Tonbridge 2 Billericay Town 2

Match 86/15/1291 - Saturday, 9th April 2016 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (0) 2 Elder 62, Parkinson 64
Billericay Town (2) 2 Cox 14,25
Attendance: 512

Entrance: £10
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 36/6,197

Hampton and Richmond Borough are within touching distance of the Ryman Premier League, but Tonbridge will end the season with a title of their own, perhaps unwanted, the "Comeback Kings". Time and again, they dig a hole for themselves in the opening 45 minutes and go on to produce a second half that rescues a result. At Thursday's Meet the Manager, a member of the audience commented that if games were only played in the second half, Tonbridge would be champions. Steve McKimm retorted: if they were played in just the first, Tonbridge would be relegated!

After a relatively bright start from the home side, Billericay took a 13th minute lead. A free kick from the left was floated towards the six yard box, whilst the Tonbridge defence stood like statues, Jordan Cox literally ran the ball into the net. Whether the defenders were waiting for Anthony Di Bernardo to come and claim the ball only they will know, but it was an awful goal to concede.

Tonbridge responded with a Nathan Elder chance after 19 minutes that was smothered by the goalkeeper followed by a Nick Wheeler run and shot that went wide.

After 24 minutes, a stunning volley from Cox, on loan to Billericay from Braintree Town, brought appreciative applause from even the surprised home fans.

Tonbridge produced a late first half rally when Blewden and Elder combined to bring a save from Billericay's Jack Giddens and a header from Laurence Ball was wide following a corner.

Steve McKimm made no changes at half-time but only waited five minutes before replacing Charlie Webster with Tommy Whitnall. It was an appearance that was to last only seven minutes as Whitnall, tracking back, took the full force of an overhead kick in the face and, after a long delay, was able to walk from the field but sadly, it was later reported that he sustained a broken cheekbone that would finish his season.

Just past the hour, the Angels halved the deficit. Bradley Woods-Garness, who had replaced Whitnall did well to pull a ball back from the bye-line for Elder to hook in from close range.

Two minutes later, the Comeback Kings achieved parity. Tricky work from Nick Wheeler and a pinpoint cross found the head of the onrushing Tommy Parkinson to level the scoreline.

Wheeler and Elder combined to make a couple of further chances, with Billericay themselves not giving up the cause and offering a few tense moments for the home supporters.

The play-off berth for Tonbridge is looking all but certain. A win at home to Merstham next Saturday should seal their place and it is looking increasingly like a trip to Bognor Regis on a Thursday night is going to be their reward. That will be very tough, but any play-off fixture is meant to be.

Picture courtesy of Dave Couldridge.

Tonbridge 2 Canvey Island 0

Match 80/15/1285 - Saturday, 26th March 2016 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (2) 2 Miles 23, Sobers 40
Canvey Island (0) 0
Attendance: 659

Entrance: £10
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 36/5,874

Match Report

Easter and dire weather pretty much go cap in hand and, as the south-east of England awaits Storm Katie, its little sister blew a gale and ultimately prevailed over two teams who struggled to overcome the conditions.

The Canvey goalkeeper, the mountainous Connor Gough, despaired during a first half in which his goal kicks either came back towards him in the wind or sailed into touch on his left hand side, much to the amusement of the Tonbridge supporters stationed behind his goal.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Tonbridge profited with two goals from central defenders Sonny Miles and Jeromme Sobers and contained their visitors in the second half with relative ease, although it took a magnificent double save from Anthony Di Bernardo, five minutes from time, to preserve their clean sheet.

This was, nonetheless, an important three points for the Angels. Another couple of wins might well be enough to secure their play-off position and, if they can win their home matches against the teams from the middle of the table with little to play for, it takes some of the pressure away from the (on paper) more difficult fixtures at Dulwich Hamlet and Hendon.

It was obvious that full advantage of the wind needed to be taken in the opening 45 minutes and Tonbridge created early chances. A Luke Allen effort was deflected wide and Sobers headed over within the first 10 minutes and a James Folkes cross after 15 begged a finish.

The home side took the lead with a golden goal after 23 minutes. Jack Parter hit a cross to the far post that might have been sailing out on the breeze but for a wonderful retrieval header from Tom Parkinson that was directed into the path of Miles who cracked home the sweetest of volleys. It certainly was a Golden Goal, one that netted me £75 for the first-ever time!

Canvey Island had little idea, perhaps even inclination, on how to play against the wind and the play continued to be one-way traffic. Nathan Elder had a low header deflected wide for a corner before the advantage was doubled after 40 minutes. Another Parter cross found Elder's head, but the big striker's effort came back off a post to be converted on the rebound by a Sobers header.

During the second period the wind continued to blow heavy offering the visitors a way back into the game, but in truth, they made a very poor fist of it.

Yet another Parter cross, probably reason by the sponsor's choice of man of the match, resulted in a weak shot from Elder.

The much-travelled Chris Akurang came off the bench to offer Canvey some sort of target upfront and in the space of three minutes, three chances eluded him. A missed header, a shot deflected wide and a cross that he failed to get a touch on all brought exasperated gestures from the management team.

Fifteen minutes remained when Sobers had a chance at the far post to wrap up proceedings but his shot sailed some distance over the bar.

We have seen quite a few games this season that have been a great advertisement for the Ryman League, sadly this wasn't one of them. We await the arrival of Katie and hope that it doesn't postpone our visit to the Hipsters of Dulwich, for what should be a really decent spectacle.

Tonbridge 0 Metropolitan Police 1

Match 77/15/1282 - Tuesday, 15th March 2016 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (0) 0
Metropolitan Police (1) 1 Smith 26
Attendance: 343

Entrance: £10
Programme: £1.00
Mileage: 36/5,667

Match Report

Message to oneself and suffering a painful side strain throwing a ball for the dog; you are not 16 throwing a cricket ball in from the boundary anymore (not that you ever reached). Reason given for the lateness of this post.

After the Lord Mayor's Show ...

Tonbridge entered into this match on a wave of exhilaration after their stunning fightback from three down to beat Wingate and Finchley 4-3 at the weekend. But, as it turned out perhaps the adrenaline rush from that performance acted as a drain both emotionally and physically as they produced a weary performance that ended with a surprise defeat against mid-table Metropolitan Police.

The home side started well, created a couple of early chances, but when the goal failed to materialise they run out of ideas and once Leon Smith perfected executed a shot into the far corner after 26 minutes, the Plod didn't so much mount a Thin Blue Line, more like a solid Red Brick Wall.

After three minutes a corner saw a Tom Parkinson header parried by the Met's goalkeeper, Oliver Pain, and follow-up efforts were also blocked before the final shot from Laurence Ball sailed well over the bar.

Tonbridge suffered a set back after a quarter hour when influential midfielder and skipper, Parkinson, took a knock and had to be to replaced by Luke Allen.

Allen was quickly to the fore, breaking clear from midfield, he brought a parrying save from the advancing Pain only to put the rebound over the bar.

After 26 minutes the Police took the lead. A pass found Smith, who advanced to the angle of the penalty area and curled a shot around Anthony Di Bernardo and into the net, to the delight of the one supporter stationed behind that goal. Respect to you, sir for being the Plod's away following.

Tonbridge created chances during the remainder of the half but failed to really trouble the Met's goalkeeper.

The big chance of the second half fell to the Police after 67 minutes when a shot from Ryan James was touched onto the inside of the post by Di Bernardo, who was able to collect the rebound.

At this stage of the season, all the other club's managers would have seen the influence that Nicky Wheeler has on Tonbridge's performances. If you can stop Wheeler, you are blunting the threat and this the Met did to great effect. Tommy Whitnell was a 63rd minute substitute, and as has been the case during his spell on the bench, provided a creativity that Tonbridge had lacked for the best part of the first hour. But, ultimately, the ideas ran out.

