Tonbridge Angels 3 Tunbridge Wells 0

Match 11/18/1604 - Saturday, 21st July 2018 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (1) 3 Turner 41,71 Stone 56
Tunbridge Wells (0) 0
Attendance: 228

Admission: £3 Senior
Team Sheet: 50p
Mileage: 38/431

Tonbridge eased to a comfortable victory over their near neighbours Tunbridge Wells, who remained competitive for much of the match but were rather toothless in the final third.

Both teams, barring an odd player on either side, fielded sides that could conceivably start their respective league seasons.

As should be expected as the senior side, Tonbridge, dominated the early stages. Trialist Adem Ramadan, who after appearing in all the games so far must be exercising Steve McKimm’s mind, stretched Cameron Hall to a fine stop low to his left after just three minutes and the goalkeeper needed to be at his best to deny Joe Turner after a quarter of an hour.

It took the best part of 30 minutes for Tunbridge Wells to mount a serious attack that ended with Josh Biddlecombe shooting over.

But whilst it was largely one-way traffic, a combination of stout defending and wayward finishing kept the game goalless until the 41st minute when Alex Read slid a short pass on the edge of the penalty area to Turner who fired into the bottom corner.

Before the end of the half, Liam Smith saw a shot saved by Hall and had another effort which was deflected narrowly over his own crossbar by Jake Hampson.

Read steered a header wide early in the second half after being set up by Craig Stone and in a rare foray forward Tunbridge Wells substitute Rory Salter fired wide.

The home side doubled their advantage after 56 minutes when Stone followed up to score after Hall had parried Ramadan’s initial shot.

The closest the Wells came to scoring came on 68 minutes when Biddlecombe lobbed the advancing Jonny Henly, but the ball drifted agonisingly wide.

Turner put the game to bed for the Angels when he cut in from the left to bury a shot from around 20 yards.

On another very hot afternoon, both teams contributed to an entertaining afternoon which culminated with the presentation of the Courier Cup, which I don’t think many people knew they were playing for!

Erith & Belvedere 1 Tunbridge Wells 1

Match 10/18/1603 - Thursday, 19th July 2018 - Pre-Season Friendly

Erith and Belvedere (1) 1
Tunbridge Wells (0) 1 Jefferies 81
Headcount: 49

Admission: £4 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 70/393

Tunbridge Wells supporters would have walked away from this preseason friendly a little underwhelmed by the performance of their first half team made up of senior players but highly encouraged by some bright youngsters in the second period.

Sadly, as I lament game after game preseason, the absence of any information regarding who was who on both sides leaves those kids largely unnamed. One name that did surface was that of Ewan Jefferies, a 17-year-old, who capped a fine display with an equalising goal for the Wells.

The first half was dominated by Erith & Belvedere to the degree that the Wells created just a single chance, a header from a corner by Ollie Cooke that was cleared from the line.

After surviving an early scare when a goalbound header was cleared by Drew Crush, the hosts went in front after eight minutes when a through ball opened up an opportunity that left Cameron Hall diving at the feet of the forward but coming off second best as the Erith man slid the ball into an empty net.

The method in which the goal was scored became a somewhat recurring theme as single passes cut through the Wells back line leading to some desperate defending to stay in the game.

Right from the outset of the second half the Wells’ youngsters attacked the game with a positive mindset with a Jefferies header from a corner bringing a save out of the rotund E&B custodian.

A curious incident on the hour saw an Erith defender sent off for spitting. An Erith official was dispatched to the dressing room for the player’s explanation which was that he had only shouted and not spat.

Jefferies tested the keeper on a couple more occasions before an E&B free kick came back off the crossbar after 76 minutes.

But, five minutes later, a cross from the right was smartly met by Jefferies at the near post to give the Wells something to take from the game.

Young Jefferies made the evening a worthwhile trip and I’m hoping that the Tunbridge Wells management saw enough to have some faith in the lad in the upcoming season.

