Tonbridge Angels U15 4 Ebbsfleet United U15 3

Match 84/25/2426 - Thursday, 7th May 2026 - Kent Youth League U15 Cup Final

Tonbridge Angels U15 (2) 4 Pali 3,54 Palmer 12 Green 80+4
Ebbsfleet United (0) 3 Harman 72,78,80+5
Estimated Attendance: 300
Admission: £3
Mileage: 50/5,146

U15's THRILL IN CUP TRIUMPH

Tonbridge Angels Under-15’s completed a Kent Youth League and Cup double with a thrilling 4-3 win over Ebbsfleet United at Faversham Town’s Salters Lane stadium.

In an exceptionally successful first season return to the KYL wearing the badge of the parent club, to which will be referred later, a Cup Final win put the icing on the cake.

A fantastic turnout, estimated around the 300-mark, from both clubs saw the car park full long before kick-off, meaning a quick retreat seeking a spot in a nearby residential road.

Tonbridge have secured their Kent Youth League South title, finishing in all probability with one game remaining nine points clear of Faversham Town, whilst Ebbsfleet, with two league games remaining, presently sit fourth in the central division.

Ebbsfleet, having struck the woodwork three times, and producing a stirring comeback from 3-0 down might just feel a little hard done by, but over the course of a thoroughly entertaining encounter, the Angels were fully deserving of their win.

Tonbridge got off to a great start, but with this week’s events at U18 level, that in itself brought misgivings. Ebbsfleet switched off from a third minute throw-in from Will Smart in an innocuous position to Jurgen Pali, who settled himself with a couple of strides across the edge of the box before despatching a shot between the goalkeeper and his near post.

Captain Stan Boxall fired over, before on 12 minutes, his shot was only parried into the path of Dylan Palmer by Elijah Bateau, who finished clinically in limited space.

Ebbsfleet served notice that they were still very much in the contest when Ryan Dioullo’s shot narrowly went wide of the right hand post and, on 28 minutes, a shot from all of 25 yards from Oscar Streatfield came back from the bar to eventually nestle in the grateful hands of Michael Germanos.

Both sides had chances in the opening ten minutes of the second half, but it was the Angels that extended their lead after 54 minutes when Alfie Murray released Pali to score with a surgeon’s precision into the far corner to give his side what appeared to be an insurmountable lead.

Pali was denied his hat-trick with a fine save from Bateau, but Ebbsfleet refused to lie down and, after 72 minutes, reduced the deficit when a shot from Brodie Baker rebounded off the post to the alert Fin Harman who calmly finished.

Nerves among the Tonbridge contingent were well and truly rattled when a high, looping effort from Streatfield struck the far post and after 78 minutes (of an 80 minute game), Harman fired through a crowded penalty area, to reduce the deficit to a single goal.

As several players from both sides dropped to the floor with the effects of cramp, eight extra minutes brought two more goals in a manic finish to the game.

After Jeremiah Nzuzi had fed the ball to Ethan Green to finish nicely at the near post to return the Angels advantage to two goals after four minutes there was still time for Harman to keep the final alive with his hat-trick goal.

But, the Angels saw out time for captain Boxall to receive the trophy and cap a memorable season.

The return of the Angels to the KYL has seen, in chronological order, the Under-13’s recover from a torrid opening couple of months when their luck seemed to be completely out, to go unbeaten since early December to now sit in fourth place in their division with the possibility of finishing third. The U14’s are neck-and-neck with Maidstone United for the central league title with three games remaining and the U16’s have already been crowned central league champions, ending the season four points clear of Erith and Belvedere.

Next season the Academy (U19) will be brought in-house and this all seems a far cry from the time when, as a board member, I banged my head against a wall attempting to bring the youth team programme back to the club. In fairness, we had a bog of a pitch that was unplayable for three months or more, but with the installation of the 3G pitch and the great support of chair, Sophie Purves, youth team football is now a big part of Tonbridge Angels.

Hollands and Blair U23 5 Tonbridge Angels U19 2

Match 83/25/2425 - Wednesday, 6th May 2026 - Kent Intermediate Cup Final

Hollands and Blair U23 (1) 5 Byrne 17 Arnott 60 Reid 78,87,89 (pen)
Tonbridge Angels U19 (2) 2 Fincham 11 Richardson 22
Estimated Attendance: 250
Admission: £5
Mileage: 34/5,096

U18's WEEK OF DISAPPOINTMENT

It’s been a week of disappointment for Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s but this shouldn’t be allowed to cloud a season of achievement including retaining their Isthmiam Youth League title.

Ultimately, in this Kent Intermediate Cup Final, the physicality of an older age group told its tale but, as has been the case throughout the season, Dom Welsh’s youngsters tried to play their game, but there is more than one way to win a game of football and Hollands and Blair’s direct style was effective and deserving of their win.

The Kent Intermediate Cup is a strangely mixed competition, that Tonbridge have actually won more than any other club. As one supporter said last night that it hardly seems fair, but it is a competition for reserve teams of clubs that compete in the Senior Cup and Trophy with Under-23 and Under-21 teams allowed to enter where there is no reserve team. That some clubs, such as Tonbridge Angels, enter their Under-18’s is their choice.

Tonbridge’s journey to the Final has seen them despatch Under-23 sides but Blair were an altogether tougher ask.

The Angels could not have got off to a worse, or better start, conceding a penalty within two minutes and scoring after 11 minutes, with Callum Fincham involved at both ends of the pitch.

Fincham’s tackle on Jack Shepherd saw the referee point to the spot but Owen Edwards’ penalty was saved by the trailing leg of Jacob Hunt with the ball rebounding off the underside of the crossbar back into the keeper’s grateful hands.

