K Sports U18 1 Tonbridge Angels U18 1

Match 83/22/2090 - Monday, 6th March 2023 - Isthmian Youth

K Sports U18 (1) 1 Thain 25
Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 1 Burke 80
Attendance: 23

Admission: £3
Programme: None
Mileage: 28/5,793

It was a frustrating evening at Cobdown as bottom club K Sports took a point from the Angels Under-18’s.

Tonbridge had more than enough chances to win the game comfortably but after conceding a poor goal on 25 minutes, it took until 10 minutes from time to finally find an equaliser.

Dom Welsh said after the game: “That epitomises our season, one good performance followed by one slightly average one.”

Throughout the game, the Angels approach play was good, with Mike Hollamby excellent; Sam Firman and Felix Waring opening up the K’s defence with skilful footwork but it all sadly went to waste in front of goal.

But, in fairness to K Sports, they defended bravely, continually making important blocks and last ditch challenges and when shots got through, goalkeeper Mackenzie Drew did all that he had to do.

The game set its course from the early stages and in the eighth minute, a fine run from Firman set up a series of shots from Ruben Etherington and Cameron Honavar that were saved before Waring fired over.

Waring and Hollamby brought saves from Drew before Matt Larkin was stretched for the first time, holding on to a low shot from outside of area.

On 25 minutes K Sports took the lead with a goal of straightforward simplicity that will disappoint everybody. A corner was won from the right and from it, Jamie Thain was allowed to move unchallenged to the near post to score with the easiest of headers.

Tonbridge had several chances for parity before the break, the best of which saw Drew save from Hollamby and a shot from Waring that was deflected for a corner.

The situation at the break might have been worse for the Angels had it not been for a magnificent save from Larkin, clawing out of the top corner a shot from Noah Giles.

The first period had not been entirely one-way traffic, the second half most certainly was.

A catalogue of chances that passed the Angels by, whether that be by profligacy or by resolute defending and when Hollamby struck a post with a 20 yard shot, one began to despair that this would be one of those nights.

But, eventually, the K’s stoicism was broken when a through ball from Waring sent substitute Rockie Burke clear to finish past the advancing goalkeeper.

An all-out assault in the final 10 minutes to secure all the points saw Drew save from Honavar (twice) and Etherington, whilst a effort from Firman cleared the bar.

Dom Welsh recognised the wholehearted effort of the K Sports defence but was as frustrated as the watching supporters at the outcome.

Tonbridge Angels 2 Taunton Town 3

Match 82/22/2089 - Saturday, 4th March 2023 - National South

Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 Greenidge 21 Aransibia 41
Taunton Town (1) 3 Foulston 37 Stearn (pen) 64 Wannell 68
Attendance: 933

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/5,765

Let’s start with a few appropriate phrases:
Counting chickens;
Putting the cart before the horse; and
Getting in front of oneself.
Who might be guilty of all three, me and I really should know better.

After two hard-earned victories on the road had pushed the Angels into striking distance of a play-off place, the visit of Taunton Town, struggling at the wrong end of the table and in poor form appeared the perfect opportunity to leap into the shaded area in the table.

At half-time, 2-1 to the good and with results elsewhere, we had indeed made that jump, but we have form with teams from the lower reaches of the table, especially at home and two goals in four minutes turned the game on its head and sent home, all bar the clutch of supporters from Somerset, disappointed.

Jay Saunders opted to go with two big strikers, coupling Tommy Wood with Jordan Greenidge with Joe Turner dropping to the bench.

The opening 20 minutes, saw the Angels carve out a couple of chances without any great pressure on their own goal, although Taunton were playing some neat and tidy football. Devonte Aransibia had a sixth minute effort that cleared the bar by some distance and Greenidge and Wood had shots that were comfortable saves for Lloyd Irish, but, on 21 minutes, the Angels went ahead through leading goalscorer Greenidge who rode a couple of challenges before firing in an angled shot past Irish.

Taunton responded and were good value for their equaliser when the ball fell to left back, Jay Foulston who arrowed a shot into the far corner from 20 yards giving Jonny Henly no chance.