Sevenoaks Town 1 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 09/18/1602 - Tuesday, 17th July 2018 - Pre-Season Friendly

Sevenoaks Town (0) 1 Sawyer 46
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Aristride 23 Smith 90
Attendance: 157

Admission: £5
Programme: £1
Mileage: 46/323

The gentleman stood alongside me said quietly, “Oh, that’s embarrassing”. Far from embarrassing, it was positively magical, Brian Smith, whose son, Liam, had just cut in from the left, cutting a swathe through the centre of the opposition’s defence before unleashing a 25 yard shot into the top corner off the underside of the bar. If you had indulged in a bit of Dad dancing Mr Smith, now that would have been embarrassing!

This was a preseason game that was somewhat strange in its course of events. A first look at the Tonbridge team sheet that started with only Sonny Miles as a senior professional suggested a tough watch for the Tonbridge support who made up a decent proportion of the overall attendance. But it was nothing of the sort as the collection of trialists had a good opening 45 minutes. An old friend, Tom Beere, stepped into central midfield and owned the place. Everyone was making the point that he was the answer to our prayers in the creative midfield role, but with the player seeking full-time football, it seems unlikely those prayers will be answered. Further forward was Baselle Aristride, who was at Margate last season, with a big physical presence and is surely worth another look. Six other trialists made the starting eleven, each of which we have seen before and might, or might not, have caught Steve McKimm’s eye with a view to a further opportunity.

With no team sheet available for the Sevenoaks side, references to them will be a little vague although the well travelled nature of Zak Attwood and Frankie Sawyer’s careers made them instantly recognisable.

After an opening 20 minutes when both sides brought saves out of the respective goalkeepers, it was the visitors that opened the scoring after 23 minutes. A quality through ball from Beere found Aristride shrugging off a challenge before firing in a shot that was parried back to him to tuck home at the second attempt.

With Beere controlling the centre of the park, Miles and Callum Adonis-Taylor easily containing any threat it was a comfortable half for the Angels who only probably regretted not going into the break further in front. So it was unexpected when Sevenoaks equalised in the first minute of the second period. A cross from the right was collected by Sawyer who shifted his feet into a clear shooting position on the edge of the box to clinically finish past Tommy Taylor.

On the hour, there was a rash of substitutions that left the Angels looking more like the first eleven most would expect and given what we had seen you had to believe that to win from here was just a matter of time. But it never really happened with the home side equally as threatening.

But cometh the hour, cometh the 18-year-old and Liam Smith’s magical moment. Don’t be embarrassed Mr Smith, take a bow on behalf of your lad!

Tonbridge Angels 1 Gillingham 5

Match 08/18/1601 - Saturday, 14th July 2018 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Read 72
Gillingham (1) 5 Hanlon 18,60 Reilly 52 Mbo 78 Moussa 79
Attendance: 224

Admission: £3 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/277

Gillingham paid Tonbridge Angels a huge compliment by bringing a strong team to Longmead on a day when they were simultaneously playing at Margate. Manager Steve Lovell took charge whilst sitting in the stand was chairman Paul Scally who would have enjoyed watching his side win by the convincing margin of 5-1, a scoreline that was a little harsh on their hosts.

On another very hot day, I once again took cover under the main stand to find respite from the sun. The players were also treated to mid-half water breaks.

The first chance of the game fell to Brandon Hanlon who saw his header from a David Nasseri cross go wide, but it was the new signing from Charlton that gave Gillingham the lead after 18 minutes when he shrugged off the challenge of Sonny Miles to get onto a long punt forward and fire into the bottom right hand corner.

Soon after the water break a cross from Luke O’Neill was met with a glancing header from Josh Parker that went narrowly wide.

Tonbridge’s new signing Jared Small took a heavy knock after 40 minutes and needed to be replaced by trialist Adem Ramadam, whose performance caught the eye and is deserving of further opportunities to impress the Tonbridge management.

