Torquay United 2 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 58/23/2181 - Saturday, 2nd December 2023 - National League South

Torquay United (1) 2 De Silva 10 Ash 61
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Mampolo 59
Attendance: 1,850
Admission: £19 Senior
Mileage: 464/4,404
Weather: 7degC, dry and bright but cold

It’s 5.48am, I’ve beaten the alarm by two minutes and get dressed and downstairs to a couple of bemused cocker spaniels not used to being offered the outside world at this unearthly hour.

By 6.20, just a cup of tea later, I’m closing the front door and the journey to Torquay has begun, on a supporters club coach running for the first time in 17 years.

Torquay United, who didn’t know who Tonbridge Angels were two years ago when drawn together in the FA Trophy, is the destination for a league game.

It’s freezing, the temperature dial doesn’t shift from zero all the way to Tonbridge but at least the coach is warm.

The “ultras” serve up their full repertoire of songs, naughty and nice, as we head west with a welcome stop at Leigh Delamere before finally arriving at Plainmoor at 12:55 pm.

On arrival we are greeted with the news that the gates don’t open until 14:00 and away supporters are barred from the club house. This is an ex-League club, full time, absolutely ridiculous to leave people hanging around for an hour without so much as a toilet.

That be said, Plainmoor is a nice ground but, like Yeovil before, the facilities afforded to away supporters is sparse to be kind.

And so to the match. The difference between the teams was the cutting edge up front. Overall, Tonbridge went toe-to-toe with one of the league’s big hitters and, whilst coming away empty-handed, the visiting supporters departed with a feeling of injustice at the result.

I’ve heard rather patronising comments from BBC Radio Devon calling us “a good, little side”. So, we are obviously still the unknown minnows of the National League.

After a good start the Angels went behind on 10 minutes when a sweeping counter attack of just three passes that covered almost the entire length of the field ended with Dillon De Silva free at the right hand post to finish.

The Angels continued to have plenty of the play. There were half-hearted claims for a penalty as Jordan Greenidge went down under a dive at his feet from goalkeeper, Mark Halstead and a 25 yard effort from Jordan Higgs on 26 minutes clipped the top of the crossbar.

On the stroke of half-time following a corner Halstead made successive reaction saves to deny Higgs and Jamie Fielding.

Tonbridge picked up where they left off after the first period, on the front foot, and when Francis Mampolo equalised on 59 minutes nobody could deny that they were well worth their equaliser. And what a goal, picking the ball up on the left hand side, 35 yards from goal, he weaved his way through a series of defenders that failed to make a challenge before letting fly from the edge of the box with a shot that picked out the top corner.

Unfortunately, the parity was only to last two minutes when a cross from the right saw Bradley Ash peel away from his marker to bury a shot past Henly. It was a great finish from one of the best in the division, a striker that has destroyed the Angels in the past.

Still being backed to the hilt from the noisy Angels support, Tonbridge pressed hard right to the final whistle for an equaliser but it wasn’t to be.

The journey home stretched the day out to a total of 17 hours, a long day but one with a strange sense of satisfaction despite the defeat. The coach ran successfully with a promise that it would run again and, on the field, another day in which Jay Saunders’ team has proved competitive against the best in the division.

Howard School 6 Hugh Christie 0

Match 57/23/2180 - Wednesday, 29th November 2023 - Kent Schools Academies Championship

Howard School (3) 6
Hugh Christie (0) 0
Attendance: 8
Admission: Free
Mileage: 36/3,940
Played at Wrotham School
Academies: PSA v Tonbridge Angels

Gillingham 1 AFC Wimbledon 0

Match 56/23/2179 - Tuesday, 28th November 2023 - League Two

Gillingham (0) 1 Masterson 107
AFC Wimbledon (0) 0
Attendance: 5,747
Admission: £19 Senior
Mileage: 44/3,904
Weather: 2degC, full winter gear

When the loudest cheer of the night, at that point, is reserved for a floodlight failure, nobody needs me to describe the fare that is being served up.

For 65 minutes this was easily the worst game of football I’ve been unfortunate enough to watch this season. It was utter dross and whilst the atmosphere around me was nothing like the time pre-Galinson, the natives were pretty restless.

For Stephen Clemence, just 28 days into the job, the honeymoon period seems over and he was facing the full wrath of those in the Gordon Road Stand as his set-up with Tom Nichols as a lone striker was perceived as negative. I think I can understand that after a weekend defeat, conceding three goals at relegation threatened Tranmere Rovers, he needed to shore up the defence but one striker at home, and not the biggest of targets, did seem a touch negative.

The first half was only memorable as a reminder that we are definitely in the two pairs of socks season as the toes slowly numbed with little else to attract my attention.

Twenty mind-numbing minutes passed in the second half before the lights went out almost as a mercy to the spectators. They were off for nearly 25 minutes before the players returned with a little more energy.

