Tuesday, 1 May 2018

Greenwich Borough 0 Corinthian Casuals 3

Match 128/17/1578 - Tuesday, 1st May 2018 - Bostik South Play-off

Greenwich Borough (0) 0
Corinthian Casuals (2) 3 Uzun 23 Udonaike 36,52
Attendance: 375

Admission: £5 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 70/8,375

The Corinthian Casuals' support taunted their Greenwich Borough counterparts "it's happened again, Greenwich Borough, it's happened again". After last season's classic play-off match in which Casuals overcame a number of hurdles to win 4-3, this victory was much more straightforward. A little bit of laziness but a hectic couple of days, causes me to cheat a little with a cut and paste from timmy tabby's post on Tony Kempster.

Fifty three weeks to the day, I saw Greenwich Borough 3 v 4 Corinthian Casual for one of the highlights of the 16-17 season. With the teams meeting each other at exactly the same stage of the Play Off competition. Could history repeat itself and give us a memorable occasion. Regrettably, the answer was a great fat NO!!...

Greenwich Borough 0 v 3 Corinthian Casuals -Isthmian Division 1 South Play Off Semi Final
Prog 40 pages (basically a photo album) £2.00 - Admission £10.00 - Att 375

...Though there was a reoccurring theme as the visitors won to set up a Clash of the Casuals on Saturday with their leisurely named counterparts from Walton on Thames.

Whereas the equivalent contest captivated throughout, for the majority of this it was standard Isthmian League fayre coupled with the obligatory 19.52 kick off with the teams emerging at 19.46 (after the officials had been standing at the approach of the tunnel for fully two minutes), then we had the necessary huddle and just when we looked as if we may get going, the two teams changed ends. The swooping Parakeets flying over the ground along with Reed of Sidcup voiced their obvious disapproval,

The only occasion when the hosts had the better of play was in the opening minutes as Dembele on two occasions located space on the right, with the second opportunity provided by an unselfish pass from Paul leading to a perfectly connected half volley which Williams in the Corinthian Casuals goal did extremely well to fly to his right and push away.

The pattern of play was dictated though by the visitors opener from one of those penalties when you seriously have to question the judgement of players. Decent long ball over the top from Maan set up Odunaike with a clear run on goal, McEntagart in the Greenwich goal did well to block but the ball was reclaimed momentarily by Odunaike turning away from goal. With no conceivable danger though and right on the edge of the area, Odunaike had his legs taken from under him and the man in black pointed instantaneously to the spot. Perfectly taken penalty by Ozun straight down the middle as McEntagart dived to his right.

After taking the lead, it was remarkably easy for the visitors to preserve as there was little in the way of a discernible response from Greenwich. The second goal ended the match as a contest as the home defence was once again caught out by a long ball from Maan over the top allowing Odunaike the simple task of placing a shot wide of the onrushing but hopelessly underprotected Greenwich keeper.

Their berth in the Play Off final was secured early in the second half with another goal that could easily have been avoided as a woefully short back pass from McLean was a wrapped up and delivered gift for Odunaike who once again placed his effort wide of McEntagart with ease,

The final forty minutes were an exercise for the visitors in playing down the minutes, Greenwich had plenty of possession but completely failed to utilise and all they created was a litany of halfish chances which were of little consequence. The sense of Greenwich frustration was borne out in the final minutes with an assault of a challenge from Aikhionbare which not surprisingly earned him an early trip to the dressing room. I am sure that the visitors will have a much more testing time in their final than what they encountered here.

Reasonable turn out of 395 but at least half had traversed the South Circular and what puzzles with the visitors was the large number of geezerish Sarf Lahndon accents accompanying the flags and banners. Great support but for a club rooted in the ethos of Public Schools and (sh)amateurism. Answers on a postcard.

Sunday, 29 April 2018

Tonbridge Angels Ladies 2 Thamesview Ladies 1

Match 127/17/1577 - Sunday, 29th April 2018 - Kent League Division 1

Tonbridge Angels Ladies (2) 2 Underhill 41 Gibb 43
Thamesview Ladies (0) 1
Headcount: 45

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/8,305

It was disappointing that a well-contested match between the Division’s top two sides ended with a situation in which two Thamesview players traded punches with a group on the sidelines who had made disparaging remarks in their direction. As the fight escalated other players from both sides became involved as the incident became very ugly. The two teams meet again in a Cup Final on 17th May, hopefully without the recriminations that dampened the celebrations for Tonbridge Angels Ladies who had inflicted the first defeat of the season on the champions.

Tonbridge went into the game missing a couple of players including their top scorer, and player of the year following the previous evening’s presentation night, Becky Janes.

The Angels started the game creating the opening opportunity after just 29 seconds when Megan Akehurst and Maisie Gibb set-up a chance for Becky Jarvis who drove her shot into the side netting.