An equally spectacular strike from Aransibia on 41 minutes from the edge of the area restored the Angels lead and they should have gone into the break with a little breathing space as Wood fired over after a good combination with Greenidge.

As we know from the reverse fixture, it is a long way to Taunton and the visitors made it clear from the outset of the second period that they wanted something to ease the journey home.

The streetwise Ross Stearn went close on 50 minutes and further efforts from Jake Wannell and Ollie Chamberlain sounded alarm bells for the Angels and, it has to be said, Taunton were deserving of their equaliser on 62 minutes when Stearn converted from the penalty spot after Zak Smith had been brought down.

Four minutes later, the Angels support was in shock as Taunton went in front through Wannell after Tonbridge had failed to clear from a corner.

Worrying injuries to Greenidge and Aransibia saw them out of the game as Tonbridge huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser. The referee denied what looked a clear cut penalty appeal with 10 minutes remaining but the Angels never looked like breaking down a resolute Taunton defence.

As it happened, results elsewhere limited the damage, but for me, lesson learned. One game at a time with no chickens counted.

Photos: Kathryn Bell

Hampton & Richmond Borough 0 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 81/22/2088 - Tuesday, 28th February 2023 - National South

Hampton & Richmond Borough (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Aransibia 74
Attendance: 338

Admission: Pass
Programme: Not purchased
Mileage: 124/5,727

I wonder, I just wonder! Every season, whether it's ending in a promotion or relegation situation or perhaps, the later stages of a cup competition, has a moment that is remembered as significant. Who can ever forget 5th January 2019, two goals down at home to Brightlingsea Regent with just a quarter of an hour remaining and goals from Tommy Parkinson and Alex Read salvaged a point and, from that moment, the tide turned for Steve McKimm and the rest is history.

It was the 90th minute, with Tonbridge Angels leading by a single goal, that referee Aaron Farmer (not the most popular official with Angels supporters) pointed to the penalty spot for a second time. Adrian Clifton stepped up, drove his shot straight down the middle but the trailing legs of Jonny Henly was enough to divert the ball to safety to save from the spot for a second time in the game.

Was it the moment? It was certainly enough for me to start to dream of that cold Tuesday night in Gateshead in the National League, suddenly it became to feel real, a little scary but real.

It’s been a long week on the road, the best part of 600 miles travelled; three games of not great quality that has taken us from despair at Chelmsford, via Bath, to belief at Hampton.

A midweek, rush hour trip around the M25 to the well-heeled corner of south-west London is not to be relished but, apart from a stop-start last six miles and the annual double circumnavigation of the Scilly Isles roundabout, arrival at the leafy Beveree was made in reasonable time.

The pitch, waterlogged to postponement last season, frozen to postponement on 21st January of this one, looked difficult and proved to be, as any hopes of a game of meaningful quality were never raised.

Henly returned to the starting XI following his absence at Bath along with Tommie Fagg who replaced Lewis Gard.

The best that can be said of the first half-hour was that there was only 15 minutes to walk to the other end where the bitter wind was not in our faces. Joe Turner had a first minute run that ended with a comfortable save for Alan Julian and, on 13 minutes, a Fagg effort from range had a similar outcome.

After a solid start from the Angels, the home side started to impose themselves and this culminated, six minutes from the break, when they were awarded a penalty after a foul by Fagg. Hampton’s record from the spot is horrendous, anything from six to 12 misses depending on who you talked to! On this occasion, Dan Wishart stepped up, his run up was straight and the ball barely deviated which allowed Henly a relatively comfortable save.

The second half started much as the first had ended with Hampton having the best of the possession without really troubling the Angels back line that dealt admirably with an aerial assault of crosses into the box.

On 66 minutes, Tommy Wood, recently of the Borough, was introduced for Jordan Greenidge and had an assist in the opening goal on 74 minutes. A free kick from Turner was lofted into the box, Wood headed down for Devonte Aransibia to drive a shot from the edge of the six yard box past a helpless Julian.

