Staplehurst Monarchs Sunday (0) 1 Rosetti 16
Sands United (0) 0
Attendance: 960
Admission: Free
Mileage: 1/6,128
Sunday, 6 April 2025
Staplehurst Monarchs Sunday 1 Sands United 0
Match 90/24/2328 - Sunday, 6th April 2025 - Invitational Cup SF
Staplehurst Monarchs Sunday (0) 1 Rosetti 16
Sands United (0) 0
Attendance: 960
Admission: Free
Mileage: 1/6,128
Staplehurst Monarchs Sunday (0) 1 Rosetti 16
Sands United (0) 0
Attendance: 960
Admission: Free
Mileage: 1/6,128
Tonbridge Angels 1 Farnborough 4
Match 89/24/2327 - Saturday, 5th April 2025 - National League South
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Ottaway 78
Farnborough (2) 4 Holmes 12 Haigh 22 Robinson 59 Stuttle 71
Attendance: 960
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/6,127
Scott Wagstaff suffered “a baptism of fire” as caretaker-manager of Tonbridge Angels as visitors Farnborough recorded a comfortable win.
“It was a tough one today, but I still enjoyed it and I will learn from it. Performance wise, when one of your mates comes in, it goes one of two ways and it went the other way today. It was a baptism of fire, so I’m really relishing the rest of these four games and hopefully we can put on a better performance next week at Weston,” said Scott in his post-match interview.
Warm, spring sunshine greeted Waggy’s first team selection that brought just the one change from last Saturday’s defeat at Salisbury with Bailey Akehurst coming in for Nazir Bakrin, who dropped to the bench.
Farnborough took control of the game after opening the scoring on 12 minutes when a right-sided corner from Alfie Tuck was deftly steered into the bottom corner from the head of Ricky Holmes.
The Hampshire side doubled their advantage on 22 minutes when Joe Haigh finished well after a break down the left from Reggie Young who had been sent clear with an exquisite pass inside of the defender by Holmes. In between the first and second goals, on 19 minutes, Haig had seen his penalty effort, awarded after a foul on the edge of the box by Mikey Berry, saved by Matt Rowley in the Angels’ goal.
After dominating the first half, Farnborough were offered a second chance from the penalty spot after 52 minutes after Jonny Stuttle was adjudged to have been brought down by Jamie Fielding. But, once again, Rowley was equal to the taker, this time Stuttle, saving brilliantly, low to his left.
Taylor Maloney brought a comfortable save out of goalkeeper Jack Turner and Sean Shields fired wide before the game was effectively put out of reach of the home side after 59 minutes when Ollie Robinson was unmarked after a free kick from Haigh was moved on by Holmes to add a third goal.
A fourth came on 71 minutes when Stuttle was sent clear by Jack Bateson to finish past the advancing Rowley.
Tonbridge produced a spirited end to the game that eventually brought a consolation goal from Harry Ottaway who hooked the ball home after a pass from Sean Shields.
Scott concluded: “After the game there is a lot of emotion, I feel I know how the gaffer felt after games, but I don’t want the boys to let these three weeks pass us by. I want us to enjoy these three weeks and the only way we are going to enjoy it is by winning games, so I’m getting back to the drawing board to figure out the best way to beat Weston next week. To the fans, stick with us, I know we didn’t give you much to cheer about today, but I promise you, we will give you absolutely everything in these last four games. We will make sure everyone out there is playing for the club, for the shirt, until the end of the season, I promise you that.”
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Ottaway 78
Farnborough (2) 4 Holmes 12 Haigh 22 Robinson 59 Stuttle 71
Attendance: 960
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/6,127
Scott Wagstaff suffered “a baptism of fire” as caretaker-manager of Tonbridge Angels as visitors Farnborough recorded a comfortable win.
“It was a tough one today, but I still enjoyed it and I will learn from it. Performance wise, when one of your mates comes in, it goes one of two ways and it went the other way today. It was a baptism of fire, so I’m really relishing the rest of these four games and hopefully we can put on a better performance next week at Weston,” said Scott in his post-match interview.
Warm, spring sunshine greeted Waggy’s first team selection that brought just the one change from last Saturday’s defeat at Salisbury with Bailey Akehurst coming in for Nazir Bakrin, who dropped to the bench.
Farnborough took control of the game after opening the scoring on 12 minutes when a right-sided corner from Alfie Tuck was deftly steered into the bottom corner from the head of Ricky Holmes.
The Hampshire side doubled their advantage on 22 minutes when Joe Haigh finished well after a break down the left from Reggie Young who had been sent clear with an exquisite pass inside of the defender by Holmes. In between the first and second goals, on 19 minutes, Haig had seen his penalty effort, awarded after a foul on the edge of the box by Mikey Berry, saved by Matt Rowley in the Angels’ goal.
