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.

Chatham Town 1 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 69/25/2411 - Tuesday, 24th March 2026 - Kent Senior Cup Semi-Final

Chatham Town (0) 1 Cooper 78
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Baker 55
Tonbridge Angels won on penalties 6-5
Attendance: 816
Admission: £8
Mileage: 34/4,211

A COUNTY CUP FINAL, REALLY?

This is a football blog, so let’s get that out of the way first! In a howling gale, at times driving rain, this was never going to be one for the purist and it certainly was not. It was scrappy, attritional and, for large parts one hoped that one skilful moment would settle it, thus avoiding the lottery of a penalty shootout.

As it happened the second half brought two great finishes, but one for each side, and the spot kick drama needed to unfold.

After four successful spot kicks and one saved by Angels’ goalkeeper Matt Rowley, the scene was set for Alfie Pavey to complete the contest but his effort was saved by Nathan Harvey and the drama continued beyond the first five designated takers when Kian Moyes levelled for the hosts. Three successful penalties, one for Bunmi Babajide when memories of his missed penalty at Chippenham swirled around the Angels’ faithful. Up stepped Tope Fadahunsi for the Chats, his shot was pushed upwards by Rowley, diving to his right and when the ball rebounded off the crossbar, he became engulfed by ecstatic team mates.

Tonbridge’s history is barely a history in the County Cup. They haven’t won it since 1975 and their last appearance in the Final, 13 years ago, is best forgotten as they lost 7-1 at Longmead to a Charlton Athletic Under-23 squad.

Back in October, Chatham knocked the Angels out of the FA Cup. It was a result that was richly deserved, but as good as the Chats were on the day, it was felt that the Angels had not done themselves justice and to progress to the Kent Senior Cup Final at their expense would be seen as a modicum of recompense.

Chatham are also firmly in the playoff-off chase, nobody is going to catch Jay Saunders’ Folkestone Invicta, but the jostling for the advantageous places perhaps dictated their team selection with a couple of notable absentees. Meanwhile, Alan Dunne made three changes but the starting XI looked as strong as possible.

The hosts started the brighter with Matty Macarthur, an ex-Angels loanee, to the fore, but once the Angels settled into the game they were the dominant side with wind-assisted corner after corner from Bailey Akehurst dropping underneath the crossbar, giving Harvey acute discomfort.

But, in truth, the only winner during the first period was the wind with my half-time thoughts being that the home side had been subdued to the point that the atmosphere barely resembled that of a semi-final.

Dunne brought life to the game at the start of the second period bringing Frankie Baker, Babajide and Kyle Smith into the game and the added pace of the front two brought a different dimension and pretty much an immediate dividend as a misplaced pass saw Baker run clear of a labouring defender to finish with aplomb as Harvey advanced.

Babajide’s pace and quick feet continued to harass the Chatham back line and, just three minutes after the goal, his effort was agonisingly deflected wide of the post.

Akehurst saw a couple of shots go narrowly over and substitute Sean Shields tested Harvey as the Angels took charge of the game, so it came as a surprise when a misplaced pass from Matt Warren landed at the feet of Simon Cooper, who took aim from 25 yards to find the bottom corner.

Buoyed by their equaliser, it was the Chats that made the late running and probably the Angels who were the more relieved to hear the final whistle, despite Rowley not being unduly tested.

And so to penalties, once again history doesn’t reflect well on Tonbridge, but Pavey apart they were immaculate.

Wednesday, 22nd April at Priestfield Stadium sees 1975 revisited with Maidstone United once again the opponents. Alan Dunne promised us memories, after 51 years it will be nice to have a new one.

Pictures: David Couldridge

Tonbridge Angels U18 7 AFC Whyteleafe 2

Match 68/25/2410 - Monday, 23rd March 2026 - Isthmian Youth League

Tonbridge Angels U18 (5) 7
AFC Whyteleafe U18 (2) 2
Headcount: 45
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/4,177

ONE LAST STEP REQUIRED!

Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s took one more step towards retaining their Isthmian Youth League East title with a surprisingly comfortable win over AFC Whyteleafe.

Last week’s reverse fixture was a tightly contested win for the Angels that could have gone either way and when the Surrey side took a 2-1 lead after 22 minutes much of the same was expected.

But the U18’s stepped up a gear and three late first half goals took the game away from the visitors.

After a bright opening from Whyteleafe, the Angels took the lead on seven minutes when Mackenzie Richardson was sent clear by River Ballach, he saw his initial shot parried back into his path by the goalkeeper to finish at the second attempt.

The lead was only to last five minutes when an uncharacteristic mistake from Jacob Hunt allowed a tap in for the equaliser and following a free kick, a header put the visitors in front.

Stung into a response, Richardson struck the underside of the bar before Ballach’s cross was finished at the far post by Robert Penman on the half-hour.

Ballach added a goal to his two assists when his cross-cum-shot sailed over the keeper’s head into the far corner to put the Angels in front.

The Angels youngsters were now dominant and two goals in first half added time saw them enter the break with a comfortable lead. Richardson set up Callum Fincham for the fourth and with the last kick of the half, Penman added his second.

