeated my two pairs of socks and there was not the masochistic streak in me to see the game to its conclusion just for the hell of it. The night was over for Tonbridge, they had been well beaten by a Welling side that surely will take their place in Conference National next season.

Last season, over the course of the nine months, Dartford deserved to win promotion from their play-off game against Welling, but it was the Wings that probably deserved the result on the day. From that disappointment, Welling lost key players and replaced them with players of a similar mould and have built a side that is big and strong but capable of playing some decent football along the way.

Losing the champions-elect is no disgrace, but the manner in which the defeat was inflicted will hurt everybody involved with Tonbridge. They were vulnerable throughout to set pieces when Welling sent forward their big central defenders, Ben Martin and Anthony Acheampong, to get on the end of superbly delivered crosses from Jack Obersteller in particular.

Tonbridge did well to get beyond the 40th minute with their goal still intact, but two goals in the half's final five minutes left them with a mountain to climb that was never likely to be scaled. The first goal after 39 minutes was as straightforward as they come. An Obersteller corner from the right travelled to the far post from where Acheampong jumped highest to head into the corner from close range. Tonbridge barely had time to regain their composure before they found themselves two down, Kiernan Hughes-Mason outstripped Jon Heath down Welling's right hand side and his cross was met by Ross Lafayette who powered another header into the net.

The visitors needed an early goal in the second half to get any sort of foothold in the game and this duly came within four minutes of the restart when Frannie Collin got on the end of a Mikel Suarez pass and duly despatched the opportunity past Sam Mott. Unfortunately, it was the Wings that drew momentum from the set back and several chances were passed up before Lee Clarke rolled a shot past Lee Worgan into the far corner after more good work from Obersteller.

Frannie Collin had an opportunity to put pressure on the home side with 20 minutes remaining, fastening onto a Suarez headed flick-on, the striker's well hit shot was beaten away by Mott and cleared.

Tonbridge's vulnerability at set pieces was once again highlighted with 10 minutes remaining when another corner was once again met by Acheampong, who stabbed the ball over the line from no more than a couple of yards.

Tonbridge fielded two new signings, Anthony Sinclair-Furlonge at centre back and Ashley Miller, from Gillingham. Both had difficult debuts, Sinclair-Furlonge looked good on the ball at times but with no dominance at the set pieces has to take his fair share of the blame for the defensive deficiencies whilst Miller was virtually anonymous.

Saturday brings the first of the vital six-pointers when Eastbourne Borough visit Longmead and it has to be assumed, and hoped, that they are not going to carry the same threat as this powerful Welling side.

Tonbridge 1 AFC Hornchurch 0

Match 53/12/1006 - Tuesday, 19 February 2013 - Conference South

Tonbridge (1) 1 Piper 45 (pen)
AFC Hornchurch (0) 0
Att. 304

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 26/3,915

Match Report

Two games, three days apart from two entirely different leagues, but if I was particularly lazy, I could just recycle Saturday’s posting from Gillingham. Another set of supporters who hold strong opinions on where their club should be at this present time and whether the management is steering the correct course.

Two particularly bad results, shipping seven goals in the process without scoring, in a very tight Division left Tonbridge Angels’ supporters once again looking nervously over their shoulders before this crunch match against a side from the bottom three, Hornchurch. Tommy Warrilow’s team selection had the majority of a desperately poor crowd at Longmead scratching their heads as he left out the club’s leading goalscorer, Frannie Collin. This omission was tempered by the return of Mikel Suarez to Conference football with Tonbridge after continuing his rehabilitation with a successful playing return at Hastings United.

On a freezing cold night that was spent watching the green grass turn white before our eyes; Tonbridge did just enough to beat a Hornchurch side, for whom a big improvement is needed if they are to avoid being one of the sides in the bottom three at the end of the season. The match was settled on the stroke of half-time when Lewis Smith handled in the box offering Chris Piper, in the absence of Collin, the opportunity, which he duly converted, from the spot.

This was ultimately another, stuttering nervous performance from Tonbridge with far too many misplaced passes and the creation of very few chances. Lee Browning pulled a shot wide after fastening on to a woefully short back pass after 10 minutes and there was also a disallowed second half goal for an offence that most people missed but obviously not the referee.

