Chatham Town 3 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 37/23/2160 - Tuesday, 3rd October 2023 - Kent Senior Cup 2R

Chatham Town (2) 3 Hobden 36 Yila 45 Nzala 76 (pen)
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Lyons-Foster 7
Attendance: 508
Admission: £8 Senior
Mileage: 32/1,930
Weather: 15degC., Autumn evening chill

Tonbridge Angels suffered further cup disappointment as they were dumped out of the Kent Senior Cup at Chatham Town.

Jay Saunders was able to field a strong starting XI including new signings Sonny Fish and Charlie Pegrum and for the opening 20 minutes the Tonbridge supporters in an attendance of 508 had reasons to be cheerful as they dominated the game and took a seventh minute lead through Kodi Lyons-Foster.

Unfortunately, those 20 minutes proved to be a false dawn as the visitors intensity dropped off and Chatham firstly got a foothold back in the game and then took a stranglehold on it.

The opening goal came after a quick free kick on the right was played short to Tariq Hinds who crossed low and hard into the box to be met by the onrushing Lyons-Foster who met the ball solidly to score from close range.

Fish, who was enjoying a positive competitive debut, struck a fine low shot that brought a good save at his near post from the Chats goalkeeper, Ben Bridle-Card and from the resultant corner, the goalkeeper was well placed again to save from Lyons-Foster.

Further efforts on goal from Jordan Higgs, Hinds and when Bridle-Card saved with his feet from Jordan Greenidge after being put through on goal by Pegrum, there was every reason for optimism.

But, as if a switch had been flicked, Chatham grew into the game and, after Jonny Henly had made his first save to deny Cameron Brodie, a 25 yard strike from Ollie Hobden found the top corner to equalise for the home side.

Chatham Town are enjoying their first season as an Isthmian Premier League side, presently sitting in second position, and once they had the equaliser their confidence quickly grew and they got their noses in front in first half added time after good work and a cross down the right hand side found Jamie Yila who converted from close range.

Jay Saunders made a half-time substitution bringing on Scott Wagstaff for Lewis Gard and Lyons-Foster had an early opportunity heading over the crossbar from a Jamie Fielding cross.

Ex-Angel Kristian Campbell struck a fierce shot just over the bar from 25 yards as Chatham continued to hold the game’s momentum.

Francis Mampolo was introduced on 56 minutes for Fielding and made a good impression. A Higgs cross on the hour was headed over by Greenidge and the Angels had several corners as they tried to wrest control from Chatham.

But, on 75 minutes, a foul in the box saw the referee point to the spot leaving Ashley Nzala to send Henly the wrong way, rolling the ball into the corner.

It left a mountain for the Angels to climb and despite several corners and strikes on goal saved by Bridle-Card from Mampolo, Chatham never really looked like surrendering their advantage.

Jay Saunders commented after the game: “First 15 minutes we were in control but today highlights where we’re at. We are a bit low and once we conceded we went into our shells.”

Tonbridge Angels U18 3 Bromley U18 0

Match 36/23/2159 - Monday, 2nd October 2023 - FA Youth Cup 2QR

Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 3 Velvick 5 Larkin 84 Cooney 86
Bromley U18 (0) 0
Attendance: 158
Admission: £3 Senior
Mileage: 38/1,898
Weather: 17degC., Showers

Excuse me if this report indulges itself with a few superlatives. The Angels FA Youth Cup side produced one of, perhaps the best, performances and certainly result, in several years. To a man, they were magnificent.

At this stage last season, a valiant performance at Hayes Lane ended nonetheless with a 4-2 defeat, so to meet them again 12 months later, albeit at home, and to deservedly win by three clear goals is Progress with a capital P!

Gifted an early goal, the Angels had to withstand intense pressure for 80 minutes before two late goals sealed their place in the final qualifying round.

The Angels went ahead after five minutes when Hayden Velvick latched on to a bad back pass before clinically firing into the far corner.

The first half wasn’t entirely backs to the wall although Will Puffette was needed to make a last ditch tackle to deny Bromley’s Will Gates and Toby Edwards saved from Finley Roberts and Kassim Dagher.

