Tunbridge Wellls 1 Corinthian 2

Match 18/18/1611 - Tuesday, 7th August 2018 - SCEFL Premier

Tunbridge Wells (0) 1 Lawrence 74
Corinthian (0) 2 Hurcomb 82 Housego 86
Attendance: 151

Admission: £4 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 38/887

Finally, what has been an interminable pre-season (of my own making by starting in June), I finally have competitive football and with it comes change.

The long, baking summer was replaced by a soaking as the Culverden pitch, an absolute credit to the work of Brian Sampson and his team, enjoyed the liquid refreshment from the sky. And for a long period during the game it appeared that the veritable goalfest of pre-season was about to be replaced by a goalless draw.

Both Tunbridge Wells and Corinthian opened up their season with defeats on Saturday, the Wells going down at Glebe whilst their visitors were brushed aside by a Chatham side who are among the favourites for the SCEFL Premier this season.

The opening half-hour was, I’ll use my term absorbing when nothing really happens. Josh Biddlecombe and Jeremy Tudor-Pole had efforts saved with ease by Corinthian goalkeeper, Aiden Prall whilst at the other end, ex-Wells man Bradley Large had a shot cleared from the line.

And that was really the story of the first period with Biddlecombe stretching Prall into a good low save the only real action to employ a goalkeeper.

It took 65 minutes for the game to come to life as Prall dropped a cross but the resultant stab at goal by Tudor-Pole was wide.

There was an air of resignation that neither side had the fire power to break the deadlock when Tunbridge Wells were awarded a free kick wide on the left about 20 yards out after 76 minutes. Tommy Lawrence’s free kick, whether it was a cross or not only he knows, found its way through the crowded penalty area to nestle in the far corner.

It was a wake-up call for Corinthian and eight minutes later they were level. A cross from the right was deflected upwards and an acrobatic overhead kick from Large looped the ball back across the face of goal for Michael Hurcomb to bury a header.

At this point a draw was definitely a fair result but Corinthian found a winner with three minutes remaining. A cross was only cleared to the edge of the box from where Oscar Housego struck a controlled, low shot back into the net.

Certainly, for Tunbridge Well, a cutting edge in front of goal is needed for this season to show any real improvement on the last one, but everyone with a Wells allegiance knows that.

Tonbridge Angels 1 Nottingham Forest Under-23 1

Match 17/18/1610 - Saturday, 4th August 2018 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Folkes 51
Nottingham Forest Under-23 (1) 1 Sodeinde 26
Attendance: 303

Admission: £3 Senior
Team Sheet: 50p
Mileage: 38/849

Tonbridge Angels emerged from their last pre-season friendly against Nottingham Forest Under-23s with a creditable draw after staging a rousing second half performance.

On another very hot afternoon, both teams took advantage of a pristine surface to pass and move to great effect in a thoroughly enjoyable encounter.

Gary Brazil’s charges included Greek international Apostolos Vellios, formerly of Everton, who has made 40 first team appearances for Forest and Victor Sodeinde, a striker signed from Maidstone United earlier this year.

After an even opening period in which Joe Turner saw an early effort deflected for a corner and Jonny Henly save with his feet from Vellios, Nottingham Forest took the lead after 26 minutes when a cross from a Forest trialist evaded both Jack Parter and Sonny Miles to find its way to Sodeinde, who shot into the far corner.

Tonbridge had the ball in the net on the half-hour when a free kick from Tom Beere was headed home but ruled out for offside.

The hosts ended the half strongly with Alex Read firing over; Tom Parkinson’s effort was blocked before Turner went closest with a shot that was denied by a fine low stop by Jordan Wright.

The Angels started the second half as they had ended the first, on the front foot, with a far post header by Arthur Lee that was pushed to safety at the foot of his post by Wright and a superb move that ended with Reid testing the keeper.

The much-deserved equaliser came after 51 minutes when a move involving Jared Small, Parter and Parkinson ended with a cross to the far post by Turner who found the head of James Folkes who headed across goal into the far corner.

Both teams made multiple substitutions around the hour mark and Henly needed to be alert to deny Anel Ahmedhodzic and Arvin Appiah.

Tonbridge had a strong penalty claim turned away when Smith was brought down and a rasping drive from 25 yards by Tommy Whitnell was tipped over by Wright as the hosts ended the game strongly.

Steve McKimm, speaking after the game, was pleased with his side’s fitness, passing and movement and delighted with the outcome. Of his new signings he said that they had bought into what he was trying to implement. For the start of the season he expects tough games against a Merstham side that has been strengthened by manager Haydn Bird and a young, energetic Lewes team that visit Longmead on Tuesday, 14th August.