Despite it being one-way traffic into the second period, it took until the 68th minute to add a sixth when Penman completed his hat-trick from a tight angle.

Three minutes from time substitute Kyler Barton added a seventh to set up the finale at Haywards Heath next month whilst expecting Cobham to win their remaining two games.

As the youth season begins to wind down, perhaps this is a good time to reflect on the progress made in the youth programme at the Yeomans Community Stadium.

Five years ago, I stepped down from the board at Tonbridge Angels, frustrated that the previous U18 set up had seen its demise and the prospect of regaining control of the club’s Kent Youth League teams from Tonbridge Juniors seemingly impossible.

Under the club’s chair, Sophie Purves, who shared my frustration, the 3G pitch was laid which firstly allowed the reinstatement of the Isthmian U18 side, and subsequently this season, the KYL sides returning to our badge that has already brought a title for the U16’s; a potential title and a Cup Final for the U15’s; at worst a runners-up spot for the U14’s and a solid season after a shaky start for the youngest group at U13.

The next stage of the development sees the Academy brought in-house completing the pathway from U13 through to the senior team. It has been a while since Sonny Miles made that journey, but now, the pathway is in place for someone to emulate his achievement.

There is much more to be done in both the boys and girls programme, but the Sophie and her board have shown the desire to further the set-up and Tonbridge Angels will be a stronger and better club for it.

Picture: Emma Wheeler

Tonbridge Angels 2 Bath City 1

Match 67/25/2409 - Saturday, 21st March 2026 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1Akehurst 18 (pen) Babajide 53
Bath City (1) 1 Wilson 8
Attendance: 1,762
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/4,139

HOME AND DRY!

The somewhat unexpected three points obtained at Weston-super-Mare on Tuesday, mathematics aside, assured safety in National League South for another season leaving supporters of Tonbridge Angels to enjoy the last six games and engage in the speculation of who might, and who might not, be around next season.

As a guest of the match sponsor, we were treated to the pre-match briefing from manager Alan Dunne who replying to the host’s question regarding the run-in said there would be no foot off the pedal; players were playing to keep their shirts and in so doing keep themselves in the front of the manager’s mind when it comes to dishing out the new contracts.

One such player is Bailey Akehurst. The Tonbridge wing back has had an in and out season, probably spending too much time on the bench for his own liking but in recent weeks has given the manager a hefty nudge, as if he needed it, to the quality that he can bring to the party.

Today, after slotting home a first half penalty to bring the Angels level, Akehurst produced the pass of the season, perfectly weighted so that Bunmi Babajide didn’t need to break stride before clinically finishing to extend the Angels recent run to seven wins in nine and a fourth consecutive home win whilst consolidating Bath City’s position in the bottom four.

I would be sad to see Bath relegated. It’s a good day out or a great weekend away and the fixture holds a special significance personally. At the risk of trotting out a story that has been published on this blog previously, back in 1959 this fixture is where my history with Tonbridge began.

My Dad, never an Angels supporter, took me to the old Angel Ground principally to watch Charlie Fleming, an ex-Sunderland striker who dropped into non-league football, surprisingly early at the age of 31, after scoring 62 goals in three years at Roker Park. Nicknamed Cannonball for his ferocious shot he became a legend at Twerton Park, making 300 appearances and scoring 216 goals.

He scored twice that day at the Angel as Bath took home the points, but for me the seeds had been sown with the home side.

Despite the very late, 3am evidently, return from Weston on Tuesday, Dunne went with an unchanged line-up on a day of bright sunshine and a huge crowd as the Angels made the game their second Community Day, in which local schools were offered free tickets.

Bath no longer have a Cannonball Fleming, but they do have a sharp striker in Scott Wilson, who gave the visitors an eighth minute lead, converting with a near post header after the West Country side had had much the better of the early exchanges.

Tonbridge were level on 18 minutes when a clumsy challenge saw Frankie Baker felled in the box allowing Akehurst to use his trusty left foot to good effect from the spot.

The first half became pretty much even steven with the visitors almost inexplicably failing to regain their lead on the half-hour when Josh Laqertabua brought a smart save from Matt Rowley and, as Akehurst got his feet in a tangle attempting the clearance, Jaiden Putman slammed his shot against the bar when it would have been easier to score.

In reply, Babajide saw his effort saved by Harvey Wiles-Richards after a good build up involving Ricky Korboa and Marcus Sablier.

Early in the second period, Wilson was denied by a superb block from Jordon Thompson before, on 53 minutes, Akehurst’s wonder pass set up Babajide’s ultimate winner.

The Angels dominated proceedings from that moment but just couldn’t find the goal that would have put the game to bed.

Wiles-Richards made good saves to deny substitutes Sean Shields, Tom Leahy and a goal for a third consecutive game by Ethan Sutcliffe.

Bath had very little left in the tank to threaten in the Angels in the closing minutes despite being given seven extra mminutes to find a goal.

So on the sidelines it is time to relax and enjoy, a pleasure that in all likelihood denied to players looking to the future.

Pictures: David Couldridge