Gillingham forged a couple of opportunities but the big chances fell to AFC Wimbledon with leading goalscorer Ali Al-Hamadi guilty of wasting three big chances.

With officially 107 minutes on the clock, but still with eight minutes remaining, Gillingham won a free kick on the left, 20 yards from goal. This was sent to the back post from where Macauley Bonne headed forward to be turned in by defender Connor Masterson.

The noise to greet the goal finally eclipsed the floodlight failure in terms of volume and again at the final whistle as the home side saw out the remaining minutes despite a final period of pressure from the visitors.



It wasn’t good, far from easy on eye, but three points takes the Gills back into the play-off places.

Tonbridge Angels 4 Havant & Waterlooville 1

Match 55/23/2178 - Saturday, 25th November 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 4 Gard 51 (pen) Greenidge 55 Hinds 90,90+3
Havant & Waterlooville (0) 1 Phillips 65
Attendance: 1,025
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,860
Weather: 6degC, dry

Two late goals from Man of the Match Tariq Hinds eased the Angels to a comfortable victory against bottom of the table Havant and Waterlooville, who had been reduced to 10 men from the 28th minute.

Jay Saunders made one change from the side that took a point off second placed Aveley on Tuesday with Jernade Meade returning from international duty with Montserrat, Billy French rested to the bench alongside new signings Mohammad Dabre and Obed Yeboah, a 19 year-old Dutch striker who joins from Truro City having spent his youth career at AFC Wimbledon.

It was a cold afternoon at the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium and supporters from both sides in a healthy attendance of 1,025 needed some distraction from the numbing of their fingers and toes. Sadly, a turgid first half failed to achieve this.

But, after 28 minutes of the half, came the major incident that shaped the game with a big call from referee Steven Hughes. Havant’s James Roberts, who had been shown a yellow card just two minutes earlier for a challenge on Scott Wagstaff, was booked and subsequently red carded for simulation after going down in the box. Referee Hughes was perfectly placed to make the judgement and it brought little argument from the Havant side.

After 20 minutes of very little action, the Angels carved out the opening opportunity when a through ball from Sean Shields sent Francis Mampolo clear but the Havant goalkeeper, Ross Worner, was quick to cut down the angle and turn the ball away for a corner.

And as real chances go, that was about as good as it got in a disappointing first period.

Whatever Saunders had to say in the confines of the dressing room the words had the desired effect as the Angels came out with renewed sense of purpose alongside the introduction of Dabre for Mampolo.

Dabre’s opening contribution was a tricky run and cross that was met by the head of Jordan Greenidge but steered wide. But, five minutes into the second half, the big striker won a penalty after a run into the box was ended by a clumsy challenge from Yoan Zouma. Lewis Gard stepped up to retain his perfect record from the spot sending Worner the wrong way to convert his sixth penalty of the season.

Four minutes later a good combination down the right ended with Shields placing the perfect cross onto the head of Greenidge, who got in front of his marker to nod home from close range.

Now in full control of the game, Ben Swift went close with a header from a corner, but in turn was injured and needed to be substituted. A moment’s lapse in concentration following his departure saw a long cross from Jake McCarthy find Kieran Phillips at the far post to head home.

Although the reduced deficit made the game slightly more uncomfortable the chances to put the game to bed were falling the Angels way with efforts from Meade and Greenidge bringing good saves from Worner.

Any worries were finally dismissed in the last minute of regular time when a pass was laid across to the edge of the box from where Hinds drove the ball home.

A fair reflection of Tonbridge’s dominance was added three minutes into added time when Greenidge won the ball with is back to goal and laid it back to Hinds to lash home from 20 yards.

The win lifts the Angels to eighth in the table with only goal difference separating them from a play off position.

Tonbridge Angels 1 Aveley 1

Match 54/23/2177 - Tuesday, 21st November 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Swift 65
Aveley (1) 1 Odembi 45 (pen)
Attendance: 741
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,822
Weather: 7degC, dry

Tonbridge Angels U18 1 Corinthian U18 1

Match 53/23/2176 - Monday, 20th November 2023 - Isthmian Youth League

Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 1 McLeod 71
Corinthian U18 (1) 1 Benning 20
Attendance: 43
Admission: £3 Senior
Mileage: 38/3,784
Weather: 10degC, damp

After being given a complete runaround for 45 minutes, the Angels U18’s turned the game around in the second half to earn a well deserved point. When asked what had changed, Dom Welsh replied: “A good, old fashioned bollocking”!

Corinthian played some sparkling football in the first half and had it not been for an outstanding performance from Angels goalkeeper, Toby Edwards, no words at half-time could have retrieved the situation.