Because of the lateness of this posting, it is pleasing to report that Tonbridge bounced straight back with a fine 2-1 win at Leiston to maintain their promotion push.

Tonbridge 3 Enfield Town 1

Match 75/15/1280 - Tuesday, 9th March 2016 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (1) 3 Miles 26, Blewden 56,64
Enfield Town (1) 1 Whitely 34
Attendance: 307

Entrance: £10
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 36/5,575

Match Report

We, as football supporters, can be a contradictory bunch, and I personally fall into this category as much as the next fan. A few days previously, I poured scorn on Ryman leaders, East Thurrock United, as the ball disappeared over the main stand for the umpteenth time. But, faced with a good footballing side in Enfield Town, two goals fashioned in route one secures three valuable points and I, and everybody else, goes home happy.

Enfield Town arrived at Longmead in a good vein of form, unbeaten in their last five and their confidence was apparent in the early stages as they moved the ball around with a good tempo. Corey Whitely brought a good save out of Anthony Di Bernardo, who tipped the ball away from the top corner after 15 minutes.

It was somewhat against the run of play when Tonbridge opened the scoring after 26 minutes. The Enfield goalkeeper, Nathan McDonald, made a hash of a punched clearance with the ball ending at the feet of Sonny Miles who stabbed it home from close range.

The lead wasn't to last long following another goalkeeping error. A long ball forward saw Di Bernardo advancing from his goal and caught in no-man's land as Whitely rolled it past him. The visitors pressed on for the remainder of the first half and Tonbridge would have been glad of the sanctuary of the dressing room with the scoreline remaining level.

A different Tonbridge side emerged for the second half, one that quickly got on top. But, it was from a good move from Enfield that ended with a cross from Harry Ottoway just failing to find a touch in the penalty area that a swift counter-attack led to the second goal after 56 minutes. An inch perfect long ball out of defence from Tom Parkinson sent Luke Blewden clear, but with a lot to do, but he clinically finished into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Only eight minutes elapsed for a repeat performance. This time the ball over the top was delivered by Bradley Woods-Garness for Blewden to outpace his marker and plant an emphatic finish past McDonald.

Perhaps we can get a little too snooty about East Thurrock's style. If it leads to a goal, why should one pass instead of thirty undervalue the goal; it counts for just the same. Message to oneself!

Tonbridge 1 Bognor Regis Town 3

Match 71/15/1276 - Tuesday, 23rd February 2016 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (0) 1 Blewden 61
Bognor Regis Town (2) 3 Prior 26,29, Rutherford 53
Attendance: 377

Entrance: £10
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 36/5,360

Match Report

After the euphoria of Saturday's performance at Kingstonian, we all fell to earth with a bit of a bump. But, there are occasions when you just have to hold up your hands and accept that the other team were just too good and Bognor Regis Town were as good as any team I've seen in the Ryman Premier this season. This Saturday they entertain Torquay United in the quarter-final of the FA Trophy and, on the evidence of this game, they will give the ex-Football League side a real run for their money.

On a very rare occurrence this season, Tonbridge were out-fought, out-thought and, at least in the first half, out-played.

The evening started badly with the absence of the talismanic midfielder, Tom Parkinson, who was unavailable through illness.

On a bitterly cold evening, the teams took to the field for a fixture that neither club particularly wanted. The Isthmian League had insisted that the game be brought forward one week to comply with their "postponed games to be played as soon as possible" mandate. From Tonbridge's point of view it was likely to cost them revenue with difficulties in publicising the late change of date and a clash with Arsenal v Barcelona on satellite television, whilst I would imagine Bognor were not over-pleased about having to fulfil the fixture in the week before their Trophy quarter-final.

Bognor opened the game in the manner in which they were to continue, dominating possession, but strangely it was the home side that carved out the early chances. After just two minutes, Luke Allen fastened onto a poor clearance and struck a powerful shot that the Rocks' keeper, Grant Smith held as it headed for the top corner.

After 14 minutes, Bradley Woods-Garness was sent clear and tucked the ball past the advancing Smith but also narrowly past the post and, a couple of minutes later, Nick Wheeler fired a shot straight at Smith.

Jerrome Sobers planted a header wide of the post following a corner before Bognor had their first dangerous moment on goal after 25 minutes. Anthony Di Barnardo made a double save before a shot from Doug Tuck was cleared from the line by Sobers.

Tonbridge's reprieve lasted barely two minutes. Following a corner, the ball was headed forward by Jason Prior, at first into the clutches of Di Barnardo who allowed the ball to slip from his grasp to afford Prior the claim of his 22nd goal of the season.

Two minutes later, Bognor doubled their advantage. Anthony Riviere lost possession outside of his own penalty area, the ball was fed to the right from where Stuart Green delivered the perfect cross to the head of an unmarked Prior, who cannot be afforded an inch, let alone an acre.

The visitors, high on confidence, poured all over their hosts and after 36 minutes the game should have been all over as a contest. Another cross from the right, this time found Alfie Rutherford, who with time and space and the goal at his mercy, inexplicably placed it wide of the right hand post.

Wheeler was substituted during the break by Luke Blewden and after 52 minutes, Sonny Miles went down injured to be replaced by Laurence Ball.

If Steve McKimm's half time message had been about comebacks, it was reduced to playing for pride after 53 minutes. A solo run down the left from Rutherford was finished with a delightful chip over Di Barnardo, who had barely advanced to the six yard box.

Tommy Whitnell entered the fray on the hour and immediately had a hand in Tonbridge's, ultimately consolation, goal. His free kick from the left hand side of the box was played back across the face of goal by Ball for Blewden to tuck home from close range. Three substitutes, each with a touch.

Time could have been Tonbridge's friend but, in truth, Bognor saw the game out with very little trouble.

Bad days at the office happen, it is how teams react that is important and with another championship chasing club, Hampton & Richmond, the visitors on Saturday it is time to dust themselves down and bounce back.

Tonbridge 4 Leatherhead 0

Match 65/15/1270 - Tuesday, 2nd February 2016 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (1) 4 Woods-Garness 21, Elder 79, Blewden 86,90
Leatherhead (0) 0
Attendance: 335

Entrance: £10
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/4,888

Match Report

A damaging run of results for Tonbridge, dating back to late November, was hopefully brought to an end with a dominant second half performance that left the visitors, Leatherhead, ruing their inability to capitalise on a first half in which for long periods they were the better side.

That run hasn’t been terrible, seven draws and a couple of defeats with a single win on Boxing Day at VCD Athletic sandwiched in the middle, but unless you are of a supremely optimistic tendency, then the likelihood of top spot and automatic promotion is probably out of reach. The play-offs are certainly there to be contested and a top three finish guarantees home advantage.

It was a cold evening at Longmead and, perhaps, this affected the attendance, well below average at 335. Those that stayed away missed a highly entertaining game.

The pitch had dried significantly since Saturday and the postponement of the match against Metropolitan Police but was still obviously soft under foot in places.

Early in the first half, Tonbridge struggled down both flanks with Stephen Okoh and Ryan Mahal looking dangerous adding to the well-known threat of ex-Angel Frannie Collin. Okoh drove one effort wide and another was diverted to safety by the head of Sonny Miles. Tonbridge, for their part, brought a couple of comfortable saves out of Louis Wells.

It was somewhat against the run of play when the home side went ahead after 21 minutes. A corner from Nicky Wheeler was poorly dealt with by Wells whose punch sailed high into the night sky falling at the feet of Bradley Woods-Garness, who from the edge of the box half-volleyed his shot into the top corner for a stunning finish.

