Bromley Reds Academy 0 Tonbridge Angels Academy 0

Match 59/18/1652 - Wednesday, 14th November 2018 - National Academy

Bromley Reds (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Headcount: 40

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 84/3,858

After a heavy 6-1 defeat against the same opposition at King’s Hill in a League Cup tie just a week ago, the Angels’ Academy will take great encouragement from this goalless draw despite having to mount a rearguard action for much of the match.

Afforded the compliment of playing in the main stadium at Hayes Lane in front of a larger than usual throng, albeit mainly made up of players and staff of the following match that involved Crystal Palace, the Angels were forced through injury to field a side shorn of several regulars.

The first half was totally dominated by Bromley and it took until the last minute of the half for Ned Snowden-Lewis to test the goalkeeper, Emmanuel Nwosui.

Bromley’s Klaudio Kraswiri and Harry Smith fired in early efforts that failed to occupy the Angels’ stopper, Tommy Taylor, who subsequently saved well at the feet of Rodney Adamen-Fruitor. After 24 minutes, the latter crashed a free kick against the bar with Taylor a spectator.

Spencer Cripps fired narrowly wide as Tonbridge rode their luck and how the ball finally came to be cleared following a 32nd minute Bromley corner, one can only applaud the steadfast nature of the Angels’ defence.

As if the Academy’s injury woes had not been enough coming into the game Jacob Lambert needed to be replaced at half-time whilst Gideon Donker lasted barely a minute of the second period. Rhys Bartlett and Tom Hylton took their places.

Whilst the traffic remained principally one-way, the visitors at least fashioned a few second half chances, the first of which coming four minutes into the half when a free kick delivered by Sam Slipper was headed over by Harry Hudson.

Taylor kept the game goalless after 55 minutes when he made an excellent stop to deny Festos Kanara who had been sent clear by Kraswiri.

The Bromley left back, Mario Carby, given a licence to press on was guilty of wasting successive chances and a free kick initially fired at the wall saw the rebound struck by Kraswiri go agonisingly wide.

With just four minutes remaining a free kick was met with a powerful header from Alex Beffo that should have found the target. Perhaps the Angels sensed that this really was going to be their day with Elliott Capel forcing the goalkeeper into a save and with the final act of the afternoon, Lewis steered a header wide as Tonbridge sought the ultimate smash and grab. Not to be, but the Academy lads can be justifiably delighted to have turned around such a heavy defeat of a week ago.

Haringey Borough 4 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 58/18/1651 - Monday, 13th November 2018 - Bostik Premier

Haringey Borough (1) 4 Richards 22 Rowe 59,84 Aresti 90+2
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 260
New Ground: 331

Admission: £6 Senior
Programme: £1
Mileage: 124/3,774

In a month or so we might just look back on this first ever trip to Coles Park as “one of those games”. The scoreline gives no reflection of the game, but however you dress it up, 4-0 (the worst league defeat for two years) is a pasting in anyone’s language.

A statistician among the Angels’ following cited that Tonbridge had 28 attempts on goal and no less than 10 corners, all of which amounted to nothing as the hosts, Haringey Borough netted from four of their five shots on target.

The Dartford Tunnel, and possibly even worse, the North Circular didn’t make for an appealing prospect on a Monday evening but, if anything went well on the night, travel to White Hart Lane was trouble free.

Haringey Borough came into the game off a magnificent FA Cup run that took them to a televised First Round tie against AFC Wimbledon and although they lost to a heartbreaking 90th minute goal from ex-Angel Mitchell Pinnock, they had the compensation of £120,000-plus to ease the pain. One would hope that a fair proportion of this windfall will be spent on the infrastructure because Coles Park certainly needs some upgrading.

The main stand is a lovely old-fashioned structure but as far as cover and seating goes that is it, unless you count an area of standing, laid back from the pitch perimeter that would not offer much of a view with people on the fence in front, as there would have been when 2,700 packed the ground for the FA Cup tie.