Collin was introduced into the fray for the second half and he looked fairly sharp, perhaps justifying Warrilow’s decision to give him a gentle reminder that nobody is beyond being benched. Suarez’s return was both welcome and a good one and perhaps it might be the rekindling of his partnership with Collin that garners the points necessary to ward off the threat of a relegation battle.

Tonbridge 2 Farnborough 3

Match 48/12/1001 - Saturday, 2 February 2013 - Conference South

Tonbridge (1) 2 Collin 37, Lovell 73
Farnborough (2) 3 Connolly 20, 33 Tarpey 56
Att. 491

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 26/3,673

Match Report

As January’s weather continued to blight the non-league fixture list, its consequences were highlighted as some Kent clubs needed to make big decisions following a month in which they have struggled to make any income through the turnstiles. Tunbridge Wells’ long awaited FA Vase tie against Dunston UPS was postponed a third time and now face a deadline of next Saturday to complete the tie whilst Ebbsfleet United have asked their supporters to “lose a few of the Christmas poundage” in other words make a donation of £30 to help the club through this “lost” month to avoid dipping into their February earnings to make up the shortfall. Whilst, at Tonbridge, a couple of players have been released to balance the books following new arrivals, but doubtless they are also suffering from a lack of home income having had only six home fixtures in the past three months.

Rory Hill is the latest player to make way at Longmead, following Ben Judge’s departure, whilst Mikel Suarez will continue his rehabilitation from the head injury sustained in the reverse fixture in October on dual registration. It is a fact of life at this level that players have to be moved on when the manager wants to bring in new faces and while money is the principal governing factor, players want to play football rather than sit on the sidelines week after week.

Three games without defeat had propelled the Angels into the top half of the table and within spitting distance of a play-off place, but such is the compactness of this division that a similar run would almost certainly see them looking over their shoulders once more.

Farnborough arrived in Kent a club smarting from a four point deduction for use of a player without international clearance but also on the back of an impressive win against the league leaders, Salisbury Town.

Tonbridge will look back with regret at two golden chances at either end of the game as to why their Hampshire opponents departed with the three points in their pockets. With only four minutes on the clock Nathan Green spooned a close range chance over the bar following an effort from Lee Browning and right at the death of the game, George Purcell dragged a shot well wide when one on target would almost certainly have brought Tonbridge the point that their late rally might just have deserved.

In truth, Farnborough bossed a lot of the game and their swift movement was too much for a Tonbridge back four missing Olly Schulz. They were all over the place as the visitors were denied a goal by an offside flag and were as stationary as terracotta soldiers when Reece Connolly converted at the near post from a corner.

It was looking all too easy for the visitors as Nic Ciardini tip-toed his way through the Tonbridge defence only to see his first effort cleared from the line and his second hit a post before Connolly converted the rebound.

A touch of the Francis Collin magic was needed to get the Angels back into the game and it duly arrived on 37 minutes when a free kick from fully 30 yards bent its way past the substitute goalkeeper who had replaced Craig Bradshaw, who was stretchered off following a collision with Green with an injury that was later revealed as a broken leg.

Tonbridge’s hopes of getting back into the game in the second half were dealt a blow when Dave Tarpey angled a shot into the top corner from the edge of the box on the hour. Tonbridge laid siege on the Farnborough goal and all was to play for 15 minutes from time when Mark Lovell glanced a Collin free kick into the net to reduce the arrears.

A succession of corners were forced and chances fell to Tonbridge, none better than Purcell’s last gasp miss that allowed the Farnborough side to celebrate a double over their hosts this season.

As January passes us by, hopefully the weather will relent and the turnstiles can be clicking on a regular basis and Tunbridge Wells can finally pursue their opportunity of a place in the last 16 of the FA Vase.

Tonbridge 1 Havant & Waterlooville 0

Match 44/12/997 - Tuesday, 8 January 2013 - Conference South

Tonbridge (1) 1 Collin 23 (pen)
Havant & Waterlooville (0) 0
Att. 397

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 26/3,512

Match Report

This was one of those games whereby on arriving home, the television text needed to be consulted just to confirm that the result was actually as you had seen it. Havant and Waterlooville didn’t exactly batter Tonbridge, but the result in the home side’s favour was due to a resilient defensive display including another fine individual performance from their goalkeeper, Lee Worgan.

