Havant & Waterlooville 1 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 90/22/2097 - Saturday, 17th March 2023 - National League South

Havant & Waterlooville (0) 1 Faal (pen) 86
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 J. Wood
Attendance: 1,001

Admission: Pass
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 209/6,347

Would I have taken a point on the way in? YES. Would I have taken a point at half-time? NO. Am I pleased with a point? YES. That goes some way to summarise the pattern of this game. So let’s break in down those three phases.

Despite a recent poor run of form that has resulted in Havant’s Paul Doswell removing himself to an upstairs role of Director of Football, albeit that he was serving a 12 match touchline ban for a colourful turn of phrase directed at Ebbsfleet’s German manager Dennis Kutrieb, they still sat handily placed within the play-off zone, three points in front of the Angels. So, it was never going to be easy against one of the better resourced clubs in the division, but one that has, once again, massively underachieved.

The first half saw Tonbridge dominant. Jack Wood scored a fine goal; struck a post and Jordan Greenidge wasted a one-on-one opportunity with very little alarm at the other end. So it is fair to say that at half-time, the game could, and possibly should, have been put done and dusted, home and hosed.

But it was not and the Angels were left clinging on to their point and had Jonny Henly to thank for a added time save after the home side had equalised through a dubious penalty with four minutes remaining.

Despite a journey that had been stop-start with M25 and M3 hold-ups we arrived in Hampshire with a reasonable amount of time to spare and finding the weather spring-like for what seems the first time in months. Team news saw Jamie Fielding out with a broken hand and Tommy Wood rested to the bench.

Almost from the outset, to even the most untrained of eyes, it was clear that Jack Wood was about to lead his full back a merry dance setting up an opportunity for Greenidge on 11 minutes that the home side scrambled to safety.

Wood gave the Angels a deserved lead, after 23 minutes, when he received the ball from a throw-in; rode a challenge and from the right hand edge of the box, curled in a shot from the right into the far corner with a strike very reminiscent of his recent goal at Eastbourne.

The Angels had a scare immediately after the goal as Henly needed to be alert to avoid Tariq Hinds conceding an own goal, and personally, I was uncomfortable every time Mo Faal, surely a player destined for a move upwards, was on the ball.

A big chance fell to Greenidge, five minutes from the break, when he picked the pocket of Joash Nembhard to go one-on-one with goalkeeper, Teddy Sharman-Lowe, but his attempt to clip the ball over the advancing keeper was charged down and scrambled to safety.

Into first half added time and Jack Wood fastened on to a loose headed clearance and in an identical run to that of his goal almost produced the same outcome but this time the ball rebounded of the far post.

Four minutes into the second period, Tonbridge had a goal ruled out for offside after Sonny Miles had run onto Ben Swift’s head-on following a free kick. His cross was converted by Swift but Miles was deemed to have strayed a yard offside.

Havant were awoken from their slumber and started to impose themselves on the game as any team losing at home should. A snap shot from Charlie Ruff was comfortably dealt with by Henly and, on the hour, the goalkeeper fumbled a cross under pressure but Faal’s effort from the loose ball cleared the bar by some distance.

A through ball saw Tyrell Miller Rooney take a heavy touch off his chest allowing Henly to save at his feet, but the pressure was mounting.

The big chance to put the game to bed for the Angels came on 77 minutes. Hinds played the ball forward to Lewis Gard after Miles had broken down a Havant attack. A deft touch from Gard saw him clear to lay the ball into the path of Joe Turner, who from the edge of the box lifted his shot over the bar.

Shortly after some superb defending from Craig Braham-Barrett, the Montserrat-bound defender was judged to have brought down Josh Passley, a decision that could easily have gone either way, on the very edge of the penalty area for the award of a penalty, that was fairly leathered home by Faal, giving Henly absolutely no chance.

In the dying embers of seven minutes of added time, Henly produced a brilliant fingertip save to deny a header from James Roberts and avoid a cruel defeat.

Perhaps it’s an indication of just how far the Angels have come to leave Havant with a sense of disappointment, but that was the way it felt.

