Haywards Heath Town U18 1 Tonbridge Angels U18 6

Match 76/25/2418 - Monday, 13th April 2026 - Isthmian Youth League

Haywards Heath Town U18 (1) 1
Tonbridge Angels U18 (2) 6 Richardson 33,71 Waul 45 Kernan 57 Lucas 90 Sulovari 90+2
Headcount: 60
Admission: £5
Mileage: 82/4,695
New Ground: 398

CHAMPIONES!

Championes, Championies rang out around the HSEnergy Stadium, home to Haywards Heath Town, as our Under-18’s clinched an ultimately comfortable 6-1 win the seal the Isthmian Youth League East title for a second, consecutive time.

After falling behind, the Angels fought back to lead 2-1 at the break and a thoroughly dominant second half performance saw them rattle in another four goals to spark the celebrations.

Dom Welsh, U18’s manager, commented after the champagne had been sprayed: “The dressing room is brilliant, it’s cliche but they’re honestly such a top group of lads, accountability isn’t something often associated with youth level footballers these days, but these lads have that, and not only that, they hold each other accountable too, they’re buzzing tonight, but they have the ‘want more’ mentality. They are already talking of the champions of champions games.”

Dom was taken back to a 4-3 defeat at Cobham and it was put to him that to win the league at that point they would probably need to win every game to retain the title. They’ve done that, and a bit more, as the run includes a trip to the Kent Intermediate Cup Final.

Dom: “After Cobham there was really hurt and disappointment, which on reflection has brought out the best in the group, it’s brought a winning mentality that’s got us to the title. Since that evening we’ve won 10 games in a row, scoring 38 goals in the process, so it definitely turned into a turning point for us.”

On a really cold evening in West Sussex, Tonbridge dominated from the outset with chances falling to Robert Penman, Ed Dyer and Callum Fincham, so it was a real surprise when they went a goal behind, on 20 minutes, as a long ball forward took an awkward bounce that deceived Dyer and allowed the Haywards Heath forward to execute a well taken goal with a lob over the advancing Jacob Hunt.

Dom said of the goal: “It definitely wasn’t in the plan to go one down, the mentality in the build up has been that we wanted to have a quick start and get the game into our control early on, but that’s football, on the night we created loads early on, and got sucker punched with their only shot of the night. However, the players stayed cool, the messages remained consistent and we turned it into a comfortable night. I had said to them before the game, you’ve got to earn a title, it won’t be handed to you tonight, and they certainly took that on board.”

The Angels youngsters continued to knock the door, but as the half drew on and more chances came and went, there was a certain anxiety growing, if only from the visiting support. But, the breakthrough came on 33 minutes when a cross from the right was turned in by Mackenzie Richardson from close range.

In first half added time, which was significantly long due to a serious looking injury to a Haywards Heath player, Richardson opened up an opportunity for Nathaniel Waul who fired past the goalkeeper to give the Angels a half-time lead.

The second half was an absolute procession, but the longer the game wore on, the need for a third goal, and a bit of breathing space, was concerning given that a goal from Haywards Heath and a draw would be opening the door for Cobham.

Some near misses and good goalkeeping kept the Angels at bay until the 57th minute when a quick throw-in caught the home defence unaware which allowed Lucas Kernan an unchallenged run into the box to bury his shot into the bottom corner.

Relaxing, but maintaining their momentum, Tonbridge went further ahead on 71 minutes when Fincham set up Richardson to tuck home a fourth and on the stroke of the final minute of regular time, a shot from Kyler Barton was parried into the path of Ashton Lucas to make it five.

A sixth was to come, and it was a rather special moment as Dani Sulovari headed home after making the initial run and following up Lucas’ shot with a smart header, as Dom explains: “The celebrations from the outside for a sixth goal may have seemed over the top, but we’ve been giving Dani a hard time over the last few weeks, as he’s been the only U18 squad member not to score, and that includes goalkeeper, Jacob Hunt. It was a fitting way to end the league season with Dani getting his first ever goal!”