The story of Tonbridge’s season has been one of consistently inconsistent. Early season it was a matter of too many draws, one win in seven or unbeaten in five was generally down to drawn games, presently the pattern is win one, lose one. The league table suggests that this is general throughout the majority of the division, the last play-off position is just four points out of Tonbridge’s reach, but looking over their shoulder, a relegation spot is a mere five points away. This win, leapfrogging their visitors in the process, moved them up four places, such is the mid-table congestion.

Tonbridge paraded their new signing, Nathan Green arriving from Billericay, employing him as a left winger and in general he had a satisfying debut. The other recent signing, David Ijaha has added the physical presence, already nicknamed Tank by supporters, to the centre of midfield and it was through the spine of the team that the win was built.

Havant looked dangerous throughout the match, they have in their ranks the division’s leading scorer in Ollie Palmer and the left-sided pairing of Sahr Kabba and Chris Arthur presented a constant threat.

The game was ultimately settled by a penalty, awarded after an inexplicable handball by Ed Harris, converted by Frannie Collin, restored to his position leading the line and looking the better for it. Either side of the goal it was a case of steadfast defending from Ollie Schulz and Gary Elphick with Tom Davis and Ijaha patrolling the central midfield area in front of them.

The first of Worgan’s saves came on 20 minutes when he tipped over the bar a shot from outside of the area by Arthur and a couple of minutes later a clear shooting opportunity was wastefully blasted over the bar.

The visitors’ profligacy in front of goal was punished when Collin scored from the spot on 23 minutes.

Between the goal and half-time Worgan was called on to make saves from Harris, Palmer and Kabba as the right side of Tonbridge’s defence was exposed by the pace and ability of Arthur and Kabba.

The second half was nowhere near as one way. Although Havant continued to make and waste chances, Tonbridge were much more of a threat, albeit on the counter attack. It is to the credit of Schulz and Elphick that Palmer was limited to just a couple of chances the best of which was turned away by Worgan.

Tonbridge thought the game had been made safe with a second goal, ten minutes from time. Green swung in a free kick from the right and Mark Lovell’s glancing header found the corner of the net. Initially given by the referee, his attention was drawn to a linesman’s flag and eventually ruled out, for what remains a mystery. Tonbridge saw the game out with just one more scare when Harris put a header wide and, if anything, finished the game on the front foot.

Manager Tommy Warrilow, in a Kentishfootball interview, seems to have an impression that Tonbridge fans in general are unappreciative of where they are sat in Conference South and are not particularly enjoying the experience. The impression that I get from the people I watch my football with is completely different. They understand that this is a difficult league and the second season is, more often than not, harder than the first and consequently they are fully appreciative of where the club is positioned at this present time. Even on the forum, which has got to Warrilow in the past, the members criticising are in the minority. If I had the opportunity to put a point of view to Tommy it would be “if you don’t like what you read, don’t read it.”

Tonbridge 0 Bromley 3

Match 41/12/994 - Saturday, 29 December 2012 - Conference South

Tonbridge (0) 0
Bromley (2) 3 Jones 12, Rhule 42, Pigott 58
Att. 682

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 26/3,361

Match Report

Accusing looks are being the made at The Hat. Back in late October, following Gillingham’s 1-0 win at AFC Wimbledon, my old hat got mislaid and since then a series of hats have been used to break a cycle of poor results, but none of them have worked to any great degree. A new hat, a replica of the one lost, was bought for Christmas, but so far, whilst it has warmed the head, it has presided over two defeats without a goal being scored. My old gardening hat managed a win at Rotherham, I think the tatty old bit of headgear is about to earn a recall. Mind you, if the old hat was lost at Wimbledon, picked up and worn by a fan of theirs, then their luck is no better with the Dons slipping to the foot of the table.

The surprise postponement on Friday of Gillingham’s home game against Northampton at least had the compensation of a first look at Tonbridge for the best part of six weeks. Following their Boxing Day win over arch-rivals Dover Athletic, I arrived at Longmead high on optimism for a game against a bottom three side, Bromley. I left thoroughly disappointed following what can only be described as a quite abysmal performance.

Tonbridge did well to get this fixture on and following the Gillingham postponement, I didn’t think this game would have a prayer and was to be the subject of a 10 a.m. pitch inspection, but a strong wind and a temporary cessation of the never-ending deluge rendered even the inspection unnecessary.

It is hard to consider how good Bromley were on the day as Tonbridge were so poor. But impressive performances from Sanchez Ming at right back and their loanee from Charlton, Joe Pigott caught the eye.

