St Albans City 2 Tonbridge Angels 3

Match 63/22/2070 - Saturday, 14th January 2023 - National League South

St Albans City (1) 2 McConnell 13,64
Tonbridge Angels (2) 3 Turner 35 Greenidge 37,88
Attendance: 1,205

Admission: Pass
Programme: Not Purchased
Mileage: 170/4,456

Angels repeated their feat of last season by travelling to Clarence Park and coming away with all the points and by the same score line with even a player, Joe Turner, scoring again but this time he had to be content with the opening Tonbridge goal rather than the winner; he won’t be complaining.

Tom Parkinson came in for the injured Ben Swift while Craig Braham-Barrett came to the back line with Jack Wood dropping to the bench.

It was the usual quiet start to the game as both teams worked each other out but gradually St Albans started to take the ascendancy with Wiltshire and Neal both having sights of the Angels goal but nothing to seriously worry Jonny Henly. That said Saints were starting to move through the gears nicely and it came as no surprise when they opened the scoring in the 13th minute through McConnell despite there being a suspicion of offside.

St Albans continued to look comfortable with Angels having difficulty in putting together any fluent moves. It was a case of digging in and preventing St Albans from increasing the scoreline. In fact it took until the 25th minute before the visitors put together anything to seriously worry the home side defence. A Braham-Barrett cross was scrambled away by the Saints defence. But it encouraged Angels to be more adventurous and suddenly there was Joe Turner, following a Lewis Gard pass, scampering through the St Albans defenders and shooting past keeper Dylan Berry.

If that could be said to be somewhat against the run of play then what was to follow was extraordinary. On 37 minutes a Tonbridge corner saw Jordan Greenidge rise highest in the Saints goal area and Angels found themselves ahead. It was quite a turnaround and certainly not in the script so far as St Albans were concerned.

Sound defending saw the visitors go in for the break still ahead. It was obvious that playing down the slight slope as is their preferred option that Saints would come at their guests from the very start of the second period. And so it proved with a dangerous home corner that put the Angels back line into all sorts of trouble but the final effort from the attackers was blazed high over the bar.

There was the occasional Angels raid typified in the 63rd minute when Greenidge seemingly chasing a lost cause almost embarrassed the City defender. A minute later St Albans almost predictably had drawn level with McConnell claiming his second goal of the afternoon converting a cross from the right.

At that point it was really a case of whether Angels could hang on and claim a more than useful point. With St Albans making the most of the running the visiting defence rose to the challenge and constantly frustrated the hosts in their efforts to restore the lead.

On 75 minutes Aransibia took a free kick for the visitors. It was struck well enough but straight at Berry. It was at the other end where most of the action was taking place but for all their efforts it was increasingly looking like the draw. But Angels had other ideas.

On 89 minutes, Jack Wood, an inspired substitution, started moving the ball with pace deep into the Saints penalty area and whilst he might have gone all the way his shot instead ricocheted across the area with Greenidge at an acute angle squeezing the ball between goalpost and keeper for his second of the game.

Despite a dangerous near post St Albans header in stoppage time Angels held on to claim an important three points which still keeps them in touch with those coveted play-off positions.

A delighted Angels Boss, Jay Saunders said afterwards: “We have come here today and beaten a team who in my opinion are the best we’ve come up against so far this season. After the disappointment of the festive period double header defeat against Welling and last Saturday (3-3 draw with Slough) I have to be very pleased with todays result.”

Tonbridge Angels Academy 2 Worthing Academy 2

Match 62/22/2069 - Wednesday, 11th January 2023 - National League U19 Alliance

Tonbridge Angels Academy (1) 2 Velvick 14 Green 85
Worthing Academy (1) 2 Dolaghan 28 Thorne 63
Headcount: 12

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/4,286

Where’s VAR when you need it!

The Academy were denied a last kick of the match winner by a linesman’s flag who gave a hairline decision against Hayden Velvick, who had allegedly strayed offside. In all fairness, whilst a late winner would cheer the hearts of Tonbridge Angels supporters, it would have been rough justice on a Worthing side that fully deserved to take something out of the game.

The draw maintains the Academy’s position at the top of the National League Under-19 Alliance but they lose their 100% record.

Following last week’s one-sided romp for the Angels, this game provided excellent entertainment with both sides neither asking or giving any quarter.