Artois United 2 K Sports Sunday 2

Match 89/22/2096 - Friday, 17th March 2023 - Maidstone & Mid Kent Sunday League Presidents Cup Final

Artois United (2) 2 Shaw, Corke
K Sports Sunday (0) 2 Willmott (pen), Goldsmith
Artois win 5-3 on pens
At Maidstone United
Attendance: 234

Admission: £5
Programme: Included
Mileage: 20/6,138

Oasis Academy 0 Hugh Christie 4

Match 88/22/2095 - Wednesday, 15th March 2023 - Kent Schools Academies League

Oasis Academy (0) 0
Hugh Christie (2) 4 Brown 2 Southern Lavender
Headcount: 12

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 52/6,118

Ramsgate 4 Tonbridge Angels 3

Match 87/22/2094 - Tuesday, 14th March 2023 - Kent Senior Cup QF

Ramsgate (2) 4 Carvalho 27 Rowland 44,68 Riley-Snow 66
Tonbridge Angels (1) 3 Greenidge 15 Rutherford 54 Tommy Wood (pen) 60
Attendance: 240

Admission: Pass
Programme: Free
Mileage: 100/6,066

48 years of hurt won’t stop us dreaming, but it will become 49.

Three cup competitions, three mishaps against lower league teams, whoever is in charge from George Cohen through to Jay Saunders, some things never change.

The Kent Senior Cup was never on the high priority list but a Cup Final day out at Gillingham was something that could be looked forward as an end of season reward for supporters. But, sadly, our Cup jinx endures for another year.

Jay Saunders either rested or had unavailable six of Saturday’s starting line-up and, to be honest, it showed in a performance that was way below par.

Ramsgate are a progressive club on and off the pitch; leading Isthmian South East and engaging with the local community to great effect with the advent of their 3G pitch a couple of years ago.

The evening started well enough with the Angels on top and eventually going in front on 15 minutes through Jordan Greenidge, who cut in from the right to fire into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Two minutes later, Greenidge had the ball in the net again with a well placed header but this was ruled out with a debatable offside decision. At 2-0 up, who knows?

Tonbridge continued to hold the majority of the play, so it was somewhat against the run of play when Ramsgate equalised with a goal from Gil Carvalho after a cross from Callum Emptage found the scorer getting in front of Tariq Hinds.

Greenidge created his own opportunity to restore the lead on 35 minutes but dragged his shot wide

If questions were to be asked of the defending for the opening goal, they certainly needed asking for the second as Kane Rowland was allowed to meet a cross unchallenged to deflect the ball past a static George Bentley.

As the weather deteriorated from a light drizzle to a torrential downpour that had the Tonbridge contingent scuttling back to the covered terrace that is set back some distance, their side came out for the second half full of attacking intent to retrieve the game. Tommie Fagg struck a good shot that was parried to safety by Josh Bexon before, in the 54th minute, after an initial cross from the right by Jack Wood, the ball fell to Fyn Rutherford who curled his shot into the top corner for the equaliser.

Tonbridge were in front five minutes later when they were awarded a penalty after Tommy Wood was brought down. The striker took the penalty himself to send Bexon the wrong way.

In two horrible minutes for goalkeeper Bentley, the tie was turned on its head in favour of Ramsgate. Firstly, on 66 minutes, a shot from 30 yards by Blaise Riley-Snow crept under the keeper to gift the home side an equaliser and, two minutes later, a heavy touch from a back pass ended with a clearance straight to a Ramsgate player who touched it inside to Rowland for the easiest of tasks to stroke the ball into an unguarded goal.

Such was the erratic nature of the game, it felt that there were more goals to come but Aransibia pulled a shot wide in the best of the late opportunities.

So, another year passes without cup success; should three points be won at Havant in the quest for a play-off spot on Saturday, this will be quickly forgotten. But, for now, this was a lost opportunity.

Sheppey United U18 0 Tonbridge Angels U18 2

Match 86/22/2093 - Monday, 13th March 2023 - Isthmian Youth

Sheppey United U18 (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 2 Garcia 34 McLeod 84
Attendance: 22

Admission: £3
Programme: None
Mileage: 54/5,966

The Under-18’s moved into fourth place in the table with a sound performance at Sheppey United and now sit just a point behind their hosts in their quest for a top three finish.