It took the home side 87 minutes to stretch Bromley goalkeeper, Joe Welch, into his first diving save of the match and in time added on their clearest shooting opportunity of the match was ballooned over by Henry Muggeridge.

Tonbridge can be thankful that they emerged from this game just the three goals in arrears. Bromley missed a penalty after 17 minutes when the score was 1-0, Danny Waldren’s spot kick saved by Lee Worgan diving to his left and after an hour Pigott rounded Worgan only to see his shot cleared from the line by Ollie Schulz.

After a bright start from both teams with Schulz heading wide for the Angels, Bromley opened the scoring with a swift counter-attack on 12 minutes. A well-crafted passing movement ended with Pigott crossing for Mike Jones to score from close range. The penalty gave the visitors the chance to double their advantage when Gary Elphick handled in the box only for Waldren’s miss to offer Tonbridge a lifeline.

Worgan was a busy man as Bromley continued to carve out chances but Tonbridge should have levelled the score just prior to half time when Mark Lovell tamely headed Danny Walder’s cross into the arms of Welch from an unmarked position just a couple of yards from goal. The miss was to prove costly. A swift break allowed winger Aaron Rhule to cut in from the right and curl a shot into the top corner from 20 yards.

Tonbridge started the second half a lot brighter and had several attempts on the Bromley goal that failed to test Welch to any great degree. The game was over as a contest on 58 minutes when Pigott cut in from the right to plant a well struck shot into the top corner. Quickly following was Pigott’s one-on-one chance to wrap the game up following a woeful back pass from Walder as the visitors began to look capable of inflicting considerable embarrassment on Tommy Warrilow’s men.

As the visitors pushed forward, Tonbridge enjoyed their best period in the game having some joy with counter attacks but the chances were wasted with Welch barely being called into action.

Conference South is a tight division from where Tonbridge’s win against Dover propelled them six places up the table and a defeat next match sends them almost back where they came from. Warrilow’s use of Frannie Collin has to be questionable. The goals have dried up from last year’s Golden Boot winner but the position he is being asked to play is not, and never will, get the best out of him.

So the tatty old gardening hat will satisfy superstition at Dover on New Year’s Day, if Tonbridge can produce a result from that difficult trip, then it is going to see a lot more of the grass at football grounds than in my own back garden.

Tonbridge 2 Hitchin Town 1

Match 31/12/984 - Saturday, 10 November 2012 - FA Trophy 3QR

Tonbridge (2) 2 Purcell 3, Piper 35
Hitchin Town (0) 1 Frendo 28 (pen)
Att. 513

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 26/2,041

Match Report

Tommy Warrilow celebrated five years as manager of Tonbridge Angels with something not synonymous of his reign at Longmead, a cup victory. Warrilow’s time at the club, in league terms, has been largely upwardly mobile, but his cup record has been largely through the door marked exit.

A draw against lower league opposition has certainly not been a free pass into the next round in previous seasons, so this Third Qualifying Round tie against Southern Premier League, Hitchin Town was not to be considered a gimme.

Prior to the game beginning a minute’s applause was observed for Ken Jarrett, a club stalwart since the very beginning in 1948. I didn’t know Ken personally, but like just about everybody else who follows the club, knew of Ken. A former club secretary, vice chairman and director, Ken was typical of the people found up-and-down the country who are the mainstay of non-league football, those that give freely of their time and effort to maintain a local football club that we can visit when Saturday comes.

Tonbridge opened the game at a canter and were a goal to the good within three minutes. Ross Treleaven’s direct pass through the heart of the visiting defence found George Purcell, who advanced on the keeper, who despite making a semi-block of the shot, saw the ball loop over his body and into the empty net.

The early goal on appeared to engender complacency into the Tonbridge ranks as the Hertfordshire team found their feet. After several sorties on the home goal, Hitchen were eventually, deservedly, on level terms after the awarding of a 28th minute penalty which leading scorer, John Frendo, converted. Ben Judge committed the foul on the edge of the penalty area and received a booking which was to prove costly later in the game.

The home side was not behind for long. Chris Piper, who had an outstanding afternoon, cut in from the left, executed a turn that left his marker on his backside and shot calmly into past Hitchen keeper Martin Bennett.