Thamesview settled into their rhythm and they created a couple of openings that were fired wide before a long ball over the top was chased down by Gibb but her shot was wide of the post.

Tonbridge goalkeeper, Sam Wright, saved from the pacy visiting centre forward and dealt comfortably with a close range header from a corner.

Thamesview had a free kick that narrowly went the wrong side of the far post before Tonbridge took the lead after 41 minutes when a clearance from the goalkeeper hit Jarvis in the face with the ball falling for Akehurst to lay-off to Lauryn Underhill to fire home.

One quickly became two when Akehurst won the ball in midfield before releasing Jarvis to lob the goalkeeper. Remarks from the sideline following this goal sadly planted the seed for the later events.

Thamesview quickly reduced arrears in the second half when their centre forward stabbed the ball home to set up a second half onslaught that took resilience of the highest order to withstand with Sharon Lyons absolutely outstanding.

In truth, the second half was one-way traffic as the champions created and missed chance after chance, at times due to brave defending and others through sheer wastefulness.

The final whistle brought relief and should have brought great satisfaction to the home side but the disgraceful scenes at the end were not befitting of a pub side let alone ladies that had actually given the right-minded spectators a compelling encounter.

Award photographs: From the top: Becky Janes, Becky Jarvis and Sharon Lyons. Pictures by David Couldridge.


Tonbridge Angels 0 Leatherhead 2

Match 126/17/1576 - Saturday, 28th April 2018 - Bostik Premier

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Leatherhead (1) 2 Derry 41 Gallagher 62
Attendance: 518

Admission: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/8,267

Sadly this game reflected the season since the turn of the year as one that has had a few highs, far too many lows and ultimately has just fizzled out like a damp firework on 5th November.

Every season, at every club, whether successful or otherwise sees players departing at its end. Nathan Elder has been a wonderful servant to the club over the past three and a bit seasons, scoring 65 goals but his presence offering so much more. It would have been great if a role at the club could have been found but such is the financing at Tonbridge, or most non-league clubs, it was not to be. His substitution with a couple of minutes remaining brought the expected acclaim from the supporters and respect on the pitch from friend and foe alike.

The heartwarming side of the club saw Rob Chick enjoying his day as the Gaffa, a prize Kindly donated by the winner of the competition, David Brown.


There was nothing riding on the game as a midweek defeat for the visitors Leatherhead meant that, all bar mathematical miracles, they could not reach the play-off places. Because of this, manager Sammy Moore gave some of his youngsters a run out, but their football at times still suggested why they had come close to the top five.

A third minute effort from Alexander Akrofi brought a comfortable save out of Manny Agboola, a 19-year-old loanee from Oxford United, who proceeded to have a fine game for the Tanners.

Leatherhead throughout passed the ball with a style that was pleasing on the eye and, after 13 minutes, produced a fine move that ended with Nathan Wood firing narrowly wide.

It began a spell in which Leatherhead were dominant before Tonbridge hit back on the half-hour when Joe Turner and Elder brought saves out of Agboola and the goal that everybody wanted for Elder was ruled out for a push as the striker’s header found the net.

Leatherhead bounced straight back on the offensive when a strike from Sean D’Theobalds crashed against an upright.

The visitors went into a deserved lead four minutes before the break when the impressive Wood set-up Tom Derry for a close range finish.

Agboola preserved that half-time lead when he pushed away a good strike from Sam Bantick.

The second half was four minutes old when a through ball saw Derry through on goal and brought down by Tonbridge goalkeeper, Jonny Henly. However, his spot kick was saved.

Just before the hour Agboola was once more the hero brilliantly saving from Liam Smith before a splendid move involving Calum Davies and Reece Williams-Bowers ended with Dan Gallagher firing past Henly to double the Tanners’ advantage.

Elder had one final chance when a good move between Turner and Bantick opened up an opportunity, but a great block from Jerry Nnamani denied the Big Man.

No one can deny that the season, least of all the management team, has been a disappointment and it is pretty certain that there will be other departures in the close season whether that is the choice of Steve McKimm or the players themselves.

The presentation evening saw Turner pick up the three main gongs with Sonny Miles and Jonny Henly honourable runners-up.

Summer is here, even if the coldest last game of the season I can remember in a long time, made it feel otherwise.

Awards photographs from top: Joe Turner, Sonny Miles, Jonny Henly and Alexander Akrofi. Pictures by David Couldridge.