But beaten just the once, the door remained ajar for Tonbridge and a second half with, as Welsh added, “more running, more energy, quicker to the ball, quicker to pass the ball”, they drew level with a Fin McLeod goal and might even have won the game come the end.

Edwards was pressed into action after just two minutes when a sweeping move from the visitors ended with the goalkeeper making a close range save from Guppreet Benning.

Within a minute, Angels’ Felix Waring dragged a shot narrowly wide and it looked like the game was set for end-to-end action but that wasn’t the way the first half unfolded.

Twice in a couple of minutes, the livewire Corey Holden, a real box of tricks, saw desperate blocks thwart him, the second of which from such close range it almost defied belief that Edwards had kept it out.

It could only be a matter of time before Corinthian converted one of their changes and this came on 20 minutes from the penalty spot after Sam Gerard brought down Benning, who took and scored the penalty.

It didn’t seem possible that Corinthian’s confidence could grow further but it did and the only criticism that could be levelled at them would be their failure to take any of many chances, much down to Edwards brilliance but also wastefulness.

Chances were few and far between for Tonbridge but McLeod brought a good save from Ethan Rook, in the Corinthian goal and the goalkeeper saved well soon after from Ben Martin-Coward.

Edwards clawed a shot out of the top corner from Ritchie Atkins as the Angels retreated to the dressing room to receive the hairdryer treatment from their manager.

They emerged for the second half with a sense of purpose and, although Edwards wasn’t exactly unemployed, saving well from Michael Ihiedi after 55 minutes, he was not asked to repeat his first half heroics.

First big chance of the second period fell to McLeod after being sent clear by Cameron Honarvar but this was saved by Rook and the introduction of Sam Firman on the hour further added to the Angels impetus.

Tonbridge had the ball in the net after 69 minutes but this was somewhat controversially disallowed with the referee deciding that the goalkeeper had the ball kicked from his hands after initially spilling it before Honarvar put the ball in the net.

They were not to be denied after 71 minutes though when a well worked move down the left involving Firman and Honarvar saw the ball fed to McLeod who finished well from around 12 yards angling his shot into the far bottom corner.

The home side had the momentum going into the last 20 minutes and the goalkeeper was asked to make decent saves from Honarvar (twice) and McLeod whilst a final minute effort from substitute Logan Wallace cleared the bar.

A draw was a fair result and Dom Welsh commented: “It was an indifferent performance, huge tale of two halves. We were given the runaround with lack of energy in the first half but an electric second half sees us maintain our unbeaten home record. A point apiece was the right result on the night.”

Of his goalkeeper, he commented: “Toby had a very good game tonight, he’s come on lots and been good all season.”

Hythe Town 0 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 52/23/2175 - Saturday, 18th November 2023 - FA Trophy 3rd Round

Hythe Town (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Hythe Town won on penalties 3-1
Attendance: 387
Admission: £7 Senior
Mileage: 72/3,746
Weather: 15degC, dry after a lot of rain

Tonbridge Angels bowed out of the FA Trophy at Isthmian South East side Hythe Town and with it ended all interest in cup competitions for another season.

Three cup competitions, all exited at the first point of entry and each one at the hands of a lower division club. Sadly, Jay Saunders, who enjoyed good cup fortune with previous clubs, has suffered six defeats in his tenure, everyone against lower league opposition with the only success coming in the Kent Senior Cup against a second string Gillingham team on penalties.

Not unexpectedly, this penalties defeat after a goalless 90 minutes brought its fair share of criticism most of which was justified but some of which being, in my humble opinion, a bit extreme.

I’m not seeking to make excuses for Saunders or the club but the pitch was a great leveller. True, the argument will always be that both sides play on the same pitch but it is easier for the side that strings six across the back than the opposition attempting to play through them.

But that is where the excuses have to stop. Tonbridge were woeful in the final third and Hythe’s steadfast defence limited them to very few chances.

The day had begun with an expectation of a postponement, but a morning pitch inspection gave the go ahead.

First half chances fell firstly to Hythe’s Johan Caney-Brian who saw his effort come back from the underside of the bar after 27 minutes whilst Francis Mampolo also struck the bar for the Angels, three minutes before the break. In between was a lot of huff and puff with no end result.

As the pitch got heavier in the second half, the prospect of the game going all the way to penalties became clearer by the minute. Jordan Greenidge had the ball in the net after 67 minutes but this was disallowed for pushing without any argument.

Right at the death, Sam Flisher wasted the best chance of the half for Hythe before the dreaded shoot-out ensued. Both sides, almost appropriately, missed their opening spot kicks before Caney-Brian and Greenidge converted. That was the end of the Angels success from the spot and it was left to a former Angels legend, Frannie Collin, to wrap up the tie.

A favourite question: Dodgy pitch, lower division opposition, what possibly could go wrong. Unfortunately about 100 Tonbridge supporters knew the answer.