As is always the way with age group football, team building needs to start straight away but the introduction of Kent Youth League participation at Under-16 level has given Dom Welsh a platform from which to work as he explains: “The U16’s have had a fantastic season, I think every single one of that group have had some exposure to the U18’s across the season, whether that be in training or games. We’ve handed 11 U16 players their U18 debuts this season, with John Fuller being promoted into the squad permanently. They deserve a massive pat on the back for their contribution. But, a large contingent of our current squad are second years, so the building has already begun for next season with initial trials already having been held and we look forward to continuing to create more memories like tonight!

The season doesn’t end there for the U18’s as they now compete for the Isthmian Champions of Champions Trophy. As yet, the opponents and venue are to be arranged but we have been informed that the semi-final will take place on the week commencing 4th May with the final a week later. It sets up an exciting but busy week of football with the Kent Intermediate Cup Final on the 6th May at Chatham Town against Hollands and Blair.

Haywards Heath have a magnificent 70 year-old grandstand that lays back slightly from the pitch, but nevertheless, gladdens the old purist's eye!

Tonbridge Angels 3 Salisbury 2

Match 75/25/2417 - Saturday, 11th April 2026 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 3 Thompson 14 Leahy 51 Sutcliffe 72
Salisbury (0) 2 Coppin 67 Odokonyero 77
Attendance: 858
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/4,613

SEASON HEADING FOR CLOSURE

At the point of the season when it could be that two teams have nothing to play for, it has to be expected that you get a game that smacked of nothing to play for.

Three-two sounds entertaining and, at times it was, but overall it just had that end-of-season feel of two teams with their foot slightly off the pedal.

Salisbury, mathematically, still had to get over the line to avoid relegation and following this defeat, and results elsewhere, are still not safe, but only extraordinary results might see them go down other than Bath City.

On a day of bright sunshine but a very brisk wind, Alan Dunne’s team selection indicated that he was looking at players with a view to next season with already contracted Ricky Korboa and Bradley Williams taking places on the bench. The chatter on the sidelines is very much along the lines of who might stay and who might go and, in fairness, there seems to be a case made for retaining the majority of the Angels' players, but our idle chatter doesn’t make those decisions.

The attendance slipped below a thousand, but 858 is very respectable given the lack of any jeopardy in the game and the relatively small number making the journey up from Wiltshire.

In the visiting side were Mo Dabre, who still runs on Duracell batteries and Nathan Odokonyero, who had a quiet game but still managed to find the net and claim an assist.

The Angels started brightly with Bunmi Babajide (sign him up, Alan!) shooting over and forcing the Salisbury goalkeeper, Will Buse, into a save within the opening four minutes, quickly followed by Buse saving again, this time from Alfie Pavey. There was also a warning for Tonbridge as an intended cross from Tommy Willard caught the wind and rebounded off the crossbar.

Tonbridge went ahead on 14 minutes after a Bailey Akehurst corner nearly caught out Buse at the near post but from the resultant second corner, Salisbury failed to heed the lesson and Jordon Thompson stole in to head home from an acute angle at the near post.

On 26 minutes, the home side thought they had doubled their advantage through Frankie Baker who poked home after Buse made a hash of punching the ball to safety, but the referee decided to take the soft option and disallow the goal for a foul on the keeper.

This led to a strange moment when Tonbridge felt they should have been awarded a penalty. From the free kick, the goalkeeper side-footed the ball a couple of yards in what could easily have been interpreted as the free kick being taken. The defender stopped the ball with this hand leading to appeals for handball. The referee opted, it seems, to give Salisbury the benefit of the doubt, something I’m not sure is within the referee’s remit and restarted to game with a drop ball to the relieved goalkeeper.

Tonbridge were good value going into the break a goal to the good with further efforts that saw Leahy fire over and a header from Ethan Sutcliffe that was saved low by Buse. Salisbury also had chances in the final moments of the half with Rowley saving at the second attempt a 25 yard shot from Willard and Josh Hedges’ shot that cleared the bar.

The Angels increased their lead six minutes into the half with a peach of a goal, both in its making and its finish. Scott Wagstaff played an exquisite pass from deep that was collected by Tom Leahy, who cut in from the right before burying his shot into the far corner.