Tom Parkinson’s side was forced into a couple of changes with academic examinations taking priority for Josh McArthur and Shea Brennan.

After a fairly quiet opening the first chance of the game fell to Worthing after 13 minutes with a shot that was pulled narrowly wide, but within a minute it was the Angels that opened the scoring. A shot from Will Saunders was parried by the Worthing goalkeeper but leading scorer Velvick was on hand to seize onto the loose ball to score and take his total for the season to 22.

Tonbridge might have gone 2-0 up just three minutes later when, in similar circumstances to the opening goal, the goalkeeper parried a shot from Joe Tyrie into the path of Velvick who tucked it home but the referee decided that the goalkeeper had sufficient downward pressure on the ball to deem that it was kicked from his hands.

The Worthing goalkeeper saved well from Velvick and Saunders shot over as the Angels were well on top at this stage of the game.

But the visitors fought back and it took a superb challenge from Ashton Thomas to foil one attack which was followed quickly by a shot that was narrowly wide from the full back. So, it came as little surprise, when on 28 minutes a fine move that started on the left with a fine cross from Lewis Thorne found Bradley Dolaghan at the far post to score, this being his 23rd goal of the season.

Although Sam Grant tested the Worthing goalkeeper, the visitors remained on top for the remainder of the half although Angels’ keeper, Lewis Wilkins wasn’t seriously tested.

The Angels came out from the dressing room for the second period with a renewed sense of purpose and very nearly regained the lead after three minutes when a brilliant pass from Billy Robbins found Leo Vowles whose fiercely struck shot came back from the underside of the crossbar, despite protests that the ball had crossed the line, the game continued.

Worthing were still giving as good as they got and it wasn’t undeserved when they went in front after 63 minutes with some excellent work down the left hand side saw the ball crossed from the byeline for Thorne to drive it into the bottom corner.

With a league defeat for the first time this season staring them in the face, Tonbridge threw everything at their visitors in search of an equaliser. Substitute Tom Green fired over; and the goalkeeper bravely saved at the feet of Robbins before, with 10 minutes remaining, what looked to be the golden chance, Hermitage headed wide from a Grant cross.

But the Angels stuck at it and their equaliser came on 85 minutes when a quick throw from Grant found Robbins whose cross saw Green smash home from around the penalty spot.

Green had the ball in the net again with three minutes to go, this time disallowed for a foul before, in the seventh minute of time added, from Vowles’ cross, Velvick turned and shot only for the celebrations to be cut short.

It was great entertainment and, guess what, we can do it all again as the two teams meet again at Woodside Road next Wednesday.

Tonbridge Angels 2 Faversham Town 0

Match 61/22/2068 - Tuesday, 10th January 2023 - Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 Wood 7 Turner 19
Faversham Town (0) 0
Attendance: 58

Admission: £4
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/4,248

Tonbridge Angels U18 0 Maidstone United U18 3

Match 60/22/2067 - Monday, 9th January 2023 - Isthmian Youth

Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 0
Maidstone United U18 (1) 3 Court (pen) 31 Barber 49 Hatton 63
Attendance: 51

Admission: £4
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/4,210

The Angels Under-18’s opened their 2023 account with a disappointing 3-0 defeat to their A26 rivals, Maidstone United, who were much improved from the opening game of the season and dominated from the first whistle through to the last.

From the moment, 20 seconds into the match, that William Barber was sent clear to put his effort into the side netting, the visitors were quicker to the ball, passed it better and won the challenges that mattered and in Riley Court, had the best player on the pitch.

It was a difficult evening, one that Dom Welsh called as indifferent whilst complimenting Maidstone on their excellent performance.

What might have been, had a 10th minute goal for the Angels not been ruled out, who knows but from that moment, Maidstone took control of the game and it took some solid defending from the Angels to maintain the goalless status until just past the half-hour mark when Court converted from the penalty spot after a foul in the box.

Chances came and went for the Stones with Barber and Elliot Wenham missing the target and Matt Larkin saving well from Court, but at just the single goal, the home side were still in the game at the break as a fair proportion of the attendance headed for the warmth of the bar on a cold evening.

Tonbridge had an early second half opportunity when Felix Waring’s effort was deflected for a corner from which Will Puffette steered a header wide.