After dominating the first half, Farnborough were offered a second chance from the penalty spot after 52 minutes after Jonny Stuttle was adjudged to have been brought down by Jamie Fielding. But, once again, Rowley was equal to the taker, this time Stuttle, saving brilliantly, low to his left.
Taylor Maloney brought a comfortable save out of goalkeeper Jack Turner and Sean Shields fired wide before the game was effectively put out of reach of the home side after 59 minutes when Ollie Robinson was unmarked after a free kick from Haigh was moved on by Holmes to add a third goal.
A fourth came on 71 minutes when Stuttle was sent clear by Jack Bateson to finish past the advancing Rowley.
Tonbridge produced a spirited end to the game that eventually brought a consolation goal from Harry Ottaway who hooked the ball home after a pass from Sean Shields.
Scott concluded: “After the game there is a lot of emotion, I feel I know how the gaffer felt after games, but I don’t want the boys to let these three weeks pass us by. I want us to enjoy these three weeks and the only way we are going to enjoy it is by winning games, so I’m getting back to the drawing board to figure out the best way to beat Weston next week. To the fans, stick with us, I know we didn’t give you much to cheer about today, but I promise you, we will give you absolutely everything in these last four games. We will make sure everyone out there is playing for the club, for the shirt, until the end of the season, I promise you that.”
Thursday, 3 April 2025
Gillingham 1 Colchester United 1
Match 88/24/2326 - Tuesday, 1st April 2025 - League 2
Gillingham (0) 1 Clark (pen) 77
Colchester United (1) 1 Payne 20
Attendance: 5,924
Admission: £20
Mileage: 38/6,089
Match Report
Gillingham (0) 1 Clark (pen) 77
Colchester United (1) 1 Payne 20
Attendance: 5,924
Admission: £20
Mileage: 38/6,089
Match Report
Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Tonbridge Angels Academy 6 Worthing Academy 1
Match 87/24/2326 - Wednesday, 26th March 2025 - National League U19 Alliance
Tonbridge Angels Academy (2) 6
Worthing Academy (0) 1
Attendance: 15
Admission: Free
Mileage: 38/6,051
Tonbridge Angels Academy (2) 6
Worthing Academy (0) 1
Attendance: 15
Admission: Free
Mileage: 38/6,051
Maidstone United U18 3 Welling United U18
Match 86/24/2325 - Tuesday, 25th March 2025 - Isthmian Youth League
Maidstone United U18 (2) 3
Welling United U18 (0) 1 Craggs
Attendance: 54
Admission: £3
Mileage: 20/6,013
In years to come, I might wonder why I attended an Under-18's game at fierce rivals Maidstone United and even wanted them to win! So the explanation is that coming into this game, if Welling United won all of their remaining games they would be crowned the Isthmian Youth League East champions. One slip up and the door would be open for our, as in Tonbridge Angels, Under-18's to win their first title since 2017. Two excellent first half goals and a robust second half defensive performance gave the home side the points, which incidentally, keeps their own hopes of the title alive. It was a strange experience, celebrating in a reasonably restrained manner, Maidstone's goals. Thanks Maidstone, but I don't want to do it again!
Maidstone United U18 (2) 3
Welling United U18 (0) 1 Craggs
Attendance: 54
Admission: £3
Mileage: 20/6,013
In years to come, I might wonder why I attended an Under-18's game at fierce rivals Maidstone United and even wanted them to win! So the explanation is that coming into this game, if Welling United won all of their remaining games they would be crowned the Isthmian Youth League East champions. One slip up and the door would be open for our, as in Tonbridge Angels, Under-18's to win their first title since 2017. Two excellent first half goals and a robust second half defensive performance gave the home side the points, which incidentally, keeps their own hopes of the title alive. It was a strange experience, celebrating in a reasonably restrained manner, Maidstone's goals. Thanks Maidstone, but I don't want to do it again!
Sunday, 23 March 2025
Tonbridge Angels 2 Chelmsford City 1
Match 85/24/2324 - Saturday, 22nd March 2025 - National League South
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Shields 11 Maloney 76
Chelmsford City (1) 1 Valentine 16
Attendance: 1,028
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/5,993
Tonbridge Angels gained maximum points from this mid-table encounter with a second half goal from Taylor Maloney to further their chances of a top half finish to the season.
Warm, spring sunshine attracted an attendance of 1,028 on Non League Day that saw Jay Saunders introduce new signing Luke Cook for the injured Gianluca Botti with Nazir Bakrin and Sean Shields coming in for the suspended Ethan Sutcliffe and Mo Dabre. Harry Ottaway and Mikey Berry returned to the bench after injury.
For, what might have been considered an end of season affair, a competitive, entertaining game ensued that produced chances from the outset with the visiting goalkeeper, Ted Collins, acrobatically turning over a close range header from Ronny Nelson in the fourth minute.