Tonbridge Angels Ladies 3 Crystal Palace Development 10

Match 16/18/1609 - Wednesday, 1st August 2018 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels Ladies (0) 3 Janes 60 Mackley 62 Moran 85
Crystal Palace Development (7) 10 Sinden 18,25,31,40 Iton 32 Collett 36 Lock 44 Robinson 79,87 Spriggs 82
Estimated attendance: 100

Admission: £2 donation
Team Sheet: Free
Mileage: 38/811

Tonbridge Angels Ladies suffered a heavy defeat at Longmead against Crystal Palace Ladies Development, but the result didn’t reflect the nature of the game.

The Angels, who this season will play in Division One East following their promotion have strengthened their squad with the recruitment of Samantha Burton, previously with Palace, Karli Povey (Bexhill) and Becky Mackley (Gillingham).

Crystal Palace fielded a side that have had success through their various age groups and from the outset showed the quality of passing and movement that comes from being a part of a club from the higher reaches of women’s football.

But, for 20 minutes, Tonbridge held their own. Palace made several chances but found the Angels’ goalkeeper, Keila Tucker, who was loaned for the game, in fine form making several good saves but also doing well clearing her lines.

Crystal Palace finally made their breakthrough after 18 minutes when Alsaa Jabi set up Amy Sinden to strike into the bottom corner. Tucker did well to successively save at the feet of Sinden and Karesha Iton whilst Megan Akehurst saw an opportunity denied by the Palace goalkeeper, Charlotte Greenwood.

On 25 minutes the south London side doubled their advantage, once again through Sinden. This, unfortunately for the home side, signalled the start of a period of total dominance from the visitors in which they scored a further five goals before the break. Sinden completed her hat-trick from 20 yards; Iton’s shot went in off the underside of the bar; Hannah Collett added a fifth and Sinden took her tally to four before a 25 yard free kick from Tayla Lock made the half-time score a demoralising 7-0.

But the spirit of the Angels side shone through and demoralised they were not. After containing their visitors in the first quarter hour of the second period, they put their name on the scoreboard as a fine move saw Becky Janes race clear to slot the ball past Greenwood.

Within two minutes they found a second goal, this time Mackley and Akehurst combining well to end with Mackley finishing clinically.

Mackley might have reduced the arrears further barring some stout defending but two quick goals from Palace extended the lead again.

Perhaps the most joyous moment of the evening came when a 30 yard free kick from Kelly Moran went straight in but the delight was short-lived as Palace reached double figures with the final goal of the evening.

To concede 10 goals on the evening is far from a fair reflection of the game to which the Angels contributed greatly and, whilst they are expecting stiffer opposition than last season, it is unlikely they will face such a talented side in their league campaign.

On Friday, the Angels will find out who their first opponents will be in the FA Cup, we will bring you the details as soon as we know the outcome of the draw.

NB: For this report, I have taken the team sheet provided as gospel with reference to the Palace side.

Colliers Wood United 5 Tonbridge Angels U21 1

Match 15/18/1608 - Tuesday, 31st July 2018 - Pre-Season Friendly

Colliers Wood United (1) 5
Tonbridge Angels Under-21 (1) 1 Jones 38
Headcount: 31

Admission: Free
Team Sheet: None
Mileage: 128/773
New ground: 325

One of those nights when anything destined to go wrong did. I always knew that my departure time was going to leave it tight to make the kick-off but as it was a new ground I decided to give it a go. In fact, the traffic on the M25 dissipated as the journey progressed and a made good time and was on schedule to arrive in time. But now the tale of woe ...

For the information of groundhoppers that have yet to tick Colliers Wood United bear in mind the following. When your satnav tells you that the ground is 800 yards on your left, slow to a crawl. Despite there being a sign 50 yards or so from the turning, the entrance is concealed and once you have drifted just a few yards past such is the nature of the A3 there is no turning back and a 15 minute travel to turn yourself around ensues. I finally arrived at least 10 minutes into the game with Colliers Wood already a goal to the good.

On a warm evening at the Wibbandune Sports Ground the parched pitch adjacent bore testament to the hot summer but in contrast the playing area was a beautiful, lush green surface that almost defied reason.

After conceding the early goal that I missed, the Angels worked their way back into the game with chances falling to Dominic Touissant and Sam Jones before Jones followed up to tuck away an equaliser after the goalkeeper had parried an initial shot.

If anything, the Under-21s finished the half in the ascendancy and should have sensed their opportunity to press on in the second period. But they were quickly set back on their heels as a Colliers Wood player (no team sheet for identification) was allowed to travel across the face of the goal before shooting past Stuart Copeland.

Tonbridge produced a decent move that ended with Touissaint bringing a save out of the goalkeeper before, on the hour, a cross to the far post found a man, hopelessly unmarked, to slot home Colliers’ third.

Things might have got worse still but Copeland produced a fine save to deny the home team from the penalty spot, but goals in the 77th and a 87th minute effort that gave the Colliers man a hat trick left a Tonbridge Angels defence with some soul searching.