But Tonbridge continually looked dangerous on the break and, after 22 minutes, a shot-cum-cross from Felix Waring rebounded from the crossbar.

Tonbridge breathed a sigh of relief just before the break when Temu Appiah put a good opportunity narrowly wide.

The National League side started the second half probably stung by harsh words in the dressing room and rattled the bar after five minutes through the impressive Kaya Hansson but the Angels themselves went close a couple of minutes later when Velvick fired agonisingly wide after being sent clear by Waring.

Bromley dominated the play but whatever was thrown at them the Angels back line stood heroically firm and as the visitors gambled with their goalkeeper virtually playing as a sweeper in the centre circle, they were always vulnerable to the pacy breakaways of the home side such as when substitute Cameron Honarvar broke clear to shoot inches wide.

Four minutes remained when an Angels corner was only cleared to Adam Larkin, who from 25 yards drove the ball low back through a forest of bodies to nestle the ball in the back of the net to put the next round within touching distance.

Two minutes later, Tonbridge Angels name was firmly in the hat as substitute Fin McLeod charged down a clearance for fellow substitute Teddy Cooney to place the ball into the unguarded goal.

Official reports are supposed to be measured, perhaps unbiased, but we can be forgiven that this one is not. A night when even superlatives are not enough!

Gillingham 1 Mansfield Town 1

Match 35/23/2158 - Saturday, 30th September 2023 - League Two

Gillingam (1) 1 Bonne 2
Mansfield Town (1) 1 Keillor-Dunn 36
Attendance: 6,486
Admission: £19 Senior
Mileage: 38/1,860
Weather: 20degC.,

Whilst every match at Gillingham becomes a more pleasurable experience and, of course, I hope for nothing less than a win, these days I’m am able to view a game in a dispassionate manner.

So, leaving the ground after a highly entertaining draw, there was nothing but grumbles that a referee’s decision had cost the Gills the game and a result that they deserved.

Four or five years ago, I too would have been among those grumbling, but these days when a Gillingham result does not define my weekend, I can accept that, despite the controversial nature of Mansfield’s goal, they left Priestfield Stadium fully deserving of their point.

A virtually sold out Rainham End, a Gordon Road stand that has become equally vocal makes for a vibrant atmosphere that was given the encouragement of a goal within the first two minutes as Macauley Bonne converted a Connor Mahoney cross with a close range volley.

Gillingham might have been two, perhaps three, goals clear with Mansfield goalkeeper, Christy Pym saving well from Bonne and Connor Masterson shooting over before Mansfield equalised in controversial fashion.

A long forward pass from Lewis Brunt saw the visiting captain, Ollie Clarke, run at the Gillingham defence before being brought down by Ethan Coleman. There can be no complaints, it was a foul and, as is said professionally, it was a good yellow card for Coleman. But, as the referee, Jacob Miles took the card from his pocket, Clarke quickly played the free kick into the path of Davis Keillor-Dunn who slid the ball past the advancing Jake Turner.

The laws of the game are clear. Once the referee has begun the process of disciplinary action then the game should be brought to a halt. As he waved the game on, he was clearly carrying the yellow card, surely this constitutes the beginning of the caution. That he completed the disciplinary process after the awarding the goal is proof in point.

The early part of the second period saw Mansfield take the game to their hosts with Turner excelling with three good saves and one exceptional claw away from the feet of Keillor-Dunn.

The introduction of substitutes Jayden Clarke, George Lapslie and Ashley Nadesan (in particular) saw Gillingham add a variation to their long ball game and with it provide a grandstand finish but without reward.

It was a good game, but a shame that the referee became the centre of attention.

East Grinstead Town U18 1 Tonbridge Angels U18 5

Match 34/23/2157 - Thursday, 28th September 2023 - Isthmian Youth League Cup

East Grinstead Town U18 (1) 1 Tidy 45
Tonbridge Angels U18 (2) 5 Cooney 10,65 Honarvar 38,59 Firman 71
Attendance: 49
Admission: £2 Senior
Mileage: 60/1,828
Weather: 18degC., showers

The Angels Under-18’s produced an outstanding performance at East Grinstead Town to progress in the Isthmian Youth League Cup.