In the 52nd minute Tonbridge were reduced to 10 men when Judge was sent off after being beaten for pace by Stewart King and then tripping the Hitchen forward. The dismissal shook Tonbridge out of their complacency, their possession of the ball improved and they took control of the game. Raiding down the left hand side, the impressive Henry Muggeridge found himself in shooting positions on three occasions, one of which looped onto the bar. The young left back is a fine acquisition, he has been outstanding in every game I’ve seen him play and I’m only left to scratch my head as to why he is not playing above Conference South level.

The team’s equality in terms of personnel was levelled at 10-a-side when after melee Hitchen’s Louis Lee was sent off after raising his hands to Tom Davis and pushing him to the ground. Tonbridge safely saw the game out with no real alarms and Monday brings the tantalising prospect of a Trophy draw with Tonbridge in the hat and that is a bit of a novelty for Tommy Warrilow!

Tonbridge 1 Salisbury City 2

Match 12/12/965 - Tuesday, 21 August 2012 - Conference South

Tonbridge (1) 1 Collin 36
Salisbury City (0) 2 White 73, 75
Att. 520

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 26/436

Match Report

Second Season Syndrome. Does it really exist or is it just myth? Supporters of Norwich City might well be considering it a genuine football ailment following their heavy defeat at Fulham on Saturday and after two defeats in games in which the corresponding fixtures were last season won, similarly the fans of Tonbridge Angels might just thinking likewise.

There are good arguments as to why SSS is real. Opposition clubs will be coming to Longmead this season knowing what to expect in terms of the facilities, the pitch, the hostility (or otherwise) of the home support and the logistics of just getting to Tonbridge, i.e. the vagaries of the M25. Players come and go, but let’s face it, Frannie Collin is hardly the league’s big secret. There is a statistical counter argument from the Premiership, of 59 clubs promoted only seven have been relegated in their second season.

Tonbridge’s start to the season has been less than great but, according to reports from their opening game at Maidenhead, although the best team won, they were not too far away from taking a point from the fixture and a similar argument could be made for last night’s opening home encounter against Salisbury City.

The opening exchanges of the game saw Salisbury hold the upper hand, but Tonbridge were looking lively on the counter attack. Chris McPhee, scorer of Ebbsfleet’s winning goal in their FA Trophy victory of 2008, was centre of much of their attacking intention, although his verbal exchange with the referee was hardly one of Olympian values.

Frannie Collin engineered a goal out of nothing on 36 minutes. The Tonbridge striker received the ball 20 yards from goal and curled a delicious strike into the top right hand corner, bending its way past three defenders and a goalkeeper. In fairness it was a lead that the home side barely deserved on the run of play.

The visitors suffered a further set-back just before the break when winger Stuart Sinclair was sent off for a stamp on Rory Hill, but as the second half unfolded, at no time did Salisbury look the side reduced to 10 men.

Tonbridge were forced into two half-time substitutions, Olly Schulz who took a heavy knock in the first half was replaced by Sonny Miles, whilst Robbie Kember was also replaced by George Crimmen.

In the space of a couple of minutes, and on both occasions as a result of swift counter attacks, Tonbridge fell behind. On 73 minutes, Jamie White, a close season capture from Winchester City, where he scored 54 goals last season, steered the ball past Lee Worgan from close range after a speedy break by Dan Fitchett and within two minutes he was on the mark again as he got onto a clearance and outpaced the Tonbridge defence to score. Two clinical finishes and White is obviously a striker to watch this term. The second goal did have an element of controversy about it. Tom Davis lost out on a challenge on the edge of the Salisbury box to a tackle that was perceived by many of the home supporters to have been over-the-top and, as he lay injured, the break was on and the goal was scored.

Mikael Suarez had already been brought on as a third substitute and as Davis could not continue, Tonbridge were themselves reduced to 10 men for the remaining 15 minutes.

Tonbridge sought an equaliser in the time remaining and the visitors time-wasting became a trifle irritating, but ultimately Salisbury deservedly saw the game out to a winning conclusion.

Are we witnessing Second Season Syndrome, or is this just another of Tonbridge’s notoriously slow starts to a season, only time will tell.