Dunne rattled the changes and subsequently the Angels lost a bit of momentum and when Francis Mampolo lost possession, Max Joliffe played the ball down the right flank to Odokonyero and from his cross Noah Coppin found the net with the aid of a wrong-footing deflection from Tobi Omole.

Five minutes later, Tonbridge regained their two goal advantage when Akehurst’s corner, which had been on the money all afternoon, was met with an arching heading from Sutcliffe to make it 3-1.

On 74 minutes, Salisbury were once again back in the game when Hedges crossed for Odokonyero to finish from close range and when the former Angels loanee had another header that drifted wide, but really should have been on target, there were thoughts that a comfortable win could be thrown away. But the remaining time was seen out without too much alarm.

Dunney’s stated aspiration is 60 points, and with two games to go, that it is only three points away and could be achieved at Farnborough next Saturday, something that wasn’t high on the expectation list back in September.

Pictures: David Couldridge

Eastbourne Borough 1 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 74/25/2416 - Monday, 6th April 2026 - National League South

Eastbourne Borough (0) 1 Castro 59
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Korboa 8
Attendance: 1,029
Admission: £14
Mileage: 92/4,575

BYE BYE BORO

Tonbridge Angels duly delivered the final rights on Eastbourne Borough’s 23 year tenure in the National League South, but the Sussex side’s fate had largely been sealed for some weeks.

Steve King, it has to be said not exactly one of football’s more popular characters, was charged four weeks ago, not with the virtually impossible mission to rescue them but the beginning of the process of life and success in the Isthmian League.

Where has it all gone wrong at Priory Lane? Finishing third last season with a healthy budget supplied by owner Simon Leslie, full-time football leaving the expectations that next season would see them in the National League, certainly not the Isthmian.

The club was taken out of community ownership by Leslie in 2023 with the ambition to drive it forward towards the EFL, but three years on, the chairman is where the ire of supporters is mostly directed.

Popular manager Danny Bloor was axed within days of Leslie’s takeover to be replaced by Mark Beard and there have been a further four managers, three this season, since Beard.

Personally, I can’t revel in the demise of other clubs as did the younger element of the Angels' support, taking the fatalistic view of “there but for the grace of God (or Alan Dunne) goes I”.

The game was as frustrating as the journey down with half-an-hour stuck on the A21 as Bank Holiday traffic negotiated long-term roadworks at Hurst Green. For those in warmer climes that have been following my weather reports, the big coat was finally ditched on a sunny day, but a sea breeze with an edge meant a lighter version was still required!

With an initial air of two teams with nothing to lose, the game could have been at 2-2 after four minutes with both goalkeepers asked to make decent saves.

The frantic pace continued into the eighth minute when Ricky Korboa put the Angels in front, rifling his shot into the bottom corner after an interchange of passes between Alfie Pavey and Matt Warren opened up the opportunity.

The goal settled the game into a less frenetic pattern with the visitors largely dominating and having strong claims for a penalty as Korboa was bundled over in the box.

The home side were not without their chances as Freddie Carter headed over from a corner and Matt Rowley made an excellent block as Lee Angol was sent clear.

The second half saw the Angels lose their first half dominance and there was an inevitability that brought Eastbourne’s equaliser just prior to the hour. A through ball from Adam May opened up the Angels defence down the right and Quevin Castro finished past the advancing Rowley.

Both sides gave it a go in the remaining time and a winner might have come for either side with the Eastbourne goalkeeper Alex Hobden saving well from substitute Francis Mampolo on two occasions.

So, in what was a nothing on it game, ended with a predictable sharing of the points.

For Eastbourne Borough, a summer of rebuilding begins with them expected to be one of the big hitters in the Isthmian Premier, but to return is not a given, just ask the likes of Dartford, Billericay Town and Dulwich Hamlet.