Tonbridge are in the midst of a grand tour of the Isthmian’s 3G surfaces and, so far, it is not going well. Manager Steve McKimm preferred Tommy Whitnell to Craig Stone and, with Liam King’s ankle feeling the strain of Saturday’s plastic surface, Alex Read was recalled. James Folkes, also carrying an injury, made way for Liam Smith.

Tonbridge dominated possession from the outset and a flap at a cross by goalkeeper, Valery Pajetat was far from a sign of things to come.

The goalkeeper made a good save, low to his left, from Joe Turner after 19 minutes and, a minute later, the same man crashed a shot against the bar.

Thoughts of, it has to come, were quickly dispelled as Haringey took the lead after 22 minutes. A headed clearance found Rakim Richards on the edge of the box and his shot took a deflection to carry it past Jonny Henly.

The momentum of the game did not change as Tonbridge pressed forward from the restart. Jared Small had an effort that Pajetat gathered at the second attempt and a fine low stop to deny Tom Beere.

After 32 minutes, an inviting cross to the far post brought a head-in-hands moment for Read as he managed to turn the cross wide from a matter of a yard. On the stroke of half-time, a recycled corner from Turner was met with a strong, goal bound header from Sonny Miles that was acrobatically turned over bye Pajetat. On these two moments, I’m convinced the game hinged. Had one been converted and the teams went into the break on level terms, I’ve no doubt in my mind that the scoreline would have read a lot different.

The adulation that the Cameroonian goalkeeper took from supporters and fellow players suggests that their thoughts were not a lot different to mine.

And so the story went on, same old same old. Small shot narrowly wide, Pajetat saved well from Tom Parkinson before, apart from picking the ball out of his net, Henly made his first serious save of the game at his near post to turn away for a corner an effort from Michael Ademiluyi. But, from the resultant corner driven to the far post, Coby Rowe converted with a downward header to double the hosts advantage.

In an instant, the dynamics of the game changed and as Tonbridge gambled, gaps appeared that Haringey were able to exploit but the chances continued to fall the visitor's way with Turner heading over and substitute Adem Ramadan seeing his effort cleared from the line by David Olufemi.

The game was settled after 84 minutes when Joel Nouble laid the ball back from the edge of the box into the path of Rowe who let go an absolute exocet of a shot from 30 yards that no goalkeeper in the world was keeping out.

As the game ticked into five minutes of time-added, which at least brought some gallows humour following Saturday’s time piece debacle, insult was added to injury as a near post cross was converted by substitute Georgios Aresti.

No UEFA coaching badge is needed to know that goals win games and, if from the volume of chances had, no goals are scored, games are not going to be won.

Dorking Wanderers 1 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 57/18/1650 - Saturday, 10th November 2018 - FA Trophy 2QR

Dorking Wanderers (1) 1 Prior 37
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 330
New Ground: 330

Admission: £7 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 120/3,650

Not all games are won on a moment of brilliance, in fact they rarely are. More often than not, a goal an be traced back to an error from which the maximum capital has been gained and, in tight games, it is the difference between victory and defeat.

Such was the case at Meadowbank where an uncharacteristic mistake by Arthur Lee ultimately allowed Dorking Wanderers passage into the FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round and in turn banking the £4,000 prize money.

Meadowbank is the new home to Dorking Wanderers. It is a fairly smart facility that is also home to the Surrey FA and within the grounds of a Family Park that houses a Playground, Soft Play and a Cafe.

The first impression you get is not a normal one, rarely are you charged £3 to park your car at a non-league ground. This came as a particular shock for the players who are similarly charged, in fact they would have paid even more given they were in the car park for a longer period.

Inside the stadium, the main stand is functional rather than attractive and the covered standing areas are oddly positioned in corners rather than central positions. As it was a day of heavy showers it was a case of pick your position and stay where you are and as with all new builds these days, the game is played out on a 3G pitch that appeared overladen with the rubber pellet base.