Manager Dominic Welsh said after the game: “Some performance that!”

Tonbridge started on the front foot with Cameron Honarvar and Sam Firman giving the hosts an introduction to the way their evening was to unfold. The East Grinstead defence had little answer to the pace of Honarvar and the guile of Firman. In the opening minute, Honarvar’s goalbound shot was deflected for a corner, from which skipper Will Puffette headed over.

East Grinstead’s goalkeeper, Ben Taylor, made good saves to deny Noah Millis and Teddy Cooney before the Angels went in front on 10 minutes when the two front men combined superbly to set up Cooney for a driven shot from around eight yards.

Felix Waring needed to leave the field for a brief spell following a head injury before returning to the fray with his head swathed, Terry Butcher style (thankfully without the blood) to rule the roost in midfield.

In the time of Waring’s absence, Toby Edwards had to make a decent low save from Daniel Spurle.

The game entered a phase when East Grinstead gained a toe hold with Edwards again tested by Alex Tidy and from the resultant corner, Tito Mendy headed onto the top of the crossbar.

But the Angels were still the dominant force and doubled their advantage on 38 minutes when a long ball forward from Rory Kavanagh was initially smothered by Taylor but the ball squirmed from his grasp allowing Honarvar to place it into the unguarded net from the edge of the penalty area.

East Grinstead pulled a goal back in first half time added when a linesman’s flag was overruled by the referee’s interpretation of the new offside rule. However, it was a very decent strike into the bottom corner from Tidy.

The goal did nothing but harden the Angels’ resolve and they completely dominated the second period with the only criticism being that they didn’t convert more of the numerous chances created.

After several near misses and goalkeeper saves, Tonbridge restored their two goal advantage on 59 minutes when Firman robbed a defender to set up Honarvar for a good finish.

Six minutes later, the game was virtually over as a contest when Evan De Silva set up Cooney to score at the second attempt and, on 71 minutes, substitute Fin McLeod sent Firman through to collect what was a richly deserved reward for a splendid evening’s work.

East Grinstead were offered the opportunity of a consolation when they were awarded a penalty following a foul but Tidy blazed his spot kick high and wide.

Dom Welsh added after: “Excellent performance tonight, we played some outstanding football throughout and kept the intensity high for 90 minutes.”

Staplehurst Monarchs U18 0 Tonbridge Angels U18 9

Match 33/23/2156 - Sunday, 24th September 2023 - Kent U18 Merit Youth Cup 1R

Staplehurst Monarchs U18 (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels U18 (3) 9 Honarvar 13,59,61,64 Etherington (pen) 22 De Silva 35 Wallace 49 Martin-Coward 57 Cooney 65
Headcount: 32
Admission: Free
Mileage: 1/1,768
Weather: 20degC., pleasantly warm

Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s comfortably progressed to the Second Round of the Kent Merit U18 Youth Cup at Staplehurst Monarchs.

Ultimately, Dom Welsh’s side scored nine times but they had to come to terms initially with a Monarchs side that competed well on a smallish pitch. They also came up against a goalkeeper, James Nash, who produced a heroic performance with many, many saves.

The Angels opened the scoring when they caught out the home side with a short corner routine that saw Reuben Etherington touch the ball to Cameron Honarvar who cut in and buried a shot into the far corner.

Tonbridge knocked the door before, after 27 minutes, a run from deep by Honarvar ended with him being brought down in the box for Etherington to score from the spot off the underside of the crossbar.

Now comfortable in their surroundings, Tonbridge started to control the game and set up the one man resistance from Nash, who made great saves to deny Noah Millis and Honarvar before the short corner once again undid the hosts with Evan De Silva applying the finish.

Set pieces were proving the undoing of the home side and, four minutes into the second period, Logan Wallace, a 15-year-old who didn’t look out of place among his elders, hooked in a corner from close range and despite further heroics from Nash, heads dropped among the home ranks as the Angels added five goals in the space of eight minutes.