Action picture: David Couldridge

Punjab United 0 Cockfosters 2

Match 73/25/2415 - Saturday, 3rd April 2026 - FA Vase Semi-Final, Second Leg

Punjab United (0) 0
Cockfosters (1) 2 Lutaaya 12 Da Cruz 86
Cockfosters win 3-1 on aggregate
Attendance: 1,209
Admission: £5
Mileage: 48/4,483

NO SAMOSAS ON WEMBLEY WAY

Nine years ago, I walked into the then named Elite Venue, merely as an end of season groundhop, as Punjab United were celebrating promotion from the Kent County League. Romantics say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach and delicious, free samosas certainly endeared the club to myself and fellow hopper, Jim Case, for whom Punjab was to become his second club.

Back in 2017, despite admission being free, a headcount only amounted to 45. Today, for an unimaginable FA Vase Semi-Final, there were more people in the queue outside than I’ve ever seen inside the presently named Steve Cook Stadium, renamed in memory of the club’s legendary groundsman.

The Gravesend-based club’s preview stated that the ground capacity was 1,000 but 1,209 squeezed into the ground with the final people in the queue entering 20 minutes after kick-off.

This semi-final second leg was evenly balanced after last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Spartan South Midlands League Cockfosters, who are based in the London Borough of Enfield.

A stiff wind that blew down the slope and the prize of a Wembley appearance ensured that the game was never going to be a classic and ultimately it was Cockfosters that just had that little bit more nous who earned what will be a mere 12 mile journey to play under the arch.

Punjab were handed the questionable advantage of the slope and the wind in the first half but failed to adapt to the conditions with pass after pass being overhit and many of goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney’s punts from his hands carrying the full length of the pitch.

After 11 minutes, a superb block from Punjab’s Wayne Bushell was required to deny Kendall Gymafi, but from the resultant corner, the visitors took the lead in a spectacular manner. The corner was headed clear and as the ball dropped on the right side of the penalty area, George Lutaaya hooked the ball high over his head and, as almost everyone expected to see the ball sail away over the bar, it dipped under the bar at the far post. It was either a superb piece of improvisation or a complete fluke, only George will know.

Punjab needed to take advantage of the conditions and went close on the half-hour when Jack Hopkins saw his effort cleared from the line and, just before the break, there were heads in hands as a corner led to a scramble in the six yard box the ended with the ball drifting agonisingly wide.

The second half was one in which Cockfosters showed their defensive resilience and game management as they drew every last second out of the game whilst Punjab were unable to craft much in the way of opportunities.

The game was settled with four minutes remaining when the flight of a long throw from Matt Shaw was misjudged by Beeney and Jandir Da Cruz was on hand to plant an easy header.

It has been a wonderful run for a popular club in Punjab United, but Cockfosters deserve their day where they will meet AFC Stoneham, from the Southampton area, who would probably enter the final as favourites.

Tonbridge Angels 1 Ebbsfleet United 2

Match 72/25/2414 - Friday, 2nd April 2026 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Leahy 88
Ebbsfleet United (2) 2 Chapman 5 Appiah 15
Attendance: 1,597
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/4,435

EASTER EGGSPECTATIONS

Easter is widely considered the make or break at the business end (cliche on cliche), two games in three days that can define their season.

But for a group of just four teams marooned in the middle of the National League South, the pressure is off. All four of those clubs are probably where they hoped to be come the final table with only Tonbridge Angels celebrating climbing away from a precarious position.

For the Angels' visitors on Good Friday, Ebbsfleet United, there is perhaps an element of disappointment that they are hovering around the lower end of the play-off places and not challenging at the very top, but such is the congestion that a good Easter might still see them snapping at Dorking Wanderers heels.

Ebbsfleet supporters obviously feel there is still a lot more to play for than the play-offs, turning out in big numbers for this Kent derby that, thankfully, takes place without segregation and with absolutely nothing but mutual respect for each other.

A recurring theme of this blog is when the heavy coat is going to be finally ditched and despite having two alternatives in the boot of the car, it continued to be a heavy coat day, such are the vagaries of Easter weather.

If Ebbsfleet’s need for the points was the greater it showed from the outset with two goals in the opening quarter hour and a dominant first half seeing them take a control of the game that was always going to be difficult to wrestle from them.

A misplaced pass saw the ball land at the feet of Ben Chapman, who curled his shot into the far corner past a helpless Matt Rowley for a fifth minute lead.