The home side made much of the early running and deservedly went ahead on 11 minutes when Brody Peart set up Sean Shields to bury his shot into the bottom corner.
The lead was only to last five minutes with Chelmsford’s livewire Nico Valentine capitalising on a defensive error to equalise with a good finish.
Buoyed by their equaliser, the visitors ended the half on the front foot with the Angels goalkeeper, Matt Rowley saving from Saleem Akanbi and Ryan Blackman.
The second half saw Tonbridge regain the momentum and might have regained their lead just past the hour when a well worked move between Cook and Jamie Fielding set up a close range header from Ottaway that was brilliantly denied by Collins.
Shields hit the bar on 73 minutes with Nelson having his shot on the rebound blocked following a scramble in the Chelmsford six yard box before the Angels scored what was ultimately to be the winner through Maloney who drove home a rebound off the chest of Collins following a fierce shot from Berry.
Chelmsford attempted to retrieve a point from the game with a big chance at the death but Taylor Legg’s header cleared the bar.
Jay Saunders said after the game: “It was a very open game, we started excellently and for the first 15 minutes we were brilliant, causing them a lot of problems but not taking our chances and then they change shape and it was disappointing to concede from what was their first attack. Overall, it was two teams that were going for it, we looked a bit fatigued from Tuesday night, but I’m pleased with the win and cannot fault the boys for their efforts.”
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Shields 11 Maloney 76
Chelmsford City (1) 1 Valentine 16
Attendance: 1,028
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/5,993
Tonbridge Angels gained maximum points from this mid-table encounter with a second half goal from Taylor Maloney to further their chances of a top half finish to the season.
Warm, spring sunshine attracted an attendance of 1,028 on Non League Day that saw Jay Saunders introduce new signing Luke Cook for the injured Gianluca Botti with Nazir Bakrin and Sean Shields coming in for the suspended Ethan Sutcliffe and Mo Dabre. Harry Ottaway and Mikey Berry returned to the bench after injury.
For, what might have been considered an end of season affair, a competitive, entertaining game ensued that produced chances from the outset with the visiting goalkeeper, Ted Collins, acrobatically turning over a close range header from Ronny Nelson in the fourth minute.
The home side made much of the early running and deservedly went ahead on 11 minutes when Brody Peart set up Sean Shields to bury his shot into the bottom corner.
The lead was only to last five minutes with Chelmsford’s livewire Nico Valentine capitalising on a defensive error to equalise with a good finish.
Buoyed by their equaliser, the visitors ended the half on the front foot with the Angels goalkeeper, Matt Rowley saving from Saleem Akanbi and Ryan Blackman.
The second half saw Tonbridge regain the momentum and might have regained their lead just past the hour when a well worked move between Cook and Jamie Fielding set up a close range header from Ottaway that was brilliantly denied by Collins.
Shields hit the bar on 73 minutes with Nelson having his shot on the rebound blocked following a scramble in the Chelmsford six yard box before the Angels scored what was ultimately to be the winner through Maloney who drove home a rebound off the chest of Collins following a fierce shot from Berry.
Chelmsford attempted to retrieve a point from the game with a big chance at the death but Taylor Legg’s header cleared the bar.
Jay Saunders said after the game: “It was a very open game, we started excellently and for the first 15 minutes we were brilliant, causing them a lot of problems but not taking our chances and then they change shape and it was disappointing to concede from what was their first attack. Overall, it was two teams that were going for it, we looked a bit fatigued from Tuesday night, but I’m pleased with the win and cannot fault the boys for their efforts.”
Ebbsfleet United 1 Tonbridge Angels 0
Match 84/24/2323 - Tuesday, 18th March 2025 - Kent Senior Cup SF
Ebbsfleet United (0) 1 Anthony 90+2
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 505
Admission: £5
Mileage: 54/5,955
It was a cruel exit for the Angels from the Kent Senior Cup as Ebbsfleet United scored a wonder goal in the 90th minute after the visitors had dominated proceedings for much of the game.
With the lottery of penalties imminent, Elijah Anthony collected a clearance and from 25 yards found the top corner with a superb effort to see the National League side into the final where they will meet Welling United.
Replying to Matt Davison’s assertion after the match that we deserved more, Jay Saunders said: “I think so. I was really pleased with the performance and the reaction from Saturday. I’ve said to the boys, we have been the nearly men this season when it comes to the league and in games with the chances we had tonight, we nearly took them and, unfortunately, it’s taken a hell of a strike to beat us when it looked like it would go to penalties.”
On another chilly evening of this seemingly endless winter, Jay was deprived of the services of Sean Shields through injury. Bailey Akehurst and Mikey Berry were cup-tied which brought Mo Dabre, Brody Peart and Taylor Maloney into the starting line-up from Saturday’s defeat at Bath City.