Chris Wye’s preseason has been made difficult by player unavailability through the holiday period as he has for the coming season implemented a policy of limiting the use of over age 21 players to an absolute minimum, of which at the present time he has just the one.

To complete my tale of woe, the parking space in which I hurried dumped the car proved to be a total block-in and it took a 30 minute wait to extricate the car from the Wibbandune.

Herne Bay 0 Tonbridge Angels 7

Match 14/18/1607 - Saturday, 28th July 2018 - Pre-Season Friendly

Herne Bay (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (5) 7 Turner 12,80 Beere 15 (pen),60 King 20,29,45 (pen)
Attendance: 131

Admission: £3 Senior
Team Sheet: Free
Mileage: 84/645

Tonbridge Angels eased to a comprehensive win on the East Kent coast at a blustery Winches Field, home of Herne Bay.

There were two absentees from Tuesday evening’s game at Faversham. Craig Stone’s son has had hospital surgery and Alex Read was unwell.

Steve McKimm replaced Read with Liam King, who has recently departed Walton Casuals, and the striker will have impressed with a first half hat trick.

The Angels opened the scoring after 12 minutes when Tom Beere pulled the ball back from the left side bye-line for Joe Turner to steer the ball home from close range.

Two minutes later, Tonbridge were awarded a penalty when Tommy Whitnall was brought down. Beere stepped up to confidently finish from the spot.

The visitors were now in total control of the game with Beere hitting a post before King opened his account with a goal from a narrow angle that was helped in by the Herne Bay goalkeeper who allowed the ball to creep in under his body.

After half-an-hour, Turner was the provider with a cross from the right that was turned into his own net by Herne Bay’s Nick Reeves, under pressure from King. One for the dubious goals panel to clear up, but as King was to put away a 45th minute penalty, no one is going to deny him his hat-trick!

On the hour, a woeful pass across the face of the Herne Bay penalty area was intercepted by Beere who beat the goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation to add the sixth goal.

Herne Bay had a brief period when they might have salvaged some consolation but Jonny Henly was equal to a Connor Cox effort and Reeves headed wide.

The Angels wrapped up the scoring when substitute Sam Jones, from the Development squad, set up Turner to fire in the seventh of the afternoon.

With five minutes remaining, Jared Small set up Turner but his shot struck the left hand post.

This was a first visit to Herne Bay in the lifetime of this blog and, I believe, a first visit for Tonbridge since 1993. Despite Winches Field looking like it has seen little change from 25 years ago, it is a tidy ground with a sizeable main seating stand and cover at both ends of the ground.

Whyteleafe U18 9 Tonbridge Angels U18 1

Match 13/18/1606 - Wednesday, 25th July 2018 - Pre-Season Friendly

Whyteleafe U18 (2) 9 Abegbife 3, Palmer 2, Williams, Penton
Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 1
Headcount: 23

Admission: Free
Programme: Free
Mileage: 82/561

Faversham Town 0 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 12/18/1605 - Tuesday, 24th July 2018 - Pre-Season Friendly

Faversham Town (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Beere 2
Estimated Attendance: 150

Admission: £3 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 48/479

It was only a preseason friendly, so it was not going to exorcise any of the ghosts of last season’s visit to Salters Lane, but for 45 minutes Tonbridge’s football was good enough to file those memories into the box marked Do Not Open. The passing and movement was crisp and purposeful with an early goal to build on. The only possible complaint would have been that for almost total domination, one goal was a poor first half return.

The management conducted their team talk on the pitch after initially going to the dressing room, but what more could have been said other than, more of the same. Sadly, it didn’t happen.

Tonbridge were ahead within two minutes of the kick-off. A surging run and cross from the left from Jack Parter found Tom Beere, whose somewhat scuffed shot found the bottom corner.

Beere was excellent in the first 45 and his after match interview in which he told of his signing for a year will make for blissful listening for the Angels’ faithful.

The visitors survived a scare after nine minutes when a corner found the head of Ollie Lee but he steered it narrowly wide. From that let off the half was one-way traffic.

Joe Turner, who has been sharp as a tack preseason, tested Mark Overland on a couple of occasions; Alex Reid fired wide and Beere saw an effort deflected onto the crossbar as the Angels carved out chance after chance. The only fly in the first half ointment being a head injury to Callum Adonis-Taylor.

In fairness to Faversham, they made a better fist of the second period which probably contributed to Tonbridge losing their first half momentum.

A rash of substitutions further disrupted the game and apart from a sublime pass from Beere that almost put in Tommy Whitnell who was denied at his feet by Overland, the only occurrence of note was a worrying moment when Sonny Miles needed treatment for concussion and looked very wobbly as he left the field. But he reported that he was okay after the match.

There is not too much left of the phoney war of preseason but the general worry of the Tonbridge support is the isolation of Reid up front and whether support for him can be found, be it by a signing (is anything left in the budget) or from within the squad. For 45 minutes, it looked the last missing piece of the jigsaw.