Tonbridge Angels 0 Hemel Hempstead Town 2

Match 23/19/1747 - Saturday, 14th September 2019 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Hemel Hempstead Town (0) 2 Nash 48,51
Attendance: 576

Admission: Pass
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/1,788

The witching hour unfortunately was not removed, just positioned 10 minutes further on.

Tonbridge enjoyed the best of the first half against their high-flying visitors, Hemel Hempstead Town, but came across a goalkeeper in Danny Boness at the top of his game and when they conceded two early second half goals they were left chasing the game.

Hemel Hempstead arrived with no less than four ex-Gillingham players in their side and it was one of these, Liam Nash, that executed the coup-de-grace that delivered the points back to Hertfordshire.

Tonbridge got their first warning that they had picked a bad day to come up against Boness when, after 11 minutes, he made a fine save to deny Joe Turner.

After 16 minutes, Tonbridge survived a scare when ex-Gill Connor Essam planted a header against the crossbar following a corner.

A minute later, Boness turned away an effort from Ade Yusuff as the Angels started to to dominate the game and rack up the chances. Khale Da Costa fired narrowly wide a free kick; Yusuff fired at the keeper and Boness produced a top class save, clawing the ball out of the top corner to foil the unlucky striker, all in the space of little more than five minutes.

But those infuriating lapses of concentration (or whatever it is) struck soon after half-time when a corner was helped on to the far post where Nash was waiting to nod home.

Three minutes later, a free kick conceded 20 yards from goal was beautifully curled beyond Jonny Henly and into the top corner by Nash, a great strike from a player who never got a real chance at Gillingham.

Tonbridge were offered a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty after D’Sean Theobalds was brought down. Unfortunately, Turner’s recent record from the spot was not improved as his penalty sailed over the bar.

Tonbridge huffed and puffed their way to the final whistle but despite throwing on substitutes Chinedu McKenzie and Tom Derry to go three-up top, the chances dried up and the visitors comfortably saw out the game.

Chippenham Town 2 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 22/19/1746 - Saturday, 7th September 2019 - National League South

Chippenham Town (1) 2 Ossai 43 Zebrowski 70
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Derry 87 (pen)
Attendance: 578
New Ground: 336

Admission: Pass
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 296/1,750

A single fine performance shouldn’t really raise expectations but following the Dartford victory and in light of a visit to one of the smaller clubs in National South, they probably were.

Sadly, it is away days and performances like these that will see Tonbridge relegated. Only one point has been garnered from the opening five away games and, if that is going to be continued, then enormous pressure will placed on the home form, probably needing to win 11 or 12 games, and frankly I don’t think that will happen.

There was mitigation, Joe Turner was returned home with a stomach upset that seemingly affected others in the squad but Chippenham were poor and Tonbridge have lost, so that speaks volumes.

The pitch at Hardenhuish Park has a slope, not quite Quarry Hill as I exaggerated, but pronounced nonetheless. Chippenham have been at this ground for close to 100 years and you can see how enclosures here and there have been added over the years giving it a “bitty” feel about the place. In the Southern Premier it was probably seen as reasonably decent but a this level it is somewhat lacking,

In Turner’s absence, Rhyle Ovenden came into the side in the only change.

Controversy surrounded Chippenham’s goalkeeper Will Puddy from the first five minutes when he was accused of throwing a punch into the stomach of Ade Yusuff that was missed by the officials. Video evidence has subsequently shown that in the aftermath of some wrestling, the punch was definitely planted.

Neither side had the craft to open up the other in the opening half-hour with D’Sean Theobalds bringing a save from Puddy and the home side’s Karnell Chambers and Luke Haines having shots blocked in a rare Chippenham foray.

After 38 minutes, Chippenham had the best chance thus far when Chambers rounded Angels’ keeper Jonny Henly but failing to get a shot away and, four minutes later, Luke Hopper shot into the side netting, so the warnings of Tonbridge’s witching hour were there and, sure enough, on the stroke of half-time, Chris Zebroski crossed from the left for Tariq Ossai to turn and convert from close range.

Five times in nine games goals have been conceded in the last five minutes of the first half, it has to be a mental thing.

Playing down the slope in the second half, Yusuff fired over the the first minute but it was Chippenham’s Chambers that went closest with an effort narrowly wide of the left hand post.

Steve Mckimm rang the changes early, replacing Yusuff (one of the player’s suffering from the bug) with Tom Derry and Ovenden with Chinedu McKenzie.

It was Tonbridge who had the momentum at that point with Small and Theobalds employing Puddy and, after 63 minutes, Derry’s shot hit the base of the post.