Thursday, 26 April 2018

Tonbridge Angels U21 2 Corinthian Reserves 2

Match 125/17/1575 - Wednesday, 25th April 2018 - Suburban League Premier

Tonbridge Angels U21 (1) 2 Toussaint 43,76
Corinthian Reserves (1) 2 Wood 7 Smith 80
Headcount: 25

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/8,229

Tonbridge Angels' Under-21 side concluded their home Suburban League programme earning a hard-fought point against a strong Corinthian team. Chris Wye needed to reshuffle his plans on hearing that his centre half was stuck on a train and was not going to make the game. He called 16-year-old Harry Hudson, one of next season’s Academy members, into the team alongside Dominic Welsh to form one of the most diminutive central defensive partnerships you are ever likely to see. But, in the face of a formidably sized attack, they both acquitted themselves admirably, with the skipper Welsh particularly outstanding in marshalling the back line.

Tonbridge created the first chance of the game after five minutes when the visiting goalkeeper, Billy Johnson, was forced to palm to safety a free kick from Steven Panayi.

However, it was Corinthian that took the lead when a long ball through the middle saw some hesitation between debutant goalkeeper, Tom Day and a defender that allowed Lewis Wood to challenge the goalkeeper and ultimately touch the ball into an empty net. The home side were aggrieved that the ball was actually in Day’s hands but the referee was poorly placed to make the decision.

Corinthian might have gone two in front a couple of minutes later when Jacob Wright was caught in possession and a pass to Lorenzo Couzzo saw his shot come back off a post.

After a shaky start, the Angels grew into the game and Charlie Dumas saw a shot deflected wide for a corner and Sam Jones needed a touch too many when in a good shooting position.

Tonbridge were nearly undone a second time by a straight ball through the middle that sent Wood clear but the striker shot wastefully wide. Wood was further denied in the 36th minute when Day turned his effort over the bar.

Tonbridge equalised just prior to the break when the ball reached Dominic Toussaint at the left hand angle of the box from where he confidently struck the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

The first big chance of the second period fell to Corinthian when a back pass fell short but the Corinthian player only managed to send the ball into the side netting.

Tonbridge had grown into the game and they had the momentum as Toussaint forced Johnson into a save with the follow-up bravely kept out. At the other end, minutes later, Day was forced into a replica scenario.

Cuozzo placed a shot against the top of the crossbar after 74 minutes but, two minutes later, it was the Angels that took the lead. Cutting in from the right, substitute David Gharbi’s shot came back off the near post but Toussaint was alert to the rebound to tuck home.

Corinthian were forced to throw caution to the wind and after a succession of corners, their height advantage finally told as the comparatively mountainous Jack Smith rose to head home.

Following the game, Chris Wye paid tribute to his team that have grown into the season following a challenging start commending his players on their character, commitment and attitude. He believes that there are now solid foundations in place for a much stronger season next term and with four 16-year-olds already in the squad the future is looking bright.

Wednesday, 25 April 2018

Bearsted 1 Crowborough Athletic 0

Match 124/17/1574 - Tuesday, 24th April 2018 - SCEFL Premier

Bearsted (1) 1 Ryan Croucher 45+1
Crowborough Athletic (0) 0
Attendance: 52

Admission: £4 Senior
Programme: Inclusive
Mileage: 15/8,191

Any lingering hopes of promotion harboured by Crowborough supporters were extinguished at Bearsted as the home side found a goal with a great strike and then defended resolutely through the second half.

As the fixture backlog has taken its toll there are many clubs virtually running on empty with the Crows among them.

With only a win of any use to the visitors they naturally started on the front foot and had a good opportunity after seven minutes when Henry Muggeridge jinking run ended with him firing over when a pass inside might have been a better option. Tom Phipp put a header from a corner over the top and Sam Cole shot over as Crowborough continued to take the game to their hosts.

On the half-hour the referee started preparing himself for a long night on his report with the booking of Bearsted’s Cameron Croucher, quickly followed by that of Reece Collins and Crowborough’s Phipp.

Bearsted went ahead in the first minute of time added when a cross from the right found Ryan Croucher who drove the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

The first action of the second half saw Crowborough’s goalkeeper, Ryan Burbridge, acrobatically claw away Tom Boddy’s misdirected header that was goal bound.

After 55 minutes Muggeridge’s corner directly struck the near post and a great saving tackle from Edas Vannonis denied Adrian Stone.

Crowborough’s frustration with their own efforts and the referee led to a foul by Cole that sparked a 20-man melee from which Cameron Croucher and Crows’ Jack Walder saw red.

Bearsted had the ball in the net going into the final 10 minutes after Reece Collins' shot had been saved by Burbridge’s feet with the follow-up deemed offside.

Another melee ensued after Zak Attwood had kicked out but he amazingly avoided a caution after the referee had gone into overdrive booking three in quick succession.

The door is now absolutely wide open for Whitstable Town to join Sevenoaks in Bostik South next season needing just one more win from their last three games including a visit to already relegated Rochester on Wednesday.