The game proceeded to ebb and flow with half chances for both sides. Anthony Di Bernardo denied Okoh with a fine save whilst Wells saved from Luke Blewden and when the Leatherhead keeper made a mess of a cross, Sonny Miles headed wide.

Miles, along with Woods-Garness, were replaced at half-time, both having suffered ankle injuries, Charlie Webster and Laurence Ball being introduced.

The second period was a different story. Tonbridge completely dominated and the threat from Leatherhead virtually disappeared. Wheeler saw a lot more of the ball and the visitor’s right back Adam Cash had a torrid time attempting to contain him.

The hard-working Blewden sent a header wide; Webster ended a sweeping move with a weak shot and Nathan Elder will have been disappointed with a poor header after 70 minutes.

The breakthrough finally came ten minutes from time. A Wheeler free-kick from the right was headed back across the face of goal by Tommy Parkinson and Elder forced the ball home from close range.

Four minutes remain when Tonbridge added the gloss to their second half performance. A Webster cross was turned into his own net by Phil Walsh, under pressure from Blewden, who claimed the last touch.

A final goal, in time added on, was a lovely team goal and also brought the evening’s funniest moment. Wheeler played substitute Luke Allen down the line, who pulled back a cross for Blewden to score at the near post. This was obviously greeted with joy from the Tonbridge supporters, including Paul Bayliss, who took a while to realise that the goal had robbed him of the £25 last goal prize.

Tonbridge 1 Dulwich Hamlet 1

Match 57/15/1262 - Saturday, 3rd January 2016 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (0) 1 Elder 90+1
Dulwich Hamlet (0) 1 Nelson 74
Attendance: 1,095

Entrance: £10
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/4,050

Match Report

What a great start to 2016! Arguably the best game I've seen this season in the worst of conditions. Great credit to the groundstaff at Longmead for getting the game on; both sets of supporters for creating an atmosphere worthy of the occasion; the referee who kept the game flowing and to the teams who contributed to an outstanding tussle with very little complaint of the conditions imposed upon them.

Ultimately, a draw (which personally I was ready to take at kick-off) was a fair result, although the supporters of Dulwich Hamlet might well have gone back to south London disappointed to have lost the points at such a late stage of the game.

This was the first time this season (I'm not expecting it to be the last) that I've chosen to, in effect, waste my Gillingham season ticket for what I perceived to be the better match. Despite Gillingham's fine 3-0 win over Bradford City, I wasn't to be disappointed. But the weather was causing a real headache. Pictures had appeared on Facebook on Friday of the pitch being vertidrained, but as the morning's light rain turned heavier, I began to fear sitting in the car park at Longmead at 2:30 p.m. with the postponed signs going up and knowing that Priestfield was a good hour away. Nevertheless, the season ticket was put into the pocket as a precautionary measure.

Tonbridge were quick out of the blocks and Luke Blewden brought an early save out of Phil Wilson in the Dulwich goal, who turned the ball away for a corner, from which Nathan Elder's header was cleared from the line.

It's easy to see why Steve McKimm is the Tonbridge manager and I'm a humble blogger as I didn't really understand Blewden's role, not being used to seeing him chasing back and often finding himself behind James Folkes making last ditch challenges. McKimm's interview later made it crystal clear and I'm now able to appreciate the sheer endeavour of Blewden.

Nick Wheeler was causing real problems for the Londoners down the left hand side and cutting in, first saw a shot just edge past the post before bringing another save from Wilson.

Chances were few and far between for the visitors although Damian Scannell looked dangerous, Sonny Miles, who it was revealed afterwards popped a shoulder out (again) in the opening minutes, was more than his equal.

Miles produced a raking cross field pass to Wheeler who laid back for Luke Allen to drag a shot wide as the Angels' continued to dominate.

Dulwich created just one clear opportunity in the first half when Ryan Moss' header needed to be hacked to safety by Laurence Ball.

Tonbridge deserved something for their first half efforts but it wasn't to come. Allen brought a comfortable save out of Wilson and a corner saw Blewden's header drift wide.

Gavin Rose is well respected in Ryman circles and his half-time team talk and tactical tinkering brought a different Hamlet side out of the dressing room for the second period. Now it was the Pink and Blues that were calling the tune and exerting continued pressure on the Tonbridge defence. Anthony Di Barnardo made his first real save of the match blocking an effort from Jack Dixon and a magnificent block from Tom Parkinson denied Scannell after 50 minutes.

The opening goal had been coming for much of the second period when it arrived after 74 minutes. A corner from Scannell to the far post was met with a looping header from full back Mitchell Nelson that didn't appear to have enough pace to beat the Tonbridge goalkeeper, but the ball bounced right in front of his hands and nestled in the far corner.

With the confidence borne out of the goal, Dulwich began to open up the Tonbridge defence and when Scannell sent Moss clear, the ex-Margate striker dragged his shot wide with a poor effort.

As the game neared its end, Tonbridge threw caution to the wind in hope of finding an equaliser. Wheeler, who had been starved of the ball during the second half, put a cross onto the head of Parkinson, who could only direct it into the welcoming hands of Wilson. Wilson's handling in the conditions was exceptional throughout the game.

Tonbridge fans thought their goose was cooked with no time left on the clock when Rhys Murrell-Williamson, cutting in from the left, hit a shot towards the near post, but Di Barnardo clawed it away with a top drawer save that, in its own way, saved the point that was about to be gained.

Entering into the time added on, Tonbridge won a free kick on the left-hand side, 18 yards out. Sam Rents touched it to Wheeler, who sent in the most pin-point of crosses that Elder read perfectly, getting across the face of his markers to glance the ball into the net.

Hampton and Richmond are proving that the title race is not a two horse race and they are certainly going to have their say, as will two or three others. But, I cannot wait to see these two clubs go head-to-head once again at Champion Hill on Easter Monday, when the game will be a true six-pointer that could decide the destination of the title, whilst leaving one club with the drama of the play-offs.

Picture courtesy of David Couldridge

Tonbridge 2 Burgess Hill Town 3

Match 49/15/1254 - Saturday, 5th December 2015 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (1) 2 Elder 19,54
Burgess Hill Town (1) 3 Gargan 2, Fisk 75, Smith 78
Attendance: 457

Entrance: £10
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/3,596

Match Report

Results at Stoke City and Chelsea on Saturday served to prove that, even with all the money in the world, everybody is liable for "one of those days". Roman Abramovich and the Shiekh Mansour probably drowned their sorrows in something other than PG Tips, but hopefully they felt the same way as I did, crawling back under the duvet having had "one of those days" when everybody around me would have benefited from yours truly staying there in the first place. Tonbridge also had "one of those days" and for their misfortune I almost feel I have to take some responsibility.

Kent was feeling the force, albeit in a very minor way to which Cumbria was later to suffer, from Storm Desmond leaving playing conditions difficult for both sides. Steve McKimm had drafted Sam Rents into the side on loan from Margate to cover for the injured Jack Parter.

The home side got of to the worst possible start, going behind after just two minutes. A throw in from Rents was quickly returned behind him leaving Chris Smith to move into the vacated space and deliver a cross for Sam Gargan to side foot home from very close range.

Tonbridge responded well and should have been on level terms after 11 minutes when a Nicky Wheeler to cross to the far post was redirected across the face of goal by Laurence Ball from where Jeromme Sobers, diving in, directed his header just wide.

After 19 minutes the Angels were level following brilliant work from Wheeler, who cut back from the bye-line to deliver an inch perfect cross for Nathan Elder to head in off the underside of the bar.