Tonbridge 2 Charlton Athletic 1

Match 09/12/962 - Tuesday, 7 August 2012 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge (1) 2 Purcell 32, Collin 47
Charlton Athletic (1) 1 Azeez 8
Att. 732

Entrance: £4 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 26/339

Match Report

The success of the Olympics has made it difficult to lift the backside out of the armchair for a moment let alone an evening to take in yet another Pre-season Friendly. On this occasion it was the relative failure of British athletes that levered me out of the chair and into the car to take in Tonbridge’s game against a Charlton Athletic XI. For all the success of TeamGB it is somewhat sad that the event of Coe, Ovett and Cram fails to produce a finalist for the 1,500 metres. Decision made, leaving Gabby Logan later on in the evening to update the bronze medal success of high jumper Robbie Grabarz.

Charlton brought a mixed team of youngsters, trialists and Leon Clarke, the striker that famously fell out with Paulo Di Canio at Swindon last season. It would also appear by virtue of his appearance at Longmead that his days are numbered at the Valley as well. There was a bit of experience in their side with John Sullivan between the sticks and Paul Hayes in midfield.

Charlton started really well and for 20 minutes, whilst it was ok for those of us on the sidelines to admire their movement and distribution, I’m sure it would have disturbed Tommy Warrilow to watch his troops on the pitch doing much the same thing. In the opening seconds a poor pass back to the goalkeeper from Danny Walder allowed Clarke in on goal, but the striker perhaps showed why he was in this eleven as he allowed Lee Worgan to save with Hayes firing the rebound high over the bar.

The let off wasn’t heeded, the very impressive Ade Azeez cut in from the left hand side, was allowed to travel across the face of the goal almost unchallenged to round Worgan and slide the ball into the empty net. With the South London side pinging the ball about at their leisure and stretching the Tonbridge defence, a pasting seemed very much on the horizon.

But Tonbridge slowly found their feet with George Purcell looking very lively upfront, certainly the best I’ve seen him this pre-season and Tom Davis starting to see more possession in the middle of the field. The blossoming partnership between Frannie Collin and Purcell eventually brought a reward on the half hour when Purcell deftly lobbed the keeper for his first goal for the club.

There was a moment of real concern early in the half when Worgan was clattered by Azeez and his importance was illustrated throughout the half as he made several saves of note. If there is an irreplaceable member of Tonbridge’s squad it is Lee Worgan and there is a collective holding of breath whenever he needs attention from the physio.

An early second half free kick on the edge of the box offered Collin a shooting opportunity. We all know Fran’s ability from that range; seemingly Sullivan in the Charlton goal was less aware, as he was rooted when the free kick nestled in the net off the underside of the crossbar.

Despite the second half being an evenly matched encounter, Worgan was forced on several occasions, particularly in the closing stages, to re-emphasise his value with superb saves from Bradley Jordan and Tobi Sho-Silva.

This was a particularly encouraging display from Tonbridge. The side fielded, one suspects, is not too far away from the starting eleven for the season’s opener at Maidenhead on 18 August. Sonny Miles was onfield during the warm-up and he might come into the reckoning following his hernia operation and Rory Hill might get the nod if he recovers from his knock on Saturday.

Tonbridge 1 Ebbsfleet United 6

Match 03/12/956 - Saturday, 14 July 2012 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge (1) 1 Piper
Ebbsfleet United (3) 6 Ashikodi 2, 30, Bellamy 10, Elder 48,
Makofo 80, Judge o.g. 89
Att. 315

Entrance: £4 Senior
Programme: 50p
Mileage: 26/88

Match Report

Pre-season is meant to serve the purpose of obtaining match fitness, to assess which is your best possible team in a formation that best serves the players at the manager’s disposal and, hopefully iron out the mistakes that cause you to lose goals and games. This is where Tonbridge’s pre-season stands after two heavy defeats against albeit superior opposition, defensive errors that cost them goals against Crawley were not only replicated against Ebbsfleet, but continued during the game.

Tonbridge appear to have a real problem defending from the flanks, two of Crawley’s four were the result of crosses into the box and four of Ebbsfleet’s six came from a similar source. They would also hope that the conceding of early goals is not going to become a habit.

Thankfully, the game itself found a window in the relentless rain of July and the pitch played wonderfully well considering the deluge that it has suffered in recent days.

Tommy Warrilow started with a team without trialists and one that would appear to closer resemble the expected eleven on opening day, albeit that day is still five weeks away.