The aerial assault continued making for an uncomfortable last 15 minutes for the 60 or so Angels supporters behind the far goal but their hopes were seemingly dashed as Fagg made an innocuous challenge, but the jeers turned to cheers with Henly’s trailing leg and, despite yet another penalty call, the final whistle brought celebrations with Henly’s customary forward roll in front of the fans.

There’s a long, long way to go but there is a sense of belief that something special is fermenting nicely and, in May, supporters might well recall the 90th minute at the Beveree.

Tonbridge Angels U18 2 Sheppey United U18 0

Match 80/22/2087 - Monday, 27th February 2023 - Isthmian Youth

Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 2 Honavar 12 Green 90
Sheppey United U18 (0) 0
Attendance: 23

Admission: £4
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/5,603

The Angels Under-18’s returned to winning ways after a couple of indifferent performances with a 2-0 win at Longmead against a competitive Sheppey United side.

Goals from Cameron Honavar and a clincher with the last kick of the match by Tom Green provided the difference between the teams in a hard fought encounter.

On another cold night in a season of seemingly endless cold nights, Sheppey struck the post within the first minute with a well struck shot by Henry Sisarello and from an 11th minute corner the visitors were denied when Matt Larkin clawed away a header.

So it was against the run of play when Honavar received the ball inside the box, after a cross from Sam Firman, to turn and fire in a shot past the Sheppey goalkeeper.

The game continued to ebb and flow with the Ites creating the better of the chances although Leo Vowles fizzed a cross across the face of goal and, on 34 minutes, brought a good save out of Richard Young.

In the final action of the half, Sheppey went close with a header from a corner.

Tonbridge dominated the early part of the second period with Honavar and Firman at times running the Sheppey defence ragged. Honavar flashed a shot over the top and then put in a cross that just begged somebody to be on the end of it.

Felix Waring was also in the heart of the action with his shot on 53 minutes saved by Young and seeing another effort clear the bar before, on the hour, a well worked goal, touched in by Honavar was ruled out as the forward had strayed offside.

Sheppey were still in the game and forced several corners and Larkin needed to be alert with eight minutes remaining saving from Charlie Nicholl.

Tom Green, a defender by trade, had been brought on as substitute for Honavar and his power was causing mayhem with the Sheppey back line and his endeavour was rewarded when he latched onto a through ball from Firman and scored as Young dived at his feet, injuring himself in the process.

As the goalkeeper lay injured the referee blew the final whistle but we are assured that he was okay and suffering from a jarred knee.

A delighted Dom Welsh commented after the game: “Outstanding performance tonight against a good Sheppey side. Huge contrast from last week, we moved the ball quickly with a purpose and defended a clean sheet superbly. A top team performance from the boys.”

Pictures: Kathryn Bell

Bath City 0 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 79/22/2086 - Saturday, 25th February 2023 - National League South

Bath City (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Jack Wood 88
Attendance: 1,263

Admission: Pass
Programme: £3
Mileage: 335/5,565

Whoever would have thought that out of the disappointment of Monday evening at Chelmsford, this week would have ended as potentially a significant one, culminating with a late winner against Bath City to record a first victory against the home side at Twerton Park since 1958.

Jay Saunders seemingly has a knack of breathing new life into the season when, perhaps, supporters had felt that a good season might slip quietly away.

On Thursday, those supporters hopes were lifted with the news that Tommy Wood was to return to Tonbridge Angels from Hampton & Richmond Borough. It was a bitter disappointment when Wood decided to seek pastures new at the end of last season, seemingly a purely logistical decision based on his work commitments. But, when he became available, Saunders beat off other clubs seeking his signature and Wood was glad to return home.

Wood took his place on the bench with two other new signings in the starting XI. In goal, with Jonny Henly unavailable, George Bentley, late of Faversham Town, stepped into the breach whilst Marcel Elva-Fountaine, on a month’s loan from Aldershot Town replaced the injured Craig Braham-Barrett.