On 49 minutes, a swift counterattack from the visitors led to their second goal when an Angels attack broke down, the ball was swept out to the left and, in the blink of an eye, a run and cross saw Barber touching in from close range.

Maidstone reasserted their control on the game with Tyler Jackson-Hunt heading wide from a corner and Larkin saving well to deny Joe Terry.

The game was effectively was put to bed in somewhat controversial circumstances just past the hour, when Larkin appeared to be fouled when dealing with a cross before the ball was stabbed home by Tayler Hatton from a couple of yards.

Substitutions revitalised the Angels and they did make a spirited end to the game but Maidstone defended steadfastly with blocks from a shot from Waring and a cross from Joe Newman that begged a touch.

Larkin excelled in the final moments turning over a Terry free kick as the visitors took home the points.

Tonbridge Angels 3 Slough Town 3

Match 59/22/2066 - Saturday, 7th January 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (3) 3 Greenidge 20,45 Aransibia 44
Slough Town (0) 3 Lench 50 Goddard 76 Amartey 80
Attendance: 853

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/4,172

With a run of three consecutive defeats immediately behind them and their visitors Slough Town sitting in 18th position it would have been seen by Angels supporters as an opportunity to perhaps get back to winning ways. As we all know football often doesn’t produce the results that appear and so it proved in this game.

Looking at Angels starting line up, Tariq Hinds replaced Craig Braham-Barrett at left back while Ben Swift returning from injury was preferred to Tommy Parkinson at centre back.

A blustery Longmead saw Slough make the better start with Obi forcing a terrific save from Henly and the Angels keeper again called into serious action all within the first 10 minutes. Gradually however Tonbridge started to take control of proceedings. In the 20th minute a glorious cross from Angels right back Fielding saw Greenidge take full advantage and put the home side in front.

There were then more chances for Tonbridge through Miles, and Wood but eventually Angels made the pressure tell with a double strike just before half time. A Turner cross gave Aransibia the opportunity to head past Forster and then with the Slough defence in disarray Greenidge got his second goal following good work by Gard.

If Angels thought the match was done and dusted in their favour they were to be very mistaken. Within six minutes of the restart Slough had reduced the arrears through a Matt Lench long range effort and with the wind in their favour the Rebels looked like they might get something from the game.

Slough always looked the likelier to add to the scoreline and produced a number of long range efforts that just went wide. But it was simply a prelude to what was to prove an exciting end. On 75 minutes Goddard was allowed to turn on the edge of the box and let fly with a 20 yarder that put Slough just one behind. On 86 minutes the visitors then drew level with recent loan signing Amartey producing a wonderful strike. At that point they might have harboured thoughts of winning the game but in the end the drama was over with Angels wondering how they had let a 3-0 half time lead let slip.

Angels Boss,Jay Saunders didn’t hold back in his post match comments; “I’m very disappointed with the end result. Quite honestly it feels like a defeat. When you are 3-0 up at the break and playing at home then you must see the game out. We’ve scored goals, yes, but it’s our defensive duties that have let us down today.”

Sheppey United Academy 0 Tonbridge Angels Academy 19

Match 58/22/2065 - Wednesday, 4th January 2023 - National League Under-19 Alliance

Sheppey United Academy (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels Academy (4) 19 Vowles 2,56,90 McArthur 3,55,59,84 OG 9 Saunders 23 Hermitage 51 (pen),54,63,68 Green 65 Velvick 77 Tyrie 78 Grant 81,89 Thomas 82
Headcount: 12

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 52/4,134

The Academy showed very little mercy on bottom placed Sheppey United as they racked up their biggest ever Academy win with an amazing 15 second half goals.

Sheppey are in their first year in the National League Under-19 Alliance and were no match for an established Academy, least of all the reigning champions and the club setting the pace this season.

Given the ultimate result, it was a steadfast effort from the islanders to go into the break four goals down, having conceded three in the opening 10 minutes. But an early salvo of second half goals saw heads drop and as legs became cramped, the Angels were scoring almost at will in the final 20 minutes.

It was a blustery day at Holm Park which, before kick off, made you wonder if it could be a leveller but the game was already beyond doubt after nine minutes as the Angels raced into a three goal lead.