Tuesday, 24 April 2018

Rusthall 2 Lordwood 2

Match 123/17/1573 - Monday, 23rd April 2018 - SCEFL Premier

Rusthall (0) 2 Mitchell 65 Powell 66
Lordswood (2) 2 Wells 17 Huggins 24
Attendance: 85

Admission: £4 Senior
Programme: £1.50
Mileage: 38/8,176

Despite a stirring fight back it seems Rusthall’s destiny is in the hands of the Football Association’s reshuffling. Over the last month I’ve asked the same question 50 times of different people, some of whom could be considered in the know, how many are going down? But nobody either knows or are not prepared to disclose the answer.

A couple of weeks ago at Jockey Farm the mood seemed downcast as opinion was that two would be relegated with Rusthall occupying 19th place. Tonight, optimism was higher, on what grounds I do not know, that only Rochester United would lose their place in the SCEFL Premier.

The going at Jockey Farm has gone from soft to hard in a matter of a fortnight following the recent spell of dry, hot weather with the player’s studs sounding like that of galloping horses.

Lordswood, ensconced in the higher end of mid-table, have had a hectic period of catch-up with this their fifth game in 10 days but they raced out of the traps like a team desperate for the points.

Rusthall made the early chances with Ryan Waterman having a shot deflected wide and Stephan Harper, somewhat disappointingly, driving a shot into the side netting. But it was Lordswood that opened the scoring after 19 minutes when Adam Hooper’s pass opened up the Rustics defence for Jordan Wells to fire across the goalkeeper from around 12 yards.

The visitors doubled their advantage on 25 minutes with a well worked free kick that saw Hooper finding Wells, who held the ball up before laying it back to James Huggins who shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Rusthall responded well with Matt Hathway firing at the goalkeeper and also heading wide before Paul Butler saw his header touched over by Ryan Chandler. Their closest first half effort saw the lively Yannick Tchoendjin narrowly shooting over.

Whether it was Lordswood’s schedule catching up with them, Rusthall themselves have had four games in 10 days, but the home side dominated the second period and were well deserving of their comeback around the hour mark.

Harper went close after 61 minutes and, four minutes later, a fine run and cross from Tchoendjin found Dan Mitchell whose close range shot could only be helped into the goal by Chandler.

Within a minute Rusthall were level when the ball fell to Danny Powell after a shot from Waterman had been blocked. Just three minutes later the home side’s recovery could have been complete when a wickedly dipping shot from Tchoendijn was narrowly over.

Rusthall have two games remaining, away to AFC Croydon and at home to Croydon whilst Hollands & Blair, three points to the good over Rusthall, have a single away game at Beckenham to play. Whoever, finishes in that second last place has an agonising wait for the Football Association’s wheels to slowly turn.

Wednesday, 18 April 2018

Tunbridge Wells 2 Hollands & Blair 1

Match 122/17/1572 - Wednesday, 18th April 2018 - SCEFL Premier

Tunbridge Wells (1) 2 Skinner 35 Spackman 85
Hollands & Blair (0) 1 Capel 90+3
Attendance: 117

Admission: £4 Senior
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 38/8,138

Tunbridge Wells are the only one of my clubs that can salvage something from this season and largely, given a backlog of fixtures, their build-up to the SCEFL Challenge Cup Final is going well. Jason Bourne is necessarily rotating his squad without results suffering, winning three and losing just the once in the six games since their semi-final success.

Whilst this result against a still relegation threatened Hollands & Blair might not have been as eye-catching as Monday’s win at Lordswood, it brought positives with the return of Perry Spackman who alongside Jake Hampson negated the threat of James McDonald and a performance up top from Ian Parsons that at least gives Bourne another option. Spackman, I feel, will be important in the Final as somebody that will not be bullied by Shaun Welford whose physical presence in turn opens up opportunities for Ricky Freeman.

The game started slowly with neither side registering an opening until Ryan Nicholls saved at the feet of Jon Pilbeam after 18 minutes with Justin Ascheri firing just wide of the right hand post on the half hour for the visitors.

Tunbridge Wells had a good spell leading to their opening goal after 35 minutes. A free kick lifted into the box was headed on with the ball eventually falling at the far post for Greg Skinner to touch home.

Cameron Hall was brought into action in the time-added before the break with a fine parrying save to deny Ascheri with his defenders clearing away the rebound.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Harrison Pont and Ascheri stretched Hall whilst Nicholls saved well from Parsons.

The Wells had a strong appeal for a penalty turned away when substitute Josh Biddlecombe was floored by what appeared to be a blatant push in the back and on 70 minutes Hall excelled with a great save.

Pont hit the bar for the visitors before Spackman sealed the points for the Wells heading in at the far post from a Biddlecombe corner.

Time-added became a little nervous when Eliot Capel was afforded space at the far post to leather a shot into the roof of the net but the final, somewhat excessive three minutes, were successfully negotiated.