It’s a long way down to Bath, but a reasonably trouble-free journey saw arrival in good time. Twerton Park is a grand old ground, with a wonderful covered terrace the length of the ground opposite the main stand which is strangely set back. Both ends have no cover with the Bristol End having, by non-league standards, a large terrace. Sadly, there is a fine line between a ground that has character and one that is close to being derelict. Whilst Twerton is in need of some tender, loving care, it does still fall into the character side of the line, Welling being the example of a ground falling the wrong side of the line.

On a difficult pitch, they game was destined not to reach the heights in terms of quality, but the throng of around 60 Angels fans were not to worry too greatly about that at the final whistle.

News of Henly’s absence had been kept under wraps and with memories of his last absence, at Taunton, remaining in supporters minds, an early comfortable collection of a cross by Bentley was greeted with some relief.

In the opening half-hour, Bentley was only once called into serious action, saving from Tom Smith whilst Angels had chances on seven minutes when Tariq Hinds' shot was saved and on 15 and 17 minutes when crosses from Lewis Gard begged a touch in front of goal.

Gard was to play no further part after 34 minutes when, feeling unwell, he was surprisingly replaced by Tommy Wood, when a midfield replacement in Tommie Fagg was on the bench.

The home side’s best chance of the first half came in the final minute when Kieran Parcelle shot wide following a corner.

The second half was hard work for both sides with chances thin on the ground. After 62 minutes, Bath’s Dan Hayfield saw his effort come back off a post and for the Angels, Wood fell agonisingly close to getting on the end of Jordan Greenidge’s cross.

With five minutes remaining, Saunders rolled the dice for the Angels with a double substitution full of attacking intent with Fagg and Jack Wood entering the action. On 85 minutes, heroic defending was needed to deny Hayfield before, on 88 minutes, Jack Wood received the ball some 25 yards from goal, skipped a couple of challenges before firing in a shot from 20 yards across face of the goal to nestle into the bottom corner.

It was a wonderful leaving present from Jack Wood, whose loan spell from Southend expired after this game.

So it was, brave substitutions, a superb winning goal and stout defending brought a result that renews the hope of an end-of-season place in the play-offs.

Chelmsford City 1 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 78/22/2085 - Monday, 20th February 2023 - National League South

Chelmsford City (0) 1 Trotter 90+5
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 571

Admission: Pass
Programme: £3
Mileage: 128/5,230

This post will be short! A terrible game which did no credit to National League South, let alone two teams supposedly chasing the play-off places, decided by a refereeing decision and the last meaningful kick of the game. To say I went home dispirited is an understatement.

Chelmsford’s Melbourne Stadium is a soulless, athletics-based stadium at which Tonbridge’s history is not good, albeit that there has been a win and a draw there in the last couple of years.

The pitch at Chelmsford is not on the particularly small side, but if this game had been played at the local racecourse both teams would still have had trouble keeping the ball on the pitch which presents its own problems as the ball disappears over the eight lane running track. When the ball was in play, somewhat a novelty, neither side could pass the ball to a team mate. The first half was dire; the second half was worse.

Abigail Byrne has earned plenty of plaudits and from the two previous games she officiated for Tonbridge Angels, those accolades have been well deserved. But, on this occasion, there wasn’t too many Tonbridge supporters going home singing her praises, but I would cut her some slack and don’t subscribe to putting the reasons for defeat solely at her door.

After a slow start, the Angels just about edged the first half, at least in terms of the best of the chances, the best of which falling to Tommie Fagg, who replaced Tariq Hinds in the starting XI due to a hamstring injury, on 30 minutes when his header from an acute angle only found the side netting. Further chances fell to Jordan Greenidge and Devonte Aransibia but the score remained, unsurprisingly, goalless at the break.

Sadly for the 50 or 60 Angels supporters that had made the journey through the tunnel their side disappeared in the second period and, to be honest, took the home side with them, such was lack of quality on display.

Chelmsford had the better of the possession in the second half without seriously threatening the Angels goal with about the only moment of excitement coming when Greenidge and Dave Winfield tussled for a ball with the City defender making every effort to broker an early exchange of shirts.