Backed by a noisy contingent that made up over a third of the attendance, Tonbridge started on the front foot and never relinquished that control until the final 10 minutes or so when the home side’s strength from the bench made an impact.
An chance fell to Peart within the first couple of minutes but his shot was directed at the Ebbsfleet goalkeeper, Felix Goddard, who was further tested on six minutes with an effort from Gianluca Botti.
A Dominic Poleon effort that cleared the bar by some distance was the only interruption in the Angels momentum who saw further chances for Dabre and Jack Wood go wide.
The best chance of the half came on 39 minutes when a right sided corner found the head of Botti, but from close range he could only steer his header narrowly wide of the post.
In the final act of the half, Botti was denied again this time by the feet of the advancing Goddard.
Dabre, feeling the recurrence of his hamstring injury, was substituted at the break by Nazrin Bakrin but the direction of play was unaltered with the Angels pressing forward for the most part.
Peart put an effort wide on 54 minutes followed by a golden chance on 64 minutes when a slightly heavy pass from Botti found Maloney stretching in front of goal to steer his opportunity wide.
As the home side brought National League regulars from the bench, the pressure on the Angels defence began to intensify but was being comfortably dealt with.
On 76 minutes, Academy player Kimsley Gatakata replaced Botti, who limped away from the action, and immediately had an opportunity in front of goal but, under pressure from a giant defender, he couldn’t get the necessary purchase on his shot and it was saved by Goddard.
Such is the nature of penalties, we will never know the outcome, but this was rendered unnecessary as the clock ticked past the ninety with the outrageous strike from Anthony that gave Matt Rowley no chance.
Jay concluded: “I’m disappointed for everyone associated with the club, it would have been a good final, we took it as seriously as we could, went as strong as we could and gave a really good account of ourselves and I don’t think we deserved to lose it over the 90 minutes.”
Ebbsfleet United (0) 1 Anthony 90+2
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 505
Admission: £5
Mileage: 54/5,955
It was a cruel exit for the Angels from the Kent Senior Cup as Ebbsfleet United scored a wonder goal in the 90th minute after the visitors had dominated proceedings for much of the game.
With the lottery of penalties imminent, Elijah Anthony collected a clearance and from 25 yards found the top corner with a superb effort to see the National League side into the final where they will meet Welling United.
Replying to Matt Davison’s assertion after the match that we deserved more, Jay Saunders said: “I think so. I was really pleased with the performance and the reaction from Saturday. I’ve said to the boys, we have been the nearly men this season when it comes to the league and in games with the chances we had tonight, we nearly took them and, unfortunately, it’s taken a hell of a strike to beat us when it looked like it would go to penalties.”
On another chilly evening of this seemingly endless winter, Jay was deprived of the services of Sean Shields through injury. Bailey Akehurst and Mikey Berry were cup-tied which brought Mo Dabre, Brody Peart and Taylor Maloney into the starting line-up from Saturday’s defeat at Bath City.
Backed by a noisy contingent that made up over a third of the attendance, Tonbridge started on the front foot and never relinquished that control until the final 10 minutes or so when the home side’s strength from the bench made an impact.
An chance fell to Peart within the first couple of minutes but his shot was directed at the Ebbsfleet goalkeeper, Felix Goddard, who was further tested on six minutes with an effort from Gianluca Botti.
A Dominic Poleon effort that cleared the bar by some distance was the only interruption in the Angels momentum who saw further chances for Dabre and Jack Wood go wide.
The best chance of the half came on 39 minutes when a right sided corner found the head of Botti, but from close range he could only steer his header narrowly wide of the post.
In the final act of the half, Botti was denied again this time by the feet of the advancing Goddard.
Dabre, feeling the recurrence of his hamstring injury, was substituted at the break by Nazrin Bakrin but the direction of play was unaltered with the Angels pressing forward for the most part.
Peart put an effort wide on 54 minutes followed by a golden chance on 64 minutes when a slightly heavy pass from Botti found Maloney stretching in front of goal to steer his opportunity wide.
As the home side brought National League regulars from the bench, the pressure on the Angels defence began to intensify but was being comfortably dealt with.
On 76 minutes, Academy player Kimsley Gatakata replaced Botti, who limped away from the action, and immediately had an opportunity in front of goal but, under pressure from a giant defender, he couldn’t get the necessary purchase on his shot and it was saved by Goddard.
Such is the nature of penalties, we will never know the outcome, but this was rendered unnecessary as the clock ticked past the ninety with the outrageous strike from Anthony that gave Matt Rowley no chance.
Jay concluded: “I’m disappointed for everyone associated with the club, it would have been a good final, we took it as seriously as we could, went as strong as we could and gave a really good account of ourselves and I don’t think we deserved to lose it over the 90 minutes.”
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