Tonbridge started slowly and pretty much stayed on the back foot for the opening half. Goalkeeper Jonny Henly made his first save to deny Jerry O’Sullivan after seven minutes and made further saves at the feet of the prolific Jason Prior after 23 minutes and from the head of Lewis Taylor following a 25th minute corner. In between, Tom Beere brought a save out of Slavomir Huk and Joe Turner flashed a cross across the face of goal with no one to apply a finish.

After 37 minutes a throw-in from James Folkes back into his own six-yard box inexplicably escaped from under the feet of Lee, to a waiting Prior, who must have been as surprised as anyone in the ground, but had the composure to fire home past Henly.

Tonbridge were more of an attacking force from the outset of the second half forcing several corners that saw headers from Lee and Liam Smith miss the target. But it was not one-way traffic as Henly saved once more from O’Sullivan.

On the hour, Tommy Whitnall was introduced for Callum Taylor and 10 minutes later, Craig Stone made way for Alex Read as Tonbridge needed to press forward in search of a goal that would take the tie back to Longmead.

Whilst Henly had kept his side in the game, it was now the turn of Huk to preserve Dorking’s place in Monday’s draw, saving from Read and Turner before brilliantly turning over an effort from Adem Ramadan in added time.

The referee blew his whistle on a modest three minutes of time added early as if he knew of the monsoon conditions that were about to engulf the ground and with it Tonbridge’s hopes of a cup cash windfall disappeared down the drain with the torrent of water from the skies.

Kingstonian 1 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 56/18/1649 - Wednesday, 7th November 2018 - Bostik Premier

Kingstonian (1) 1 Theophanous 32
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 King 86
Attendance: 290
Played at Corinthian Casuals

Admission: £6 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 112/3,530

Tonbridge retained their recent tendancy for a slow start that eventually turns into barnstorming finish that on this occasion rescued a point from the visit to Kingstonian’s present tenancy at Corinthian Casuals.

Kingstonian came into the game with a record of five straight home victories whilst their visitors maintained a 100% record from their five away matches. There was also the intriguing contest of Kingstonian’s free-scoring strike force of Elliott Buchanan and Louie Theophanous coming up against a defence that had not conceded a single goal on their travels.

Buchanan shot wide in the opening minutes, but neither side created any real chances in the first half-hour although it was Kingstonian that had the momentum.

After 32 minutes, the ball was carelessly given away in a misunderstanding between Joe Turner and Angels’ debutant Sammy Knott which allowed Theophanous to cut in from the right and fire in a powerful shot that beat Jonny Henly at his near post to give Kingstonian a deserved lead.

Tonbridge’s only chance of the first period came with four minutes remaining when Jared Small’s cross was headed over by Tommy Parkinson.

Five minutes into the second half a long range effort from Kingstonian substitute Muhammadu Faal rebounded off Henly into the path of Theophanous who netted but was adjudged offside.

Tonbridge’s management team, minus Steve McKimm who was absent sick, withdrew Alex Read, who had an unproductive evening, in favour of Liam King on the hour, but it continued to be Kingstonian that created the chances with Henly twice saving to deny Alfie Doughty.

Another positive substitution saw central defender Callum Adonis-Taylor replaced by Tommy Whitnall and, from virtually nowhere, Tonbridge forced themselves onto the front foot. Turner, who had been unusually quiet, was running defenders ragged down the left. He fired over after 72 minutes; Whitnall fired wide and Craig Stone saw his effort deflected wide for a corner.

Knott, who was feeling the effects of a full 90 minutes and had been pushed forward missed narrowly and when Arthur Lee headed a corner that was deflected away, we were left to wonder whether it would come. But, with five minutes remaining, a cross from James Folkes saw King get between two defenders and the goalkeeper to steer a header home.

In fact, had it not been for a fine save from Berti Schotteri, Turner might well have sent the Angels home with an improbable three points.