A day of gale force winds had subsided into what was still a strong wind that would be a factor in the game’s quality.

The opening quarter hour was evenly fought that showed every indication of a close, hard fought encounter that would ensue.

Both sides had efforts on goal in the first five minutes with Reuben Etherington firing over for the Angels and Harrison McCall shooting wide after winning the ball in midfield.

The home side enjoyed the better of the early exchanges although Matt Larkin was only really tested the once saving at the feet of Raeden Jeffrey.

McCall produced a surging run from deep before shooting wide on 28 minutes before a superb strike from Zach Garcia from 20 yards with an angled shot into the top corner gave the Angels the lead. It was a fitting end to an industrious half from the Angels midfield engine.

The Angels finished the half on top with further efforts from Sam Firman.

With the wind slightly in their favour second half, Sheppey pushed hard for an equaliser but the Angels back line remained resolute with Garcia and Etherington putting in immense shifts in front of them.

So resolute were the Angels that whilst reducing the hosts to shots from distance that didn’t test Larkin, the best of the chances fell to the visitors with Firman bringing a good save from Sam Nicholson.

Six minutes from the end, Tonbridge as good as wrapped up the game when Fin McLeod headed home a Felix Waring corner.

Unfortunately the game ended on a low when the Angels' Rockie Burke and Sheppey’s Ezra Oloyede saw red cards after a difference of opinion that sparked a mass outbreak of handbags.

That brought added time of 12 minutes in which the Angels preserved their clean sheet with relative ease.

Dom Welsh acknowledged the game hadn’t been a classic but that his side “completed the double over a talented Sheppey United side with some excellent defending and very good game management. We are learning different ways to win which is key for development.”

Tonbridge Angels 1 Ebbsfleet United 1

Match 85/22/2092 - Saturday, 12th March 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Wagstaff 84
Ebbsfleet United (1) 1 Wright 42
Attendance: 1,770

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/5,912

Draws bring a range of emotions. They can be a fair result; they can bring disappointment when you feel your side deserved more or they can feel like a win and this was the emotion as Tonbridge Angels took their fourth point of the season from the champions-elect, Ebbsfleet United.

All week I had labelled this encounter as a free hit with low expectation. True, the Angels were in decent form but their opponents were 14 games unbeaten and coming in off the back of a 7-2 demolition of play-off chasing Worthing. But, for manager’s, there is no such thing as a free hit and Jay Saunders surprised many with his team selection that saw leading goalscorer Jordan Greenidge rested to the bench.

Plenty of people in an attendance of 1,770, a league game record for Longmead, heeded the advice to arrive early and the bars and tea shacks were busy over an hour before kick-off. Naturally enough, given their runaway status at the top of National League South, Ebbsfleet brought a healthy support, estimated at around 600.

Through the first half, the game seemed to be taking its expected course with the Angels aiding the visitors cause with a half in which they gave the ball away, too often and far too cheaply.

But, in truth, despite a huge amount of possession, clear cut chances for Ebbsfleet were few and far between. After 10 minutes, Jonny Henly saved comfortably a low shot from Omari Sterling-James and it was another 25 minutes before he was tested again, taking a knock for his trouble.

In between, Tonbridge had their moments with Mark Cousins saving at his near post from Tariq Hinds and a Joe Turner free kick from a good position clearing the bar.

Greg Cundle had the ball in the Angels net on 35 minutes but was clearly offside and as the clock ticked towards the break, hopes of getting to the dressing room unscathed were dashed when a shot from Josh Wright came back from the crossbar and as bodies tumbled in the box, the ball landed back at Wright’s feet to stab it home.

Devonte Aransibia was introduced for the injured Jamie Fielding at the break and immediately Tonbridge retained possession better and with it Scott Wagstaff’s influence grew.

That’s not to say that Ebbsfleet didn’t have their chances early in the second period to put the game to bed. Cundle was through one-on-one with Henly, but the goalkeeper came out on top.

But now the home side were creating their own chances as Turner shot into the side netting and Jack Wood fired over after good work from Hinds and when, with seven minutes remaining, an ugly clearance from Haydn Hollis bounced of his own bar, you sensed that the league leaders were wobbling.