But, after 70 minutes, the home side doubled their lead when Zebrowski and Chamber combined before the former thundered a shot between Henly and his post.

Chambers had an effort cleared from the line and substitute Nat Jarvis dragged a shot wide as the home side looked to put the game beyond the Angels’ reach. But a helping hand, or should it be said forehead, was to be offered to the visitors.

A corner was safely gathered by Puddy under no real pressure from Sonny Miles, but as the red mist descended, the goalkeeper inexplicably planted a headbutt on the Angels’ central defender earning a red card and conceding a penalty. It was pure madness.

Derry converted past stand-in goalkeeper Luke Haines and with seven minutes including time added to play it was game on, but the home side managed the time well and, indeed, might have added to their scoreline when the impressive Chambers had the ball in the net once more, but this was ruled out for offside.

Phoenix Sports 0 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 21/19/1745 - Wednesday, 4th September 2019 - FA Youth Cup Preliminary Round

Phoenix Sports (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Snowden-Lewis 27
Attendance: 101

Admission: £3
Programme: £1
Mileage: 75/1,454

Eleven long minutes that took an eternity to pass was seen out by the Angels youngsters at Phoenix Sports as they progressed to the Qualifying Round of the FA Youth Cup where they will meet Sittingbourne at Longmead on a date yet to be decided.

Two very evenly matched teams went toe-to-toe and slugged it out with no quarter asked or given for over a 100 minutes. When the referee shouted to the benches that there would be nine minutes added everyone thought he was joking, he obviously wasn’t as he played a couple more on top of that!

Tonbridge had the first scare of the evening when Leo Deere sliced a clearance over his crossbar, followed two minutes later when Sam Babayale set up Saul Musengeyi to fire into the side netting.

Both teams were guilty of giving the ball away in the opening 20 minutes as they struggled to settle down in what was a big occasion in front of an attendance that might well have exceeded three figures.

The Angels took the lead on 27 minutes when Deere sent Luke Taylor into a shooting position; his shot turned into an assist as he found Ned Snowden-Lewis at the far post to touch it home.

Phoenix responded positively with a shot at goalkeeper Charlie Martin and a free kick that drifted safely wide.

The Angels had the ball in the net again a couple of minutes before the break but Snowden-Lewis’ effort was ruled out for offside.

Musengeyi had an effort saved but it was the home side that had the momentum in the early part of the second half with Martin brought into action twice, saving from Dan Westray and the livewire Ryan Solan.

After 72 minutes, the Angels breathed a huge sigh of relief when a shot from James Ryan was millimetres wide of the left hand post.

The near miss sparked an intense 10 minutes of corners and free kicks that were pumped into the Angels box but with skipper Harry Hudson marshalling his back line magnificently the spell came to nothing.

Indeed, with five minutes of normal time remaining, it was Hudson who planted a header from a free kick against the crossbar.

As the clock entered in the prolonged time added and with Phoenix throwing bodies forward, Tonbridge substitute Louis Copeland twice went close to sealing the game and in the final minute a 25 yard effort from Ben Twist brought a superb save out of Alex Warren.

A highly entertaining encounter that perhaps the referee enjoyed so much he wanted it to go on, and on!

Tom Parkinson said after the game that he was proud of his team that had stood up to the battle in a scrappy game.

Tonbridge Angels 3 Dartford 2

Match 20/19/1744 - Tuesday, 3rd September 2019 - National South

Tonbridge Angels (2) 3 Turner 28 (pen),45 Derry 85
Dartford (1) 2 Hill 43 Sherington 76
Attendance: 816

Admission: Pass
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/1,379

Dartford were truly terrible; worst Dartford team I’ve ever seen; a poor looking Dartford side. Words from social media, but in the words of the legendary Barry Davies “frankly, who cares”.

Dartford were poor and the departure of their joint management team of Jamie Coyle and Adam Flanagan probably emphasises the fact but, just to say that, diminishes the performance of Tonbridge Angels, who were truly superb.

For 45 minutes, Jared Small ran Alex Flisher absolutely ragged; Ade Yusuff terrorised a central defence with the turning circle of the QE2 whilst Tonbridge’s midfield ruled the roost like no other time this season. But with two minutes of the half remaining, the tale of the opening month of the season came back to haunt the Angels as an individual mistake allowed the visitors back into the game. But this game was different.

Tonbridge started as they were to go on, taking the game to their Kent neighbours. Three corners were forced in the opening eight minutes; after 13, Yusuff brought a save out of Dartford goalkeeper Mark Smith, who proceeded to make a brilliant low to his left save to deny a Yusuff header a minute later.