The home side ended the first half stretching Tomas Holy with a save at his near post from Arthur Lee and after flapping at a cross he needed a defender to make a saving block.

Gillingham opened the second half with Parker heading wide and Nasseri sending successive shots over the bar before they doubled their advantage on 52 minutes. Callum Reilly cut in from the left before shooting from 20 yards to score with a shot that went in off the post.

On the hour the Gills went three clear following a surging run from Hanlon that ended with a thumping shot that left substitute goalkeeper Tom Day’s first touch of the afternoon that of picking the ball out of his net.

Tonbridge pulled a goal back after 70 minutes when Alex Read got on the end of a Liam Smith ball over the top to complete the no mean feat of lobbing the 6’7” Holy.

Two thumping efforts in the last 15 minutes added gloss to the Gills' afternoon but also gave Tonbridge a scoreline they didn’t deserve. A 25 yard drive from Noel Mbo made it 4-1 and, a minute later, a sharp turn and hit from Frank Moussa made it five.

Staplehurst Monarchs 3 Snodland Town 2

Match 07/18/1600 - Thursday, 12th July 2018 - Pre-Season Friendly

Staplehurst Monarchs (2) 3 Brown 20,57 Bertram 40
Snodland Town (0) 2 #6 53 Sherwood 78
Headcount: 12

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 1/239

It’s a little bit of a shame that I don’t get down to my local club, Staplehurst Monarchs, more often. Just twice in the last couple of years have I ventured the half-mile from home to Jubilee Fields and, on both occasions, I have been pleasantly surprised by the standard of football.

Twenty-four hours have past since the bitter disappointment of England’s exit from the World Cup at the semi-final stage in Russia. Everybody is rightly proud of the performance of the national team and they come home with their heads held high. But football moves on and, like falling off a bike, it was good to get back to grassroots at the first opportunity.

Staplehurst Monarchs are a club that appears to have on-field ambition with the appearance of ex-Tunbridge Wells goalkeeper, Steve Lawrence between the sticks and leading the line, they have pulled off a major coup with the signing of Josh Brown, a striker from K Sports. Unfortunately, however good their season might turn out to be, significant progress needs to made in terms of infrastructure for promotion to be sought.

Both goalkeepers were in early action making good saves before the home side took the lead after 20 minutes. A fine through ball from the number eight saw Brown brush aside a challenge to fire into the bottom corner from 10 yards at the right hand angle of the box.

The game was a feisty encounter for a pre-season “friendly” and the referee needed to remind a couple of players of the meaning of the word.

After 40 minutes, Staplehurst deservedly doubled their advantage when a cross from the right fell to their central defender Nathan Bertram who swept the ball home.

Snodland Town, of SCEFL 1, a step higher than their hosts, were offered a way back into the game when their lively number 15 was brought down but the evergreen Dave Sherwood blasted the spot kick over the bar.

Snodland began the second half with a great deal more purpose and reduced the arrears after 53 minutes when their number 6 took a pass to score from close range.

The Monarch’s two goal advantage was quickly restored when Brown executed a fine finish from the edge of the box.

Snodland’s 15 was further agitated when he saw his header come back off the crossbar and with 12 minutes to go, Sherwood got his customary goal when he intercepted a poor back pass to tuck the ball home.

Staplehurst’s Brown was denied his hat-trick with a good double save from the visiting goalkeeper and from the resultant corner a header was directed wide.

Good luck to my local club, I will be watching closely their results and will not miss an, albeit limited, opportunity to see them.

Erith Town 5 Tonbridge Angels U21 0

Match 06/18/1599 - Monday, 9th July 2018 - Pre-Season Friendly

Erith Town (2) 5
Tonbridge Angels U21 (0) 0
Headcount: 45
New Ground: 324

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 76/238

Tonbridge Angels Under-21 side were well beaten against Southern Counties East side Erith Town, who were celebrating their return to Erith Athletics Stadium which they left to groundshare at Thamesmead and VCD five years ago.