On the hour came a game changing moment when Ball took a boot to the face in the centre circle. A long delay ensued, and although the central defender could make his way from he field, he was too groggy to continue. The reshuffle saw the influential Tom Parkinson go back into central defence with Tommy Whitnell coming on as substitute.

This took the momentum away from Tonbridge and it was Burgess Hill that went closest before the break when a cross from Sam Fisk was deflected onto the bar and over by Parkinson.

Early into the second half, Tonbridge enjoyed a stroke of fortune as a thunderous free kick from Gargan cannoned back off a post before after 54 minutes the home side took the lead. A cross from the David Fitzpatrick on the right was met with another header from Elder, who troubled the Hillians central defence constantly.

Fifteen minutes remained when a two minute spell turned the game on its head. A Fisk cross from the left hand side, almost inexplicably, found its way past Anthony Di Barnardo. Such was the surprise at the ball nestling in the corner of the net, that it could only have been a deflection off Sobers that took it past the keeper.

A couple of minutes later, a session of head tennis failed to clear the danger and the final header forward found Chris Smith, who lobbed the advancing Di Barnardo to give Burgess Hill the lead. Smith, who evidently chose Burgess Hill in preference to Tonbridge in the summer, had not really impressed at the point, but this was a predatory finish.

Sobers limped away from the action five minutes from time leaving the home side without a recognised centre half on the field and with Sonny Miles still to return to action leaves a worrying situation.

In the past eight days Tonbridge have had three opportunities to reach the summit of the Ryman Premier and with Dulwich Hamlet surprisingly beaten at home by Needham Market this was a golden chance. But, no medals are handed out in December, and I for one, am happy to see them fly under the radar for a while later.

One of those days, a bad day at the office, all meaningless phrases that can be put in the past as long as they don't happen too often.

Tonbridge 1 Faversham Town 0

Match 41/15/1246 - Tuesday, 11th November 2015 - Kent Senior Cup 2R

Tonbridge (0) 1 Parkinson 80
Faversham Town (0) 0
Attendance: 182

Entrance: £7
Programme: £0.50
Mileage: 38/2,929

Match Report

The Kent Senior Cup is a difficult competition to assess in terms of its value. In terms of local prestige I would rate it above the Ryman League Cup in importance, but because of the higher graded clubs in the competition, it is also much more difficult to make progress to the later rounds, which is why I found Tonbridge’s departure from the League Cup at the hands of Hastings rather disappointing.

As to its value to the likes of Steve McKimm, I wonder if it is a fixture that he could do without. Perhaps this season, with an already extensive backlog of fixtures in the Ryman Premier, that might be the case. McKimm, though, would want to respect the competition and the paying public, albeit a sparse attendance, by putting out a team that would be competitive. His choice was already limited by injuries and Luke Blewden and Nathan Elder, who picked up strains on the heavy pitch at Needham Market, were not risked. Jack Parter, Anthony Riviere and Nick Wheeler were also given the night off, whilst, coming back from an injury lay-off, Tom Parkinson was able to put another 90 minutes under his belt.

This was also a good opportunity to blood some youngsters and added to starters Steve Panayi and Brett Milham, there were introductions from the bench for Connor Pring and Perrie Roje.

Faversham Town fielded a strong team with ex-Angels loan goalkeeper, Will Godman taking his place between the sticks for the Whites.

It has to be said that the match wasn’t one blessed with excitement, charitably, I would say it was absorbing! The stand-out performance on the night, at least from a Tonbridge viewpoint, was from goalkeeper Aaron McGuigan. The young custodian may not have the physical presence of his regular first team counterpart but his agility was a principal factor in Tonbridge progressing to the third round of the competition.

The opening 45 minutes saw very few clear cut chances. McGuigan tipped over a far post header from a corner and Parkinson hit the bar following a James Folkes cross. Faversham had the ball in the net after 35 minutes but Wayne Wilton’s effort was disallowed for offside.

The second period was a lot more entertaining. Milham appeared to be pulled back in the box, but penalty claims were waved away by the referee before Faversham struck the bar with a close range header. McGuigan had a 20 minute period when he kept the Angels in the game. After 53 minutes, he came out on top in a one-on-one situation and a one-handed save after 65 minutes was exceptional.

As the game appeared to be meandering towards a penalty shoot-out (which of course, Tonbridge never win), Folkes crossed from the right to Parkinson, who swept the ball home from close range.

There was a final flourish from the visitors that saw McGuigan saving comfortably a header from a corner and deservedly taking the man of the match award.

Back in 1974, the value of the Kent Senior Cup wasn’t questioned when Tonbridge last won the trophy following a famous victory over Maidstone and, I suppose it wasn’t two years ago, when they reached the Final albeit with an entirely different outcome. So, in my opinion, there are positives that can be found and the competition should be embraced.

Tonbridge 2 Phoenix Sports 0

Match 39/15/1244 - Tuesday, 4th November 2015 - FA Trophy 1QR Replay

Tonbridge (1) 2 Blewden 34, 68
Phoenix Sports (0) 0
Attendance: 339

Entrance: £10
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/2,667

Match Report

Let’s deal with the positives. £2,700 in the bank; a home draw in the next round against a team with a woeful away record; an attendance of 339 on a night when fog shrouded Longmead was probably a 100 more than would have attended a similar cup replay last season and with Redhill in mind, this was a performance against a lower division team that almost certainly would have ended in embarrassment in recent years.

From reports of the first game, Tonbridge didn’t deserve a second chance and had a perennial goalscorer in Ricky Freeman not fluffed his lines in the closing minutes, then we would have been recounting another knock-out competition disaster for the Angels.

Injury and sickness left Steve McKimm with a team selection headache in the lead-up to the replay. Nathan Elder was ruled out as was midfielder Tom Parkinson and defender Sonny Miles. Lee Carey and Luke Blewden literally climbed from their sickbeds to take their place in the side.

Phoenix Sports have continued their success story from last season’s Southern Counties East champions climbing to a respectable position in their first-ever season in Ryman North. Their game is built on a tireless work ethic with the added threat of pace on both wings in the shape of Harrison Carnegie, the eye-catcher from last season and Adem Ramadam, who, ironically, trialed at Longmead pre-season. Their undoing, at least on this occasion, was their failure to convert good approach work into chances. Anthony Di Barnardo was only seriously tested with a 94th minute shot from Ramadam that was comfortably gathered.

Tonbridge far too often resorted to the long ball in search of the hold-up play of Elder, who, of course, was missing but Blewden was proving a handful for the Phoenix defence with a header over the bar after 23 minutes and a shot that came back off a post after half-an-hour.

A moment of real quality, on an evening devoid of such, came in the 33rd minute. Anthony Riviere and Ellis Brown combined to send James Folkes on a run to the right hand bye-line. His cross found Nick Wheeler, whose shot was destined to sail well wide before Blewden hooked the ball into the net from the angle of the six yard box.

Blewden should have doubled his tally prior to the break but his shot flew some distance over the bar.

As the fog descended on Longmead, the second half took on a similar shape to the first with Tonbridge’s ball retention leaving a lot to be desired. Laurence Ball was needed to clear the ball from in front of his goal line as Carnegie stabbed an effort goalwards after an hour before Tonbridge effectively put the tie to bed eight minutes later. The Phoenix skipper, Chris Hill, was shown the yellow card for a cynical challenge on Wheeler and punished from the ensuing free kick. Wheeler delivered the ball to the right hand angle of the six yard box to the head of Blewden, who scored with a firmly planted header.

Tonbridge progressed to the next round where they will entertain Southern League Premier side Cirencester, whose away record this season reads only one win in eight attempts although the Angels cup pedigree ensures nothing should ever be taken for granted.