Wrotham School 5 Hugh Christie School 0

Match 55/18/1648 - Wednesday, 7th November 2018 - Academies League – Kent Schools FA

Wrotham School (4) 5
Hugh Christie (0) 0
Attendance: Me!

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 36/3,418

I am sure a few readers of this blog will be thinking to themselves, schools’ football? This is really scrapping the barrel, but let me explain.

Although the matches are played under the titles of the participating schools, they are actually representing the Academies of senior clubs or private football academies. So this game was Pro Soccer Academy, who numbered ex-Angels goalkeepers Lee Worgan and Scott Chalmers-Stevens among their coaching team versus Tonbridge Angels Academy’s Development team.

I have recently been enlisted to drive the minibus to some of the games and, on this occasion, took the squad to Wrotham School. The lads were in high spirits, singing along to their tunes after been told by their gaffer, Dom Welsh, that on this occasion he wanted no depressing music as they had lost to the selections last time, personally I was quite happy when Adele was on! In fairness to the lads, they were in the same high spirits on the way back despite losing on this occasion as well.

Both of the Academy sides are experiencing a period in which they are being stretched to the limit with injuries to key personnel, for this game, Hugh Christie being forced to play without a recognised goalkeeper with the diminutive Adam Barden, an outfield player, taking the gloves.

This was one of those days where the elements ask an awful lot of you. The 3G pitch inside the dreaded cage had no available cover and the need to retreat to shelter under a tree outside of the cage was done on about half-a-dozen occasions as the rain swept down.

An early through ball saw the Wrotham goalkeeper advancing to the edge of his box to challenge Bernard who took a knock and needed to be substituted with just five minutes on the clock, such is your luck when the injury jinx is upon you.

No names are available for the Wrotham team, except for Liam McCreadie, who was with the successful Tonbridge Under-18s a couple of years ago.

After 10 minutes, Wrotham’s substantially built centre forward curled a shot in, off the far post, to open the scoring for the hosts.

The traffic was pretty much one-way and the Tonbridge lads, and Barden in particular, did well to hold out until the 27th minute when the centre forward curled a second goal into the net from the edge of the box.

McCreadie, who impressed, scored with a well placed free kick after 34 minutes and when he scored again just prior to the break, the floodgates threatened to open along with the skies.

But, great credit to the Hugh Christie lads, who dug in during a second half period in which they created a couple of chances of their own. Brad Needham forced the goalkeeper into a good save, low to his left, whilst Jem Loxton, the bus DJ, saw an effort deflected away for a corner.

Unfortunately, they were to concede a fifth as the Wrotham centre forward completed his hat trick. A deserved consolation was denied as a final minute header came back off the bar for Hugh Christie.

Hopefully, and I’m sure there will be, better days for the bus driver who at least had the satisfaction of safely reversing the vehicle back into its position at Tonbridge Baptist Church!

Gillingham 0 Blackpool 1

Match 54/18/1647 - Tuesday, 6th November 2018 - League One

Gillingham (0) 0
Blackpool (0) 1 Delfouneso 50
Attendance: 4,055

Admission: £19.75
Programme: £3
Mileage: 44/3,382

Match Report

It became very apparent to me, sitting in the Rainham End on a pretty dismal evening, that I’ve now put a lot of distance between myself and Gillingham Football Club.

I made a fundamental mistake in deciding to sit in the Rainham End where I would meet up with a few old friends. Non League football is not sanitised, and immune from the industrial language of the man on the terrace, indeed in such close proximity to the action you are aware of how much bad language is dispensed on the pitch. But such was the verbal abuse coming from behind me, every two minutes, with each tirade at the referee, the opposition, even the Gillingham players ending with the dropping of the C-bomb it became such a distraction that the game became almost a sideshow. If I return to Priestfield this season, a return to the relative sanctuary of the Gordon Road Stand is a must.