Ebbsfleet fielded their new look strike force of Nathan Elder, a (shall we say) beefy striker who has been in and out of the Football League alongside, one time Gillingham loanee, Moses Ashikodi. It did not take the latter too long to get his name on the score sheet. Just two minutes were on the clock when the home side failed to cut out a cross from the right allowing Ashikodi to tuck home from close range. The lead was doubled on ten minutes when Liam Bellamy scored with an unchallenged header at the far post from a corner.

Half an hour had been played when yet another cross from the right was once again converted by Ashikodi from close range with Ebbsfleet threatening to run riot. In fairness to Tonbridge they steadied the ship and managed to pull a goal back before half time. A wonderful crossfield pass found Frannie Collin in acres of space on the right and his perfectly weighted cross was met with a near post header from Chris Piper to reduce the arrears.

The early doors mental block struck the home side again in the opening minutes of the second half. Elder rose unchallenged at the far post to head home the Fleet’s fourth of the afternoon. One time Gillingham trialist Serge Makofo added a fifth before Ben Judge steered a cross into his own net in the final minutes to complete the rout.

Upcoming friendlies in the next couple of weeks are against clubs from lower divisions, so it is going to be all the more concerning if the same mistakes surface once more. Improved performances will allow the supporters the consolation that these teams of higher status are not going to be met every week and those defensive shortcomings are nothing more than a hiccup that pre-season is used to work out.

Tonbridge 0 Crawley Town 4

Match 02/12/955 - Wednesday, 11 July 2012 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge (0) 0
Crawley Town (3) 4 Akpo 18, Clarke 20,44, Akinde 78
Att. 323

Entrance: £4 Senior
Programme: 50p
Mileage: 26/62

Match Report

A wait before leaving home as a pitch inspection is planned and leaden skies that had thrown down torrential rain for a couple of hours. Arrival at the ground with thunder rumbling in the background and the flash of lightening to be seen in the distance, we are not talking about a League game in the depths of winter, but a pre-season friendly in the early part of July. Oh, the joys of a British summer.

This was the backdrop to Tonbridge’s opening pre-season friendly against Crawley Town. The League One newcomers paid the home club the huge compliment of fielding a full strength side, albeit that two completely different teams played in each half. Tonbridge for their part paraded their close season signings in striker George Purcell and central midfielder Tom Davis, plus several triallists who chose the most difficult of evenings in which to impress.

As the game began, with the storm still threatening, it was apparent that the pitch, which looked an absolute picture, had weathered the downpour remarkably well. Opening the game with three of the triallists and their two new players it was understandable that Tonbridge came under early pressure from their Football League visitors. Of the two defensive triallists, John Scarborough, late of Maidenhead, looked the more composed while Dollard Mvimvi at right back was given a difficult time by the livewire Nicky Adams. It came as no surprise that Crawley eventually took the lead on 18 minutes when Gary Alexander crossed from the right for Hope Akpo to convert from close range. Less than two minutes elapsed before the visitors doubled their advantage, Billy Clarke scoring off a post after a cross from the left. Memories of last season’s ten goal drubbing at the hands of Brentford came flooding (literally, as the heavens were beginning to open) back.

As the worst of the rain held off, but with the thunder rumbling heavier and the lightening seemingly getting closer, Crawley spurned chances to see the game completely safe in the first half. Alexander was sent through following an incisive pass from Sergio Torres, but struck the post before, on the stroke of half-time, Clarke fastened onto a similar pass from Torres and calmly fired home.

The half-time break became a light show as the storm rattled around Longmead accompanied by torrential rain. It looked like an abandonment of the game was inevitable as the referee emerged from the dressing room to assess the conditions, but as the rain was slightly easing he decided that the match could continue. Crawley changed their entire team, whilst Tonbridge introduced another four triallists, one reserve team player and a couple of last year’s squad, Rory Hill and Lee Browning.

The substitutions, or perhaps the conditions, took the effectiveness out of Crawley’s game and the home side had a decent percentage of the possession and chances during the second period. Mark Lovell, late of Ramsgate, had three stabs at goal following a free kick, but from the clearance, John Akinde ended up rounding Lee Worgan, only to delayed his shot enabling the keeper to smother his eventual effort. Worgan was substituted by young keeper, Callum Keswick, unfortunately his first touch of the ball was to retrieve it from the net following Akinde’s conversion after beating the offside trap.

Tommy Warrilow was hopeful that he could build a relationship with his old club and that pre-season matches in future years could be arranged, hopefully they will be played in more July-like conditions.