Tonbridge 4 Dover Athletic 1

Match 37/15/1242 - Tuesday, 27th October 2015 - Friendly

Tonbridge (2) 4 Pinnock 11, 65, Brown 27, Parkinson 80
Dover (1) 1 #9 10
Attendance Quess: 120

Entrance: By donation
Programme: None produced
Mileage: 36/2,249

I wasn't convinced as to the value of a friendly fixture towards the end of October and, for much of the day, was going somewhere else for Tuesday night football, but time constraints took me to Longmead and in terms of what Steve McKimm and myself got out of the evening, I think we can both be reasonably satisfied.

Tonbridge have had an odd start to the season in terms of postponements due to their opposition's cup commitments and even at this relatively early time stand five games adrift of league leaders Dulwich Hamlet and others. Another postponement on Saturday coupled with Wednesday's game at Grays falling victim of their cup replay at Welling, led to the late arrangement of this friendly against Dover Athletic. With no team sheet available, it was difficult to gauge the strength of the Conference National side with only Ricky Modeste instantly recognisable and Tyrone Sterling and Chris Kinnear Jnr being identified. Tonbridge, over the course of both halves, fielded their entire first team minus the long-term injured.

For some while, as a group, we have discussed the idea of playing James Folkes further forward and McKimm tried this out during the first half, playing Folkes in front of Charlie Webster. Personally, I thought it worked well and could have some mileage should it be needed. Modeste gave Webster a fair testing and if he is struggling to get a place in the team down at Crabble, he would represent a good loan signing for a club that could afford his wages.

Modeste laid on a plate a tap-in for an unknown centre forward after 10 minutes. Tonbridge were level within 60 seconds with an exquisite lob from Mitchell Pinnock. The on-loan Maidstone winger has looked a little rusty since his return but his form in this game was more like the Pinnock of last season, even taking into account the unknown strength of Dover.

Ellis Brown has been a regular substitute that has come off the bench and had the odd chance or two but hasn't always had the best of luck in front of goal, but his finish from the edge of the box showed after 25 minutes was clinical.

Tonbridge created the best of the chances with the goalkeeper saving from Folkes whilst Anthony Di Bernardo was stretched to turn over a Modeste lob.

In the second half, Nick Wheeler was introduced and from one of his trademark runs to the bye-line, he pulled back a pass for Tom Parkinson to poke the ball home from close range.

Time remained for Pinnock to produce another superb lobbed finish to round of a good evening for him and the sparse, but entertained attendance.

Tonbridge 1 Kingstonian 1

Match 33/15/1238 - Saturday, 17th October 2015 - Ryman League Premier

Tonbridge (1) 1 Elder 45+1
Kingstonian (1) 1 Kempton 28
Attendance: 545

Entrance: £10
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 36/1,997

Match Report

If you are under the age 34, you will know no different other than the points system that awards three points for a win. The reward for winning games was increased from two to three in 1981 in order to devalue the 0-0 draw away from home that was stagnating the game. Over the years it has largely been considered a success, although, evidently, statistics show there are no less draws per season than there was back then. A draw at home, therefore, is almost always considered two points lost rather than one gained, but there are days when you look back and think to yourself, I'll take that.

Over the course of 90 minutes Tonbridge edged this game and if one team deserved the spoils then it was them, but prior to kick-off I had a gut feeling that I might have to be satisfied with a point and there were periods in the first half when I was definitely settling for a draw.

Kingstonian, who came into the game on the back of an unbeaten run of eight games, but were also on a run of drawn games with three consecutively, started brightly and there was an early scare for the hosts as a corner flashed across the face of goal and ended with an agricultural blast high and wide from Alan Inns.

Jake Kempton, irritating and admirable in equal measure throughout the game, managed an eventful opening ten minutes, firstly latching on to a huge punt from K’s goalkeeper, Rob Tolfrey but firing hopelessly off target and then picking up an eighth minute yellow card for a poor challenge.

Tonbridge started to work their way into the game and a free kick from Mitchell Pinnock found its way to Nick Wheeler, whose shot sailed over the bar. This was quickly followed by a blinding save from Tolfrey, who clawed a Nathan Elder header out of the top corner.

The end-to-end nature of the game continued when Dan Bennett struck a post and Luke Blewden drove in a shot that was deflected wide. The match had set itself for an intriguing muscular battle between the Tonbridge front pairing of Elder and Blewden and the mountainous, solid defensive duo of Inns and Sam Page and when the attack won the day, there was the excellent goalkeeping of Tolfrey to come to the Kings aid.

Kingstonian eventually opened the scoring after 28 minutes. A driving run from Bennett ended with a one-two and a shot that could only be parried by Anthony Di Barnardo into the path of Kempton who was left with an easy touch home.

Tonbridge responded immediately but a poor finish from Elder was scant reward for the driving run of Jack Parter.

On the stroke of half-time, a long ball into the channel was chased down by Blewden and his dragged back pass to the edge of the box brought a clinical finish from Elder.

The second half saw a complete change in the momentum of the game. It was as if the Kingstonian half-time team talk had taken the course of “we have a point, let’s keep it” and they went into a defensive shell, rarely threatening the Tonbridge goal in a one-way second half.

The wave after wave of Tonbridge attacks foundered ultimately on the agility of Tolfrey. The goalkeeper comfortably saved an Elder header, but his plunging save to deny a close range shot from Elder was brilliant.

James Folkes, who had another good afternoon, ended a mazy run with a shot that was touched over by Tolfrey before the Elder-Tolfrey competition ended with the goalkeeper coming out on top once more with a diving save.

Kingstonian are in the last throes of losing their home ground at Kingsmeadow, but the constant bad natured, verbal abuse of an obviously old adversary in Steve McKimm from the visiting support made it very hard to engender sympathy for their plight.

Points lost, or one gained depends on the old glass half full attitude. A point won, from a highly entertaining game, would be my take.

Tonbridge 2 Hastings United 2

Match 32/15/1237 - Tuesday, 13th October 2015 - Ryman League Cup

Tonbridge (1) 2 Brown 1, Folkes 25
Hastings United (1) 2 Temba 11, Richardson-Brown 50
Hastings United won 3-0 on penalties
Attendance: 294

Entrance: £10
Programme: £0.50
Mileage: 36/1,961

Match Report

I noticed a few people leaving the ground as the final whistle blew on this Ryman League Cup tie. Perhaps they were unaware that the game would be going to straight to penalties, or perhaps, they were very much aware of Tonbridge's abysmal record in penalty shoot-outs.

Without a game in the last 10 days Steve McKimm opted for a strong line-up with Sonny Miles, Nick Wheeler and Luke Blewden sitting on the bench. Hastings meanwhile, rested to their bench Sam Crabb, Sam Adams, ex-Angel Billy Medlock and ex-Tunbridge Wells' Jack Harris, all players whom I presume are considered first team regulars.

Given their lofty league position, the Ryman League Cup was a competition where there was a genuine chance of Tonbridge making good progress, if not winning it.

On the top of the new media suite a scoreboard has been introduced and it didn’t take long, less than a minute, for it to be put to good use. Ellis Brown outmuscled a defender, or was it a blatant shove, at the far post to drill a shot past the despairing Josh Pelling.

Tonbridge looked in complete control of the game when the ball was cleared from the line to deny them a two goal lead before a weak back pass from Lawrence Ball allowed Bright Temba to nip in and round Anthony Di Bernardo to place the ball into an empty net.

Nathan Elder headed a James Folkes cross wide before, in the 25th minute, Folkes began and finished a splendid move with a shot from inside the box after linking up with Brown to open up the opportunity.