These early stages exposed the gulf between the teams with the Angels mostly chasing shadows before the lead was doubled in the easiest of fashions. A right-sided corner was sent beyond the far post from where it was headed back into the centre of the six yard box by Toby Edser for Kwasi Appiah to finish, unchallenged, with a header.

Credit to the Angels, having been given the runaround in the opening 20 minutes, they could have folded but were only denied halving the deficit by a fine save from the Ebbsfleet goalkeeper, Matt Hall, who turned over a 20 yard strike from Sean Shields.

In his post-match interview, Angels manager Alan Dunne admitted he had got his team selection wrong and, on 37 minutes, Marcus Sablier was substituted for the more robust frame of Alfie Pavey.

Pavey’s first contribution was a goal line clearance from a header from former Angel Ronnie Nelson.

Ebbsfleet might have put the game out of reach early in the second half when a shot from Coley struck the post with the rebound falling to Appiah who stumbled over the ball before poking it wide from no distance.

A raft of substitutions saw the Angels gain a new momentum and had a 79th minute goal from Tom Leahy had counted perhaps an unlikely point might have within reach, but after a shot from Bunmi Babajide had only been parried by Hall into the path of Leahy, who tucked home only for the celebrations to be immediately curtailed by the linesman’s flag.

With two minutes for regular time remaining, Tonbridge gave themselves hope with a well constructed goal involving substitute Francis Mampolo, Babajide and finished by Leahy, but with a paltry three minutes of added time, Ebbsfleet professionally kept the ball in the corner before the referee became bored enough to call it a day.

Certainly, opinion was that, at least for 45 minutes, Ebbsfleet were the best side seen this season and consideration has to be taken that they were able to leave leading scorer Dominic Samuel on the bench for 70-odd minutes, such is their depth.

But with their resources comes expectation and, however it comes, nothing less than National League football next season is acceptable, but at that top end there are eight or nine clubs with the same expectations.

And Easter might just see some of those hopes disappear like a chocolate egg in the hands of a child.

Picture: Ebbsfleet X

Staplehurst Monarchs 3 Lewisham Borough 1

Match 71/25/2413 - Tuesday, 31st March 2026 - SSCEFL First Division

Staplehurst Monarchs (1) 3
Lewisham Borough (1) 1
Attendance: 52
Admission: £5
Mileage: 2/4,397

HOME COMFORTS

Almost shamefully, here we are in the closing month of the season and I manage my first visit of the season to my home village club, Staplehurst Monarchs.

This sad state of affairs has not been dictated by apathy towards the club, an evening spent a mile down the road is always a pleasure, but a few personal difficulties plus the ongoing problem of the Jubilee Field pitch have meant that several available Tuesday’s have been lost to postponements.

In the last week we have had the fanfare of the first spades into the earth as work gets underway of a near £1 million project to install a 3G Multi-Sport pitch at the Jubilee. Whilst the installation will bring huge benefits to the Staplehurst community, and in particular, the hugely successful Monarchs Youth programme, which puts many senior clubs to shame in Kent, it will not directly affect the senior sides as the footprint for the surface is outside of the stadium.

So, in the event of another wet winter, the Southern Counties East First Division team and its Under-23 counterparts, are likely to suffer from postponements once more. From the 15th November through to 28th February, Staplehurst were only able to play one home game and, it has to be assumed that this seriously damaged their chances of making one of the play-off spots.

As it happens, they sit in eight place, four points shy of sixth but a whopping 14 points adrift of Lordswood, who occupy the final play-off position and due credit should be placed with Ian Docker, in his first season at the helm.

There was nothing about the pitch that pointed towards its troubles of the past few months as it looked absolutely pristine, freshly mown as a relatively mild evening turned colder into the second half making the decision not to ditch the bigger coat a good one. The evening also brought to first whiff of the Staplehurst slurry, a wicked smell that afflicts the local residents each spring!

Lewisham Borough arrived, sitting in the bottom three just below the dotted line that could see them relegated into county league football. They brought with them a gaggle of supporters, one of which saw himself as a counterpart of the Witham One, regaling the rest of the 52 attendance with his repertoire of songs all on his own.