It took Dartford 20 minutes to mount a serious attack that came to nothing and, in 26 minutes, the Angels finally got the breakthrough they deserved when Yusuff was brought down in the box. Turner stepped up to drive his spot kick down the middle.

This did stir some life out of the visitors and Jonny Henly was pressed into action to turn away a Flisher shot for a corner.

As half-time approached, the witching minutes for this side, Dartford won a corner from which Jack Parter sliced a clearance and Josh Hill stabbed the ball home between Henly and his post.

The disappointment, this time, was not too last as Small was sent on his way leaving Flisher for dead before delivering a cross that only required a touch home from the arriving Turner. As the scorer commented afterwards, the difficult part of the goal was keeping up with the fleet footed winger.

Dartford emerged from the dressing room with virtually half of the break remaining, one would guess with more than a flea in their ear. But Tonbridge maintained their first half momentum with Khale D’Costa putting his shot wide after being set up by D’Sean Theobalds.

Dartford responded in a small measure with efforts from Norman Wabo saved and high before Thebalds forced Smith into another fine save.

But with 15 minutes to play, and completely against the run of play, Dartford equalised. A free kick was lofted to the far post in the direction of Ronnie Vint who failed to make a connection but the ball fell to Charlie Sherington who nodded home from close range.

It appeared that another frustrating game was on the cards for the Angels and for a five minute spell it seemed like it might get even worse as the Darts pressed on for a winner.

But Tonbridge regained their composure and Yusuff produced a tired shot at Smith, his last act of the game being substituted by Tom Derry.

Four minutes from time, inspired substitution springs to mind as a weaving run from Theobalds ended with a pass across the face of goal and there was Derry, sliding in to steer the ball home at the far post.

A final assault might have been expected from Dartford to salvage something but it never came and Turner went the closest bringing a flying save from Smith.

The magnificent support acclaimed the final whistle with a noise reminiscent of the play-off game of last season to celebrate a match that will live long in the memory.

Tonbridge Angels 1 Weymouth 1

Match 19/19/1743 - Saturday, 31st August 2019 - National South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Yusuff 84 (pen)
Weymouth (0) 1 Williams 49
Attendance: 629

Admission: Pass
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/1,341

The Angels faithful may have had to wait 21 years to see the side from Dorset take on their heroes but a much better performance ensued compared with that game in April 1998 when a 2-4 home defeat was suffered. It may only have been a modest 1-1 draw today but the performance at times gritty, at other times skilful will have given hope for the future in what is turning out to be a highly competitive National South season.

Angels manager Steve McKimm chose to move Joe Turner into a central midfield role starting both his other side players Jared Small and Khale Da Costa. The latter returned the compliment to his manager by having probably his best game so far this season although to be fair he has been carrying a niggling injury. Another player who perhaps has come of age in an Angels shirt was Rian Bray who had a very steady game at the back partnered by his mentor, Sonny Miles.

It was a very even first half and with both sides coming off the back of successive defeats and perhaps a safety first approach was the order of the day for both managers.

There was plenty of decent possession play in midfield areas and some speculative shots but arguably only two moments when either side was opened up. In the 18th minute Yemi Odubade for Weymouth escaped his marker and was able to cut in from the right with a clear sight of goal. Angels stopper Jon Henly however was equal to the task pushing away the effort.

The 44th minute saw Angels playmaker D’Sean Theobalds run from deep in his own half and then slipping the ball wide to Joe Turner whose curler was just clear of the angle of post and bar.

The second period was just three minutes old when Weymouth’s Odubade crossed from the right with a perfect cross for Brett Williams to put the Terras in front.

There followed an immediate response from Tonbridge with efforts from Rian Bray and Joe Turner before Angels were awarded a hotly disputed penalty in the 59th minute. The referee had taken a while to deal with the Weymouth complaints and there was a significant delay to the taking of the penalty. There was also a debate around who should take the penalty with both Turner and Ade Yusuff seeking to claim the ball. The bench ruled that Turner as the regular penalty taker should continue as normal. Turner’s kick was brilliantly saved by Callum Ward but the arguments continued in front of the dugouts with order eventually restored following a couple of bookings.

Angels were awarded a second penalty in the 85th minute when D’Sean Theobalds shot was handled but this time it was to be Ade Yusuff to have the chance. His effort hit the back of the net but the referee ruled there had been some encroachment and he had to take the spot kick again. Once again his effort hit the back of the net and Angels were deservedly Level. There were chances for both sides to grab the winner but Tonbridge looked the more dangerous.

Afterwards, McKimm said: “I’m very pleased with the performance, we passed the ball much better today, and cut out the errors. Perhaps I’m a little disappointed we didnt take all the points but all the players did really well and once again have shown we can compete at this level.