The Erith manager, Adam Woodward, has recruited well during the summer and his team, which included ex-Angels Adrian Stone and Scott Whibley, is expected to be challenging around the higher reaches of the SCEFL Premier.

The Angels side featured Stuart Copeland in goal in a team that was made-up entirely of players under the age of 20.

Unfortunately, no team sheet was available from Erith Town so reference to their players can only be made by number, although I am pretty sure the scorer of a second half hat-trick was Stone.

Neither side fashioned much in terms of chances before the Dockers went in front after 19 minutes when a cross from the right found their number seven unmarked to fire into the bottom corner.

Tonbridge worked their way back into the game and Dominic Toussaint and Ristel Benz tested the home goalkeeper.

Copeland saved well to his left and Erith hit a post before the number 10 opened up a tap-in for the number 9 to make it 2-0.

Into the second half, Tonbridge forced ex-Angels Under-18 goalkeeper, Lewis Mitchell Into a couple of saves but conceded to Stone, who scored with a tap-in on 59 minutes, a goal after 74 minutes that appeals for offside went unheard and a 76th minute penalty.

Tonbridge line-up was: 1. Stuart Copeland, 2. Ciaran Nadison-Singh, 3. Tim Oledeju, 4. Dominic Welsh, 5. Lekan Ejiwumni, .6. Ollie Harrison, 7. Jacob Wright, 8. Charlie Dumas, 9. Dominic Toussaint, 10. Chris Lambert, 11. Ristel Benz, 12. Jacob Lambert, 13. Gareth Austin, 14. Chris Bright, 15. Harry Hudson, 16. Nick Ithier, 17. Alfie Barclay, 18. Zak Wolvey.

Tonbridge Angels U18 3 Whyteleafe U18 6

Match 05/18/1598 - Sunday, 8th July 2018 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels U18 (2) 3 Brooks 30 Bowles 43 Freeman 88
Whyteleafe U18 (2) 6 Palmer 9,54 Adejbite 47,50 Wiliiams 32 Penton 90
Headcount: 28
Played at Mascalls, Paddock Wood

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 20/162

Tonbridge Angels return to action after a year’s absence at Under-18 level brought much encouragement despite a 6-3 defeat to Whyteleafe on an oppressively hot Sunday morning at Mascalls School, Paddock Wood.

Manager Jamie Wolvey was satisfied that at periods in the game his side, who had fielded two Under-16s in Charlie Bowles and Ollie Harrison, had matched a Whyteleafe side that were physically bigger and stronger.

With concerns about the heat to the forefront the game was split into three periods of 30 minutes.

With this being Tonbridge’s first game together as a team they struggled in the opening stages against their visitors who had a great deal of understanding of their roles in the team. They took the lead after nine minutes when Nathan Palmer converted a cross from the right.

The goal sparked a period of dominance for the Surrey side with chances coming at regular intervals but the score was not added to by a combination of wastefulness and some stout defending including a fine double save from the Tonbridge goalkeeper, Tommy Sceal.

So it was somewhat against the run of play that Tonbridge equalised at the end of the first period. The ball was pulled the ball back from the bye-line for David Brooks to fire into the bottom corner.

Whyteleafe resumed their overall command of the game and regained their lead after 32 minutes when Bradley Williams shot into the bottom corner from the left hand angle of the penalty area.

Sceal did well to turn a shot onto the underside of the bar before the home side equalised with a good move that saw the ball passed along the 18 yard line before reaching Bowles who curled a shot into the far corner.

Unfortunately parity did not last long and three goals in seven minutes from Ibrahim Adejbite (2) and Palmer saw Whyteleafe into the second break with a 5-2 lead.

The heat told on both sides in the final period and it was two minutes before the end when Jake Freeman collected a good pass to give the scoreline respectability at 5-3. However, it was not to be the last act with Ryan Penton completing the scoring for the visitors.