Lewisham got their noses in front after 10 minutes when a superb pass from Jeff Oredein released Andrea Carrera down the right who ran on to produced a composed finish into the far, bottom corner past Steve Lawrence.

Just two minutes later, the Hurst were level with a remarkably similar goal. This time the Monarchs number seven, Morgan Davidge released his number nine, Manny Cuttress to produce the same outcome. Same move, same shirt numbers, same finish. Quite uncanny!

The rest of the first period was evenly contested with the closest to a further goal coming with five minutes remaining when a 25 yard effort from Staplehurst’s Tagan Kray was fumbled by the Lewisham goalkeeper, who reached behind him to retrieve the ball from the line.

If the first half had nothing separating the teams, the second belonged to the home team who scored twice in two minutes to secure the points.

James Boughtflower made saves to deny Kieran Pallett and Oliver Lankshear before the Monarchs took the lead on 77 minutes when Boughtflower misjudged an inswinging corner from James Delaney that went straight in.

Two minutes later, a cross from Delaney was only partially cleared to the edge of the box to substitute Donnell Sama who drove his shot home.

Delaney brought a good save from the keeper as Staplehurst closed out the game with ease.

Chesham United 1 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 70/25/2412 - Saturday, 28th March 2026 - National League South

Chesham United (0) 1 Williams 61
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 752
Admission: £10
Mileage: 184/4,395

CABBAGE PATCH WOE

After three wins on the spin that have assured National League South safety and cup success it was almost inevitable that there would be a fall to earth with a bump and a cabbage patch pitch with a robust home side were the perfect recipe for such a happening.

Chesham United have been this season’s surprise packet and with this single goal win against Tonbridge Angels continue to sit on the fringes of the play-off places looking to take advantage of any slip ups in front of them. This was their third Saturday home game in a row and, unsurprisingly, they have won them all, their style is geared to the limitations imposed by the surface and they do it well.

The Meadows, with its picturesque backdrop of the rolling Chiltern hills, is approaching its century of years as home to Chesham and treading the fine line between being charmingly quirky and dilapidated. It has large areas of terracing, but the steps are high and higgedly-piggedly, at places inviting an accident. The main stand, that just about makes the National League minimum amount of seats, is quaint.

Non-League Day brings his advantages, to which a tenner admission as a reward for arriving before 2pm was gratefully accepted, but also brings the downside of young children being allowed to run about to the point of the stadium announcer needed to make the aforementioned point that the terraces are an accident waiting to happen.

Hale showers preceded our arrival and pre-match and the bright sunshine was negated in terms of warmth by a cold wind. I cannot remember, although there surely would’ve been, feeling quite as cold this late into the football season.

News of the re-signing of Ricky Korboa and Brad Williams was appreciated by the Tonbridge supporters who were pleased to see the planning for next season underway at this early stage. No blank piece of paper going into June this year!

The aforementioned state of the pitch dictated that this was never going to be a classic and, as poor as the Angels were, it was to their credit that they remained in the game for its duration.

Manager Alan Dunne made three changes from Tuesday’s penalty shootout, Kent Senior Cup, success at Chatham with Bunmi Babajide, Frankie Baker and Naz Bakrin starting.

The home side had the better of an uneventful first half in which neither goalkeeper was particularly stretched to a save of note, with the main point of interest being the large black cloud overhead and what it was about to dump on us. As it happened it reflected the on-field action, very little.

The second half was marginally better with Chesham going close with a header before taking the lead just past the hour when a clearance whilst stretching to intercept from Ethan Sutcliffe fell at the feet of Alfie Williams, who angled a shot into the far corner for a composed finish.

The goal gave impetus to the last 20 minutes with the visitors responding well, but not before Matt Rowley was needed to save at his near post from Kai Yearn to deny the home side doubling their advantage.

Tonbridge’s efforts mostly foundered on the solid defensive partnership of Steve Brown and Callum Adebiyi and when they managed efforts on target from substitute Sean Shields, goalkeeper Ben Goode was sound.

It was hard to disagree with Dunne’s assessment that it has been a long but rewarding month and perhaps this was a game too far.