On 57 minutes a corner delivered by Felix Waring found Ben Martin-Coward at the far post to head home; a Wallace dinked cross saw Honarvar nod home; Honarvar added number seven as Wallace’s initial shot was saved by Nash; from a throw-in Honarvar headed home and, on 65 minutes, a fine run and finish from Teddy Cooney wrapped up a crazy eight minutes.

The final 25 minutes was a procession of Tonbridge attacks, but the home defence got their heads back together whilst the visitors were perhaps a little guilty of overplaying with the tie well and truly won.

There was more than enough time for the Staplehurst goalkeeper’s stock to rise even higher with saves aplenty whilst a post denied Sam Gerrard in the final act of the game.

Manager Dom Welsh commented after the match: “Really professional performance with some excellent goals scored and good to get a clean sheet on the road. Credit to Staplehurst who made the early exchanges tough for us and worked hard throughout.”

Dartford 1 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 32/23/2155 - Saturday, 23rd September 2023 - National League South

Dartford (1) 1 Rooney 31
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 1,122
Admission: £11 Senior
Mileage: 58/1,767
Weather: 19degC., pleasantly warm

Tonbridge Angels abject failure to extract a win on Dartford soil goes beyond being generational, it is the lifetime of the majority of senior citizens that support the club and the wait goes on.

Statistic number one is that no Angels supporter has ever witnessed an Angels victory at Princes Park since its opening in 2006, but as both sides came into the game on the back of disappointing FA Cup exits and with Dartford’s inauspicious start to the season, perhaps there was a sense that there might never be a better chance.

In years gone by, Angels supporters have left Princes, once more vanquished but almost always beaten by a decent side, that was not the case on this occasion, which makes it all the more frustrating.

Tonbridge’s malfunctioning front line, who have failed to find the net seven times in the opening ten games has long-standing supporters of at least 20 years (statistic number two coming up) longing for a Luke Piscina, Brendan Cass or Nick Barnes, architects of successive wins in the early 2000’s when the Darts were groundsharing at Stonebridge Road.

On a pleasantly warm afternoon, certainly not in need of the coat that I wore, Tonbridge were set back in the opening minute when Jeremy Santos went down injured and, after five minutes, he was substituted by Lewis Gard. That Santos returned to the bench after the half-time break on crutches was a disturbing sight.

Dartford had the better of the possession in the opening half-hour but frankly their attack looked as ineffectual as the visitors, the only real scare being a Jamie Fielding clearance following a corner on 18 minutes.

But that wait of 48 years for a win on Dartford soil (statistic number three) when Tonbridge won a semi-final en-route to their last Kent Senior Cup success, seemed destined to continue when Paul Rooney drove a shot through a forest of bodies into the bottom corner after an initial shot had been blocked.

The Angels ended the half with a positive response with efforts on goal from Joe Turner and Jordan Higgs but these were comfortably dealt with by Mitchell Beeney.

The early part of the second period saw the better of the chances fall the way of the Angels with Scott Wagstaff being felled on the edge of the box as he rounded the advancing Beeney.

Jonny Henly made his best stop of the game on the hour pushing away a low drive from Brandon Barzey and, five minutes later, turning over a free kick from Harvey Bradbury.

The last 20 minutes saw Tonbridge search manfully for an equaliser. Greenidge rounded the adventurous Beeney but was tackled as he was about to send a shot goalwards and a Turner volley failed to find the target.

But there was no way through, and so to the final statistic as Tonbridge fans made their way home, yet again fruitless as it has been since 1955 when two goals from Ronnie Bennett brought home the league points from Watling Street. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that someone in the crowd of 1,122 was in attendance 68 years ago, to you sir or madam we tip our hat!

Northfleet TC 5 Hugh Christie 1

Match 31/23/2154 - Wednesday, 20th September 2023 - Kent Schools Academies Championship

Northfleet TC (0) 5
Hugh Christie (1) 1
Headcount: 12
Admission: Free
Played at Punjab FC
Mileage: 76/1,709
Weather: 20degC., 45mph wind, squally showers
Academies: Punjab United v Tonbridge Angels