A first minute corner won after Leo Vowles brought a good save from the home goalkeeper but poor marking from the resultant corner allowed Vowles to score from close range. Within a minute, Josh McArthur drove into the box to bury his shot into the bottom corner. When a cross from the right was turned into his own net by a Sheppey defender, the game was as good as over before 10 minutes had elapsed.

The Ites youngsters steadied the ship somewhat and fashioned a chance of their own but the shot was struck over the bar.

After 23 minutes a really good move involving Hayden Velvick and McArthur opened an opportunity for Will Saunders to crash home a fourth.

Tonbridge created several chances in what was mostly one-way traffic but some brave goalkeeping kept the score at 4-0.

And so to the second half that became an avalanche of goals from minute 51 through to the 59th in which the scoreline went from four to nine. Ben Hermitage scored from the penalty spot and three minutes later capitalised on a woeful back pass. McArthur rolled a shot in for seven; Vowles from close range for eight before McArthur claimed his hat trick.

A 20 yard effort from Hermitage brought up his hat trick and took the Angels total into double figures and after Hermitage had struck both bar and post in the space of 10 seconds, Tom Green smashed home the eleventh and, after 68 minutes, Hermitage got his fourth and the Angels 12th.

It was a strange anomaly that 12 goals scored and, despite his usual hard working performance, leading scorer Velvick had failed to find the net. This was corrected on 77 minutes, linking with Hermitage before slotting home.

It initiated another flurry of goals, five in seven minutes, as the Sheppey side folded.

Skipper Joe Tyrie found the top corner from 25 yards; substitutes Sam Grant and Ashton Thomas and McArthur’s fourth took it to 17.

Added time goals from Grant and Vowles rounded off the one-sided encounter.

Sheppey United are a progressive club with a rich Kent Youth League pedigree, one hopes that they are able to recover from a chastening first season experience to establish their Academy in the National League Alliance.

Welling United 2 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 57/22/2064 - Sunday, 1st January 2023 - National League South

Welling United (2) 2 Maloney 14 Azeez 45
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Gard 23
Attendance: 932

Admission: Pass
Programme: Not purchased
Mileage: 80/4,082

A family bereavement had already cast a cloud over Christmas and two defeats over the festive period to Welling United failed to add even a slither of sunshine to dispel the personal gloom.

Irritatingly, as with the game at Longmead on Boxing Day, the Angels deserved to take something from the game but Welling are blessed with Ade Azeez, who only needs a sniff of a chance.

Jay Saunders made two changes from the Boxing Day game with Tom Parkinson in for the injured Ben Swift and Joe Turner returning to the starting XI after his hernia operation for Louis Collins.

Park View Road is finally a ground that might soon be in the throes of some loving care. The far end is now condemned and out of use, as is the underneath of the main stand which meant that the teams emerged from groundsharers Erith and Belvedere’s dressing rooms.

Sadly, what doesn’t change is Tonbridge’s inability to win a game there, with no win ever recorded against a Welling side.

Welling started the brighter and in the fourth minute Jamie White hit the crossbar following a free kick and three minutes later another Wings free kick went inches wide of Jonny Henly’s right hand post.

Angels simply couldn’t get the ball down and create any kind of cohesive play and there was an air of inevitability about Welling opening the scoring after 14 minutes. A cross from the left was touched back into the path of Taylor Maloney whose shot from 20 yards flew into the top corner.

Shaken out of their early lethargy, the Angels settled and started to give the Welling defence something to think about. After 23 minutes, Devonte Aransibia moved the ball out wide to Scott Wagstaff, whose cross was partially cleared but only to Lewis Gard who moved to the right to strike between the goalkeeper and his near post from a fairly acute angle.

Four minutes later, Jack Wood was denied by a brilliant last ditch challenge but it was Welling that regained their lead a minute before the break when Daniel Nkrumah, a fine prospect on loan from Leyton Orient, turned Jamie Fielding on the left to put in a cross that Azeez met at the near post.

Gard had an opportunity in first half added time but his deflected shot was well saved by Myles Roberts.

After 63 minutes, Papadoplous hit the post for the hosts but from then until the final whistle it was the Angels that were the dominant side. A shot from substitute Tommie Fagg, dipped late and only just cleared the bar and when in the final seconds of the game the ball fell inviting to Ruben Soares-Junior it seems a well-earned point was to be had, but as the ball sailed over the bar it signalled just another frustrating afternoon at Park View Road.