Tonbridge Angels 1 Havant & Waterlooville 3

Match 18/19/1742 - Saturday, 24th August 2019 - National South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Hession-Harris 4
Havant & Waterlooville (3) 3 Ayunga 8 Bailey 18 Drury 45
Attendance: 640

Admission: Pass
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/1,303

This fixture was always going to be a severe test of the Angels credentials with Havant & Waterlooville one of the favourites for promotion. Add in the fact that their newly installed manager, Paul Doswell comes with a fine reputation following what he achieved at his previous club Sutton Utd where he gave Steve McKimm his first coaching position and you have the ingredients for an enticing encounter.

Angels got off to the best possible start with a goal after just four minutes when Tommie Hession-Harris took advantage of a slip in the Havant defence scoring from close range. Ironically perhaps the goal came too early for the home side as it seemed to galvanise the visitors and they started to go through the gears and 14 minutes later they were in front.

On 8 minutes the potent Havant attack cut through the Tonbridge defence with Jonah Aylinga getting the decisive touch and then on 18 minutes a wonderful free kick from Nicky Bailey that no goalkeeper was ever going to save left Tonbridge reeling. To their credit the Angels steadied the ship and created chances for themselves with Tom Derry unlucky a couple of times and Alex Bentley hitting the base of the post with a 30yd drive in the 23rd minute.

Just when it looked as if the home side would get to half time just the one goal in arrears, Havant stepped up and following a passage of play during which the home side couldn’t clear their lines, Andy Drury on 45 minutes applied the finishing touch to a strike which was to give the Angels a mountain to climb.

The home side enjoyed more possession than their opponents in the second half and it seemed that Havant were largely content to sit on their lead and just play on the break. Man of the Match for Tonbridge, D’Sean Theobalds on 71 minutes went on a run through the Havant defence and forced a fine save out of Ville keeper Ross Worner while two minutes later at the other end Havant’s Man of the Match Andy Drury brought Roberts into action diverting an effort round the post.

On 82 minutes a Sonny Miles header drifted just wide of the right hand post and on 87 minutes Joe Turner’s fine shot looked goalbound but somehow clipped the inside of a post and ricocheted along the goal line and to eventual safety. It was that kind of afternoon for Tonbridge.

Afterwards Steve McKimm Angels Boss said: “I’m very proud of the effort my players put in today against a very good Havant side. We’ve created chances and our heads have never gone down. We just need to convert some of those chances.”

Welling Town 1 Tunbridge Wells 2

Match 17/19/1741 - Wednesday, 21st August 2019 - SCEFL Premier

Welling Town (0) 1 O'Neill 69
Tunbridge Wells (0) 2 Sahdadow 57 Froggatt 67
Attendance: 81

Admission: £4
Programme: £2
Mileage: 80/1,265

There is a strange smell following Tunbridge Wells at present. It has been a while so it’s difficult to identify but it is a whiff of optimism.

New management, a major shakeup of the playing staff has brought immediate, albeit early season, dividends.

This hard-fought win over newly-promoted Welling Town at Bayliss Avenue was a third in the spin elevating them to the top of the table.

Richard Styles has built a team with a solid spine, the two central defenders, captain Freeman Rogers and Chris Lawal were outstanding with old favourite Jake Beecroft bossing the midfield and Jason Thompson continues to be a handful up top.

Between the sticks, young goalkeeper, Tommy Taylor, who it was reported had a stunning game in the weekend win over Fisher, was left with a far more comfortable evening.

The hosts, who came into the game following a fine win at Bearsted, had the early momentum with Adam O’Neill and Nwitua firing over but once the got into their stride the Wells held the upper hand with Jordan Wells seeing a header deflected away for a corner and good work from James Nurden, Danny Powell steered a header wide.

After Welling had a bit of a purple period, Powell was narrowly wide after being set up by Wells.

The opening minutes of the second half saw Jason Thompson head wide and Welling’s Oliver Milton test Taylor before, after 57 minutes, Euan Sahadow’s cross-cum-shot deceived Jack Moore to find the far corner. Shot or cross, only the scorer will know.

Tunbridge Wells took full control of the game with the encouragement of the goal and Sahadow, and Chris Lawal might have added to the score before Josh Froggatt came off the bench to score into the bottom corner with his first touch of the ball after 67 minutes.

Thoughts that the game had been put to bed were quickly dispelled when O’Neill was sent clear to fire past the advancing Taylor.

Both sides had a couple of chances to add to the scoring but the Wells held out to make it three in a row. There’s a long way to go but it’s a great start towards turning that whiff of optimism into the sweet smell of success.