Gillingham came into this game, rearranged after the pitch was relaid, on the back of two home wins scoring seven goals in the process. Steve Lovell has emerged as a manager that, when it appears his job is on the line, he can find a result.

Overall, Gillingham probably didn’t deserve to lose this game but when you think back to the amount of saves that the Blackpool goalkeeper, Christoffer Mafoumbi had to make during the game it becomes less of an argument.

Connor Ogilvie crashed a shot against the bar from outside of the box after 12 minutes with the follow-up from Darren Oldaker going close but it wasn’t until six minutes before the break that Mafoumbi got his hands on the ball again fielding a effort from Mark Byrne.

That is not say that Blackpool were any more productive, not registering a single shot in the first period.

The first shot on goal for Blackpool proved to be the winner. Chris Taylor fastened on to a poor Max Ehmer clearance and his left wing cross found an unmarked Nathan Delfouneso who headed home at the far post.

Blackpool, much the the annoyance of the home support, embarked on 40 minutes of clocking winding but the Gills were unable to fashion anything resembling a golden chance until the last five minutes when Barry Fuller tested Mafoumbi.

This, at least, sparked a furious assault on the visitor’s goal for the time remaining, the best chance of which falling to substitute Elliott List.

Tonbridge Angels 2 Whitehawk 0

Match 53/18/1646 - Saturday, 3rd November 2018 - Bostik Premier League

Tonbridge Angels (0) 2 Drage (o.g.) 78 Turner 90
Whitehawk (0) 0
Attendance: 508

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/3,338

Patience is a virtue …

And patience was needed in abundance, on and off the pitch as Whitehawk, victims of some recent heavy defeats, decamped on the edge of their penalty area in search of some reward from their trip to Tonbridge.

Whitehawk’s manager, Jude Macdonald reshuffled his squad during the week bringing in no less than five new faces including that of Nathaniel Pinney, previous of the Angels. Four of the newcomers were to feature in the starting eleven.

Among the home support there was a high expectancy that, following successive home defeats, a return to winning ways at Longmead was a formality and we know how often that can come back to bite you.

On the front foot from the outset, there was nothing to suggest that those opinions would be misguided. With the visitors sitting so deep, Tonbridge could play in front of them as much as they desired and wing back Jack Parter was involved in the first couple of efforts in the opening five minutes, setting up a chance for Tom Parkinson to head over and bringing a save out of the Whitehawk goalkeeper, Melvin Minter

Minter made saves to deny Joe Turner and Alex Read before, out of nowhere, Pinney pulled a shot narrowly wide after 15 minutes.

The one-way traffic continued with Minter acrobatically turning over a header from Turner as the crosses from both flanks literally rained in on the Hawks’ goal.

Pinney placed a header wide of the post after 39 minutes and it was an oddity that after a half that had been almost totally dominated by the home side, the two closest efforts had gone to the visitors.

The second half could literally be a cut and paste from the first. Jared Small was creating havoc down the right, ably assisted by his wing partner James Folkes but without reward.

Whitehawk offered so little threat that Steve McKimm was able to gamble by sacrificing one of his central defenders, Callum Adonis-Taylor for the extra creativity of Tommy Whitnell. After 73 minutes, following a corner from Turner, a shot came back off the bar with the follow-up shot from Whitnell cleared from the line.

That pre-game optimism was now turning into despair as supporters sensed an afternoon of wasted chances. But, finally, after 78 minutes, there was a breakthrough. Folkes drove in a wicked, low cross that was turned into his own net by Matt Drage.

Adem Ramadan came on for Small, who deserved the fulsome applause for his performance, and in the final minute he created an opening for Turner, who produced an audacious chip over the advancing Minter.

The Whitehawk support, were magnificent in their range of songs and wholehearted support that continued for the whole 90 minutes and for several more after the final whistle. They sang to We’ll Meet Again: We’ll Score Again, Don’t Know Where, Don’t Know When. For their sakes, they deserve to be right but, almost always, it is needed to cross the half-way line to do so.