The defining moment of the game came in the final minute of time added. A challenge from Ben Swift brought a melee of players that eventually saw bookings for Swift and Jonny Henly plus a Chelmsford player. Was it a fair challenge, Swift got the ball but referee Byrne saw it differently and from the resultant free kick, after the ball was headed clear, it fell kindly for Liam Trotter who struck it cleanly past a perhaps unsighted Henly.

And so ended another forgettable evening in Essex and unbeaten eight game streak, one can only rejoice that the bridge need not be crossed again this season.

Tonbridge Angels 2 Concord Rangers 2

Match 77/22/2084 - Saturday, 18th February 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 Aransibia 15 Greenidge 37
Concord Rangers (1) 2 Bettemer 23 Modeste 71
Attendance: 1,075

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/5,102

For all the analysis that is done post match on Sky or Match of the Day, the one element that the experts cannot quantify is Lady Luck.

Watching the last 20 minutes of Aston Villa v Arsenal in the bar prior to the Angels home game against Concord Rangers, Arsenal benefited from their share of Lady Luck’s handouts when a shot from Jorginho rattled the woodwork only to rebound off the back of the Villa goalkeeper and into the net. Now, it might well be argued that the Gunners deserved the points anyway but without that stroke of good fortune they were only destined for a draw.

Despite some sloppy defending that allowed relegation threatened Concord two goals, Tonbridge really should have eased to a comfortable victory but Lady Luck, in the shape of the woodwork struck three times and some heroic goalkeeping from Mitchell Beeney intervened.

In what was a repeat of the reverse fixture at the Aspect Arena, Tonbridge dominated for the entire game but, somehow, have conspired to collect just a point, which was at least one more than in November.

Scott Wagstaff returned to the starting XI with Tommie Fagg dropping to the bench.

Beeney probably got a fair indication of a busy afternoon ahead with routine saves from headers by Jordan Greenidge and Jamie Fielding in the first five minutes.

After 15 minutes of one-way traffic, Tonbridge went ahead when a great cross from Tariq Hinds found the head of Devonte Aransibia at the far post to finish into the top corner.

Concord equalised after 23 minutes from their first real attack. A corner was poorly dealt with by the home side and when Jimmy Wallace crossed, Mohammed Bettamer scored with an overhead kick into the far corner.

The Angels went back in front after 37 minutes with a carbon copy goal of the first. This time Hinds' pin-point cross was met by the diving head of Greenidge for his 12th goal of a 13 match loan spell.

A Lewis Gard shot that curled wide and a glancing header from Joe Turner might have increased the Angels lead but at the break it remained 2-1.

Four minutes into the second period saw a Turner cross headed against the crossbar by Greenidge, who, on the hour, had the ball in the net only to be ruled out for offside.

On 65 minutes a 25 yard effort from Aransibia was touched onto the bar by Beeney and, from the resultant corner, the post was struck.

But the Angels fell to a sucker punch on 71 minutes when Ola Ogunwamide was able to play the ball across the face of goal to the back post where ex-Angel Ricky Modeste was on hand to touch the ball home from close range.

There was a distinct feeling that there was a winner to be had in this game with plenty of time in which to get it, but Beeney was to have other ideas.

A back pass that fell short saw substitute Ruben Soares-Junior intercept but Beeney smothered at his feet; Wagstaff’s effort was saved comfortably but then the keeper excelled again with a Greenidge effort turned over the bar.

As the clock ticked into added time, strong claims for a penalty (for which I was convinced) when Aransibia was brought down were denied by referee, Jack Bloxham. Aransibia was injured in the challenge but got to his feet to make it back to the centre circle where he went down again to be ultimately stretchered off.

With seven minutes of added time played, Beeney made his last, and his best, save of the afternoon saving at his near post a Fagg header. Beeney deserved to take something out of the game, even if Concord Rangers didn’t.

Lady Luck, and a superb goalkeeping performance, were enough to deny the Angels and perhaps no more analysis is needed.

Photos: Kathryn Bell