The opportunity was there for Tonbridge to put the game to bed, but Hastings were not prepared to lay down and Simon Johnson fired wastefully over as did Tyrell Richardson-Brown. Just prior to the break, Folkes was needed to clear the ball from the line as Temba once again rounded Di Bernardo.

Five minutes into the second half the visitors were rewarded for their attacking intentions. A cross from Sam Cole was met cleanly on the volley by Richardson-Brown to level the score.

A couple of minutes later, a Richardson-Brown lob had Di Bernardo acrobatically clawing the ball to safety.

Wheeler and Blewden were introduced as Tom Parkinson, back from injury, ran out of steam and the ineffective Mitchell Pinnock were replaced. Immediately the tempo was increased and Tonbridge started to look the likely winners. Jack Parter ended a surge from the back with a shot over the bar and, with five minutes remaining, Blewden opted for power rather than placement when sent clear and blasted his shot high, wide and not too handsome.

One final chance saw Charlie Webster create an opportunity for Brown but Pelling was equal to the effort.

And so to penalties and the continuance of Tonbridge’s wait for a winning tie-breaker. Medlock stepped up first for Hastings and confidently buried his effort and when Pelling saved Lee Carey’s spot kick it was advantage to the Sussex side.

Cole made it 2-0 before Blewden drove his kick straight at the keeper. Ollie Rowe missed Hastings’ third kick but this was immediately cancelled out as Wheeler saw Pelling dive to his right to push away his effort.

Chris Cumming-Bart completed the penalty spot rout to condemn Tonbridge to a fifth shoot-out defeat and the unenviable record of having never won one.

A month on, and with some difficult league fixtures behind them, Tonbridge might look back on this defeat as a blessing, but for now it feels like an opportunity for silverware lost.

Tonbridge 7 VCD Athletic 0

Match 18/15/1223 - Monday, 31st August 2015 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (3) 7 Phipp 9, Wheeler 28, 68 (pen), Webster 37,
Whitnall 73, Elder 80, Parkinson 88
VCD Athletic (0) 0
Attendance: 516

Entrance: £10
Programme: £2
Mileage: 38/862

Match Report

Walking away from Longmead, I joked with a fellow Angels’ supporter that if we could find somebody to put the ball in the net we would have a damn good team. The comment referred back to pre-season fears about the lack of a recognised goalscorer. So, here we are at the end of August, the opposition net has been found 23 times in seven league games and of the last four games, three have yield a four, a five and in this game, VCD were the unfortunate victims as seven found their way past their goalkeeper, Robb Budd.

VCD, it has to be said, were not good and Kevin McMahon faces an uphill task in the coming months to keep the Crayford side in the Ryman Premier League. But let’s not take anything from Tonbridge, it was not as if VCD went down to 9 or 10 men and to their credit they, in an inept way at times, kept battling until the final whistle. But the Angels gave a complete team performance, with Nick Wheeler and Charlie Webster offering width and delivery that was a delight to watch.

Wheeler’s individual performance in particular was one of the best that I have witnessed at Longmead in many a year with two goals, four assists and a minor contribution to the other goal. The man of the match award raised a quizzical eyebrow with the announcement of Nathan Elder. The big man was very instrumental with his hold-up play and a goal, but for me, it had to be Wheeler.

Tonbridge opened the scoring after nine minutes. Elder collected the ball from just beyond the half-way line and sent Wheeler away with a pass towards the bye-line. The winger crossed to the penalty spot from where Tom Phipp placed a header past Budd, who probably should have done better.

The home side’s expansive game was causing VCD endless problems and before the half-hour mark, Tonbridge doubled their lead. A free kick taken by Anthony Di Bernado, was headed on by Elder into the path of Luke Blewden. A challenge saw the ball back at the feet of Elder who picked out a pass for Wheeler to side-step his marker and drive home his shot.

McMahon reacted immediately and withdrew two of his players including a full back that had been led a merry dance.

A third goal before the break saw Wheeler cross into the box after an initial cross had been returned to him. The second attempt found Tom Parkinson, whose goalwards header was turned in by Webster from close range.

The only downside of the afternoon from a Tonbridge perspective was an injury to Phipp a couple of minutes before the break. A rampaging run through the centre of the field was ended when he was brought to the ground by a desperate challenge, incurring a heavy knock to the ankle.

The was no respite for VCD as Tonbridge continued their assault on the visitor’s goal in the second half. The score became 4-0 after 68 minutes when substitute Tommy Whitnell was pushed in the back as he collected a Jack Parter cross leaving the referee little option but to point to the penalty spot. With neither Blewden, who had been substituted for Whitnall, or Phipp on the pitch, Wheeler stepped forward to fire his spot kick past the despairing dive of Budd.

Four quickly became five when a Wheeler corner dropped in the six yard box with Whitnall the quickest to react to stab the ball home.

Elder got the deserved reward of the sixth goal converting Wheeler’s right-sided free kick with a powerful header from inside the six yard box. The big man is now sidelined for three games as the suspension for his sending-off at Bogor Regis kicks in.

The final goal, before the referee blew his whistle to end VCD’s embarrassment, came with a couple of minutes remaining. A cross from Parter was met with another powerful header, this time from Parkinson, to complete a glorious afternoon for the Angels.

A respectable attendance of 516 patronised Longmead on a weather-threatening Bank Holiday Monday. Hopefully word is going to get out that this is a Tonbridge team that is an exciting watch and well worth turning out for.

Tonbridge 4 Brentwood Town 0

Match 16/15/1221 - Tuesday, 26th August 2015 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (0) 4 Phipp 62 (pen), Blewden 67, 88, Whitnell 72
Brentwood Town (0) 0
Attendance: 431

Entrance: £10
Programme: £2
Mileage: 38/788

Match Report

When is it appropriate to mark on the calendar the Ryman Premier play-off dates? Or can we dream they will not be necessary?

It is far too easy to get carried away with early season form; the old cliché it’s a marathon not a sprint comes quickly to mind, but Steve McKimm’s Tonbridge side are giving plenty of reason for such optimism.

A look beyond the starting eleven highlighted the strength of the bench with Sobers, Whitnall, Phipp, Webster and the new lad, Ellis Brown, awaiting their chance to prove their own point, which Whitnall and Phipp did to good effect later in the game.

During pre-season the optimism was always tempered with the caveat that there wasn’t a 20 goal striker at the club and that one would be needed to make a challenge at the top end of the table. Luke Blewden is on a mission to prove there was no need to lure the likes of Zak Attwood or Chris Smith to the club as he was the man to supply the finishes.

Blewden’s boundless enthusiasm has translated itself into goals with a hat-trick at Bognor Regis on Saturday followed by a brace against newly-promoted Brentwood Town this evening leaving him the Division’s leading goalscorer with seven goals.

Tonbridge dominated throughout the first half although Anthony Di Bernado had to be at his best to turn a shot around the post in an early foray from the visitors. Nathan Elder spurned the host's opening chance, steering a close range header wide after 16 minutes followed by a Tom Parkinson header that struck a post on 34 minutes. Blewden was sent clear just before the break by a neat header into his path by Elder, but the Brentwood goalkeeper, Martyn Guest, advancing from his goal, smothered the shot of the striker to leave the game goal-less at the break.

The introduction of Tom Phipp, a 56th minute substitute for Lee Carey, swung the game decisively in favour of the home side. He made an immediate impact with a surging run and chip that was finger-tipped to safety by Guest. This proved to be only momentary respite for the visitors as Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick (SHP) forced a save from the goalkeeper but as the ball rebounded to him, he was bundled to the floor for a penalty that was duly converted by Phipp.