And from the resultant corner, Ben Swift headed back into the centre from beyond the far post, Tommie Fagg challenged and as the ball dropped, Wagstaff stabbed home at the second attempt.

An Aransibia effort from 20 yards dipped at the last moment and only narrowly cleared the bar to deny what would have been a celebrated double.

Disgruntled Ebbsfleet fans were heard grumbling about their team and the miles travelled as they departed. Cheer up guys, you’ll win the league by more than 20 points and next season Gateshead is a mere 300 miles away.

Pictures: Kathryn Bell

Eastbourne Borough 1 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 84/22/2091 - Tuesday, 7th March 2023 - National League South

Eastbourne Borough (0) 1 Remy 82
Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 Jack Wood 2,30
Attendance: 625

Admission: Pass
Programme: £3
Mileage: 81/5,874

My beloved Angels, why do you put me through the wringer time and time again!

A squad so threadbare only three substitutes could be named and one of them a goalkeeper with the starting XI containing players obviously out of position roared into a two goal first half lead before surviving a second half onslaught of Alamo proportions.

Priory Lane, home of Eastbourne Borough, has never been a happy hunting ground with no victory since 2012 and the outlook was not looking good with Scott Wagstaff needing to fill at right back for the injured Jamie Fielding; Jack Wood coming in for the absent loanee Marcel Elva-Fountaine whilst Craig Braham-Barrett and Tommie Fagg remained on the unavailable list.

That low sense of expectation was quickly dispelled with a goal within two minutes. A cross from the left from Joe Turner was rather lamely cleared to Devonte Aransibia just outside the box, who laid it off for Jack Wood to curl a shot past Lee Worgan and into the far corner.

Tonbridge bossed the opening half-hour with the home side showing very little forward momentum and it was no great surprise when the Angels went two up after 30 minutes. From a quickly taken throw-in just inside their own half, Jordan Greenidge back heeled into the path of Tommy Wood who linked brilliantly with his namesake who strode to the edge of the box, skipping a challenge before burying a low shot into the far corner.

Worgan was pressed into action a couple of minutes later when he pushed away a low cross before Eastbourne had their first sight of goal on 37 minutes when the ball was fed to the left for Leone Gravata to bring a good low save out of Jonny Henly.

A free kick from Aransibia in an encouraging position was comfortably saved by Worgan and, just before the break, Greenidge drove into the area to fire in a shot that the goalkeeper did well to push away for a corner.

It had been a great half for the Angels, two fine goals and chances for the home side kept to a bare minimum so the second half onslaught after, no doubt, a few home truths in the home dressing room was to be ex[pected.

An early cross from the right saw a Jaden Perez header drift harmlessly wide but, on the counter attack, the Angels were also dangerous and when Greenidge got into his stride, the Eastbourne defence were finding him pretty much unmanageable. On 57 minutes, from inside his own half, he broke away down the left and, although Kai Innocent kept pace with him, he could not prevent the big striker from getting his shot away, narrowly missing at the far post.

The action switched immediately back to the other end with Jonny Henly making a good save to claw the ball out of the top corner following a shot from 20 yards by Perez.

The pressure on the Tonbridge goal was mounting but the efforts were largely tame with Henly only being pressed into a couple of routine saves although an 80th minute interception from Sonny Miles seemed crucial. But, two minutes later, a penalty, the fourth in three games, was conceded, albeit that it was an almighty soft one. A ball, lofted into the box, saw Norman Wabo tangle with Tommy Wood and go down, the referee gave it some thought before pointing to the spot, from where Shiloh Remy sent Henly the wrong way to set up a nail biting finish.

Luke Pearce for he home side shot low for a regulation save from Henly before Greenidge had another 30 yard gallop that brought a similar save from Worgan and when referee Robinson-Tant indicated that there would be three minutes of added time, less than expected, memories of Hemel Hempstead when he infuriated Angels’ supporters by playing virtually no added time were stirred. This time we were grateful for the small amount which was seen out with no great alarm but greeted with much relief and delight at the final whistle.

The last week or so has seen more ups and downs than Blackpool’s Big Dipper and, without putting the cart before the horse again, I’m expecting that is going to be the story of the next six weeks,