Nicky Wheeler, a constant threat to the opposition, saw his free kick hit a post but the rebound fell nicely for Blewden to fire home the second goal after 69 minutes.

Tonbridge were now rampant and a shot from Elder was parried to SHP whose shot was cleared from the line as the Brentwood defence lost their shape completely. Two minutes later, they got themselves into a complete muddle with goalkeeper and defender,under pressure from Blewden, challenging each other for the ball, but only achieving a deflection to Tommy Whitnell who was able to walk the ball into an empty net.

Tonbridge wrapped up the game with a couple of minutes remaining when another surging run by Phipp from midfield opened up a pass to Charlie Webster who crossed low for Blewden to score from close range.

McKimm will almost certainly subdue talk of promotion via automatic or play-off means but in this kind of form it is almost impossible not to get over-excited about the club’s prospects in the coming months.

Tonbridge 2 Herne Bay 0

Match 14/15/1219 - Tuesday, 18th August 2015 - Ryman League Cup 1R

Tonbridge (0) 2 Elder 73, 89
Herne Bay (0) 0
Attendance: 228

Entrance: £10
Programme: £0.50
Mileage: 38/694

Match Report

There are people around who would rather not be in the Ryman League Cup and their viewpoint might well have been vindicated when Nicky Wheeler felt the weight of an awful challenge by Herne Bay's Georgio Russio and after treatment was substituted and limped away from the action. In a later incident Brett Millham took another full-bloodied challenge that left him on the ground for somewhile taking attention from the club physio. Tom Pearson was also stretchered away in a strange incident that saw him writhing in agony after taking a shot on goal, this time unchallenged by a visiting defender. Whilst Tonbridge progress into the next round of the competition, it is at some price if they are going to lose one of the early season's success stories in Wheeler.

The match throughout was messy and Herne Bay were certainly niggly and that is being polite.

Nathan Elder, who on Saturday couldn't hit the proverbial barn door, had two goals laid on a plate for him with pinpoint crosses from James Folkes for his first after 73 minutes and, late in the game, Luke Blewden stood one up for him to head in from close range. Two goals that will not do Elder's confidence any harm whatsoever.

Tonbridge paraded their new loan signing, Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick, a winger from Sutton United and he showed up well especially in the early stages when a 20 yard shot shook the crossbar.

In the Herne Bay side were ex-Angels Danny Walder and, on the bench, Mark Lovell and it was good to see the ex-Gillingham favourite Danny Spiller continuing to ply his trade at the lower levels.

I've said before, I like the distraction of these minor competitions including the Kent Senior Cup. They fill a few empty Tuesday evenings later in the season and it is a good opportunity for the blooding of youngsters from the reserve team and for supporters to see if any of these players are knocking the door for first team action.

Tonbridge 3 Needham Market 3

Match 13/15/1218 - Saturday, 15th August 2015 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (2) 3 Blewden 16, Parkinson 25, Wheeler 85
Needham Market (1) 3 Fenn 10, Newson 53, Izzet (pen) 76
Attendance: 405

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/656

Match Report

Goals win matches and defensive errors (and/or questionable refereeing decisions) lose them. The points dropped by Tonbridge in this match, it can be argued, were as a consequence of failings at both ends of the pitch.

A seemingly endless stream of crosses from Nick Wheeler found the head of Nathan Elder, but it wasn’t the big striker’s day as chance after chance went begging with the inevitable conclusion that their profligacy would be punished at the other end.

Suffolk-based Needham Market, who were making their first-ever visit to Longmead, having won promotion as champions of Ryman North, came with the vastly experienced duo of Karl Duguid and Kemal Izzet in their ranks. Duguid clocked up very nearly 600 league appearances in his 19-year Football League career, over 450 of them for Colchester United and alongside him for 13 years was Izzet, who can point to 422 appearances for the Essex League One club.

Although Tonbridge started brightly, it was Needham Market that took the lead after 10 minutes in controversial circumstances. Duguid delivered a free kick towards the penalty spot for Oliver Fenn to direct a shot goalwards. Anthony Di Barnado, in the Tonbridge goal, made a plunging save to his right, clawing the ball back from the line. Or so we thought, until the linesman’s flag indicated that the ball had indeed crossed the line. It was a big call from the official because his view must have been somewhat obscured by the goalkeeper’s body if nothing else. In fairness, the travelling support behind the goal were immediately claiming the goal.

Tonbridge reacted well to the set back and within 15 minutes were in front. After 16 minutes a cross from Charlie Webster was headed back across goal from the far post by Elder to Luke Blewden, whose looping header evaded the Needham goalkeeper.

After 25 minutes, Needham Market’s weakness under the high ball into the box was exposed once more as a Wheeler corner was headed in by Tom Parkinson for his third goal in successive matches.

As the chances were frittered away into the second half, Tonbridge paid the price with another decision that had a hint of controversy about it, but one that should have been avoided. Di Barnado played the ball out to Jerrome Sobers, who initially got the ball caught under his feet and whilst he steadied, Duguid made a challenge from behind that appeared to be a push in the back. Waved on by the referee, he played in Sam Newson who clinically finished into the bottom corner to draw the visitors level.

The home side found themselves behind with a quarter-hour remaining when Needham Market were awarded a penalty for hand ball against Sobers. A ball hit directly at the central defender from close range struck a hand and the referee pointed to the spot. It appeared a harsh decision but, perhaps, the position of both arms outstretched was enough to convince the referee. Izzet send Di Barnado the wrong way with his spot kick to put his side in front.

Five minutes remained when the persistence of Jack Parter paid dividends for the Angels. Having appeared to have lost the ball a couple of times in a run that took him across the pitch and down the right side, his cross found Wheeler, who cut inside a defender to curl a shot into the far corner for a goal his performance richly deserved.

In the last five days, and two really entertaining games, Tonbridge have scored five goals and could have expected a better return than a single point but having conceded six in the process, that expectancy total might well have been zero.

Tonbridge 2 Grays Athletic 3

Match 12/15/1217 - Tuesday, 11th August 2015 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (1) 2 Parkinson 4, Blewden 62
Grays Athletic (1) 3 Dumaka 25,56 Carlos 86
Attendance: 439

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/618

Match Report

It is early season and as any manager worth his salt would say, let’s not put our heads in the clouds with a first day victory or sink into despair with an opening home defeat. A good Tuesday evening attendance of 439 had obviously been encouraged by Tonbridge’s opening day win at Enfield Town but left disappointed as a really decent Grays Athletic returned to Essex with the spoils after a thoroughly entertaining game.

Dumebi GB-Dumaka must love playing against Tonbridge, two goals on the evening brought his total to five in the last three games between the clubs, but the home side must reflect on individual mistakes that cost them at least a share of the points.

Tonbridge could not have wished for a better start, going ahead after just four minutes. A free kick from the left was delivered by Nicky Wheeler to the far post. Grays’ goalkeeper Lamar Joseph-Johnson spilt the ball at the feet of Tom Parkinson who had the easiest of finishes from close range.

A feature of Grays play throughout the evening was the pace on the flanks of Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson and Joao Carlos. After 25 minutes, a long cross beyond the far post was retrieved by Fortnam-Tomlinson and his pass across the face of goal presented Dumaka with the type of chance strikers of his quality are not going to miss.

Early in the second Joseph-Johnson made a good save from a Parkinson header, arriving late in the box. Parkinson appears to be blossoming in his midfield pairing with Tom Phipp. They already have a great understanding and Parkinson is able to make these late runs with the security of Phipp behind him.

The game quickly turned on 56 minutes. Sonny Miles had a goal disallowed after burying a powerful header but the referee decided that he had climbed on the back of a defender. Grays immediately broke down the right hand side and when Jack Parter missed his tackle, Fortnam-Tomlinson was sprinting clear, his cross to the near post found the clinical Dumaka and in the blink of an eye the visitors were in front.

It was to Tonbridge’s credit that they hit straight back. Just beyond the hour, Phipp sent Luke Blewden on his way through the middle and as Nathan Elder peeled away from two defenders, Blewden ran through the gap and powered home a shot from the edge of the box.

At this point, the home side looked favourites to go on and take the points. Charlie Webster steered a header well wide from close range before with four minutes remaining another individual mistake cost them dear. A long cross into the box from Luke Ifill was partially punched to safety by Anthony Di Barnado to James Folkes whose misplaced pass found the feet of Carlos. The impressive winger cut in from the left and curled an absolute beauty into the far top corner to delight the 20 or so travelling supporters behind the goal.

Tonbridge might still have retrieved something from the game when, in time-added, another Parkinson header was smothered by Joseph-Johnson at the feet of the onrushing Blewden in the nick of time to preserve the Essex side’s lead.

If any reminder was needed, the Ryman Premier is a league where there is quality that will capitalise on mistakes and Grays had that quality in the last third of the pitch. Tonbridge need to eradicate these errors but at the same time they can draw positives from their own performance.

A new home for the video man, Trevor Spielberg

Tonbridge 0 Ebbsfleet United 2

Match 06/15/1211 - Tuesday, 21st July 2015 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge (0) 0
Ebbsfleet United (0) 2 Willmott 85, 90
Attendance: 305

Entrance: Senior £4
Programme: 50p
Mileage: 38/276

Match Report

Tonbridge went toe to toe with their Conference South neighbours but quality prevailed in the final five minutes when two goals from Robbie Willmott, fresh out of the Football League with Newport County, gave Ebbsfleet a rather flattering scoreline.

The resources of Ebbsfleet are well documented and the subject of a certain amount of jealousy and mirth that Dr Abdulla Al Humaidi’s investment has not produced instant success. But there were signs in the second half of this game that the most recent incumbent of the managerial hot seat, Daryl McMahon, is managing to fit round pegs into round holes and subsequently a considerably more cohesive unit is evolving than under Steve Brown or Jamie Day.

For the first 45 minutes, it looked a case of same old; same old for Ebbsfleet as Tonbridge forced the pace and asked a good deal more of the visitor’s new custodian, Jon Miles, than Anthony Di Barnado between the Angels’ sticks.

Miles had to be at his very best to acrobatically turn over a drive from Nick Wheeler that was headed for the top corner after 20 minutes, having previously watched on as a header from Nathan Elder was cleared from the line by Dean Rance.

Di Bernado saved well from Matt Godden but the 22-year-old Ebbsfleet keeper, brought in by McMahon, from Tottenham, where he played in the same youth team as Harry Kane, was by far the busier, brilliantly turning away a Tom Parkinson header and then watching thankfully as Tom Whitnell and Elder spurned good chances before the break.

The introduction of two more of McMahon’s summer signings, Jordan Parkes and John Paul Kissock swung the game in favour of the Conference South side in the second half. Parkes, last season’s Conference South Player of the Year following his 30 goal haul (from midfield) for Hemel Hempstead is a class act and one that could have been wearing Gillingham’s colours had a trial period ended with his signature a couple of years back. Kissock, signed from Macclesfield, from where he spent a loan period at Oldham Athletic last season, was the lynchpin of a midfield that was outfought in their first half absence but became dominant in the second.

Tonbridge certainly deserved something out of the game but with five minutes remaining Parkes found the head of Willmot with a pin-point cross to the far post from where the striker executed a bullet header that gave Di Bernado absolutely no chance.

With almost the last kick of the game, Willmott’s driven shot gave Ebbsfleet a flattering scoreline after Parkes had fed him a pass to the left side of the six yard box.

Both sets of supporters would have left Longmead quietly satisfied with their club’s performance on the night and their expectations for the coming season. As said previously, like a broken record I’m afraid, Tonbridge’s hopes are going to rest on finding a 20 goal striker of their own, whilst Ebbsfleet can afford the luxury of having Danny Kedwell coming off the bench for a 20 minute cameo.

Tonbridge 1 Gillingham 2

Match 03/15/1208 - Saturday, 11th July 2015 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge (0) 1 Pearson 76
Gillingham (1) 2 Norris 43, Egan 86
Attendance: 793

Entrance: Senior £4
Programme: 50p
Mileage: 36/160

Match Report

A lovely video from Trevor

There was nothing about this day in which you could be anything other than being proud to be a supporter of Tonbridge Angels Football Club. The club has shown great dignity since the shocking events of Tuesday evening at Whyteleafe and the passing of a trialist, Junior Dian, wearing their colours for the first and only time.

The two teams took to the field side by side, preceded by the club chaplain, Neil Durling and Junior's brother, with Junior's pals, James Folkes and Jerrome Sobers leading the Tonbridge line and Cody McDonald for Gillingham each carrying wreathes to be laid in the area where suppporters and a large gathering of Junior's family and friends, had already laid their flowers.

The chaplain read a poem from Frixo, a forum member, that had been posted in the last couple of days, it read:

I never met Junior Dian, never saw him play
I was not down at Whyteleafe on that fateful, sorry day
There on social media is a bright, athletic man
Sharp and cool, and full of fun, the whole world in his hands
Loving playing football, winning with his mates
Looking for the opening to make his first big break
A bright start with much promise, so those who saw him say
By some tiny unseen hand cruelly snatched away
I mourn a young man's passing and can barely guess the pain
Of family and friends never seeing him again
But as the seasons pass and time softens the hurt
I'll never forget that Junior died in a Tonbridge Angels shirt
God Bless You
Rest in Peace

James, Jerrome and Melvin Slight were first to lay their tributes, followed by manager Steve McKimm and Cody for Gillingham. I can only voice my admiration for Melvin, who tried so desperately to save the young man's life, the turmoil that must have gone through his mind since Tuesday, but here he was medical bag in hand, ready once again to do his job for his club.

The Tonbridge team came forward, one by one, to lay a flower, reaching out and touching the photograph of Junior.

A minute's applause followed, which proved too much for James Folkes, who was quickly consoled by his captain, Jerrome. Courageously, as his team mates rallied around him, James recovered his composure to play his part in the ensuing match.

Gillingham supporters, of whom I would expect nothing less, having stood alongside them at many a minute's silence or applause, observed the proceedings with the greatest of respect and fully played their part.

As for the match itself, Gillingham paid Tonbridge the great compliment of bringing a first team squad complete with all of their summer signings so far, with only Doug Loft nursing a sore calf, missing.

Tonbridge more than held their own and Gillingham had to thank the agility of Stuart Nelson in keeping out two headers from Tom Phipp before Luke Norris opened the scoring just prior to the break.

The home side got the equaliser their efforts deserved when Tom Pearson latched onto a weak header from John Egan to his goalkeeper leaving Pearson to round Glenn Morris and fire into the empty net.

Gillingham were not to be denied though and with four minutes remaining, Egan made amends with a close range header from a Ryan Edwards cross that Anthony Di Bernardo could not prevent from crossing the line.

Football is a sport that suffers criticism at times for the obscene amounts of money that sloshes around the top end. The great dignity that was shown this afternoon shows that the game has a heart.

Perhaps, a few quid from those millions it takes from television, etc., could now be filtered down, so the simple, relatively cheap, test that can detect the heart problem that has taken, from Tonbridge alone, Jack Maddams before Junior Dian, can be offered to semi-professional players up and down the country.

RIP Junior Dian