Tonbridge went ahead when a raking crossfield pass from Noah Millis was received by Fincham, who with a couple of strides, took aim to angle a driven shot into the far corner off the right hand post.

Blair were quick to respond and were level on 17 minutes following a left-sided corner that was headed from the far post back to George Byrne to head home.

A frantic opening 20 minutes was completed when Mackenzie Richardson let fly from 25 yards into the top corner with the Blair goalkeeper, Mackenzie Porter, grasping at thin air.

Both sides had further chances in an entertaining first half, with Porter saving from Fincham and Hunt brilliantly turning over a Morgan Arnott header before the break.

The Angels started the second period strongly and had they managed a third goal, who knows, but Fincham’s fizzed effort was inches wide and Robert Penman brought a good save from Porter before, on the hour, Hollands and Blair equalised when Arnott converted a cross from eight yards.

On 78 minutes, Blair hit the front for the first time when substitute Lennon Reid finished a right wing cross at the near post and the game was finished as a contest with Reid poaching an 87th minute goal after the Angels defence had failed to clear their lines.

The Angels had one final flurry with Richardson’s shot parried by Porter back to Kyler Barton, but the last say went to Reid, who completed a 16 minute hat-trick from the spot to give a 5-2 scoreline that didn’t reflect the competitive nature of the game.

Our U18’s reform next season, as with all age group football, many of the squad become over age, but the beauty of the Angels newly (finally!) formed pathway is that some of the successful U16’s squad now progress into the higher age group and the process starts all over again!

NB: For supporters of a Gillingham persuasion, in the Blair squad were Morgan Arnott, son of Andy and Zach Tydeman, son of Sam and grandson of the legend that was Dick Tydeman.

Tonbridge Angels U18 2 Burgess Hill Town U18 4

Match 82/25/2424 - Monday, 4th May 2026 - Isthmian Youth League Champion of Champions SF

Tonbridge Angels U18 (2) 2 Fincham 2 Sulovari 22
Burgess Hill Town (0) 4 Golabzadeh 57,90+2, 90+7 OG 90+5
Headcount: 65
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/5,062

ADDED TIME DESPAIR

Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s suffered heartbreak as three goals in added time saw them exit the Champion of Champions playoffs.

Leading 2-0 at half-time, there was a sense that the third goal in the tie was going to be pivotal and when it went to the visitors, Burgess Hill Town, the second half unraveled in dramatic fashion.

Skipper and central defensive lynchpin, Ed Dyer, needed to be substituted due to illness and, in a moment of uncharacteristic madness, Lucas Kernan saw red handing the visitors the initiative to launch their stunning comeback.

Manager Dom Welsh: “Everything went wrong in the second half, losing Ed (Dyer), the sending off, but no excuses, these things happen and we wish Burgess Hill good luck in the final.”

The Angels couldn’t have asked for a better start, going ahead after just two minutes when a cross from River Ballach evaded Robert Penman at the near post but fell invitingly for Callum Fincham to lash home.

Jacob Hunt made a good save from Burgess Hill’s Luca Oliva as the visitors looked for an immediate response but it was the Angels who were comfortably controlling the game and went two-up in the 22nd minute when good movement between Mackenzie Richardson and Ballach saw the ball pulled back for Dani Sulovari to score.

The search for a third goal saw efforts from Fiachra Pritchard and Nathaniel Waul saved whilst a header from Dyer drifted wide.

In the closing minutes of the first half, Burgess Hill served notice that they were far from out of the game with a shot from Eddie Jimenez that rattled the crossbar; Hunt saving from Xander Silverthorne and a miraculous goal line clearance from George Vassilev.

A defensive reshuffle was required as Dyer needed to be replaced, but the chances came again as Fincham, Penman, Richardson and Vassilev peppered the visitors goal.

But on 57 minutes, a goalkeeping error allowed Burgess Hill an open goal gratefully accepted.

Penman was sent clear but denied by good goalkeeping from Jake Rhodes and on 77 minutes, the lively Bardia Golabzadeh struck the post.

Kernan was shown a red card for retaliation with 10 minutes remaining and it became backs to the wall as Burgess Hill threw everything forward in search of an equaliser that seemed inevitable.

But the clock had ticked into seven minutes of added time when the resistance was finally broken with a surging run and cross from Jimenez was headed home by Golabzadeh.

Two minutes later, an own goal saw the ball spin past a wrong footed Hunt and, in the very final act, Golabzadeh cemented a fine performance with a fourth goal.

A quick turnaround to Wednesday’s Kent Intermediate Cup Final doesn’t allow the Angels youngsters time to dwell on what might have been’s but for the fourth time the Champion of Champions has eluded them.

Gillingham 1 Shrewsbury Town 0

Match 81/25/2423 - Saturday, 2nd May 2026 - League Two

Gillingham (0) 1 McCleary 90+2
Shrewsbury Town (0) 0
Attendnance: 6,415
Admission: £22
Mileage: 45/5,024

THE FINAL CURTAIN, THANKFULLY

I’m inclined to think that the loudest cheer of the afternoon was reserved for the final whistle that brought down the curtain on the most turgid of seasons.

Gillingham supporters have endured eight months of even less than mediocrity since they led the League Two table back in September in the midst of a record unbeaten run of 21 games. Perhaps prophetically, that run was brought to an end at Priestfield Stadium by Harrogate Town, who suffered relegation on the last day.

Where did it go so horribly wrong? Gareth Ainsworth’s sabbatical due to a major heart operation; or Ainsworth himself, who had the indignity of hearing his previous club’s supporters sing that his football was shit with the Rainham End joining the chorus; or was it just the players, who week after week, have brought the indictment from supporters that they just didn’t care and certain players were subject to ridicule that helps nobody.

Certainly, the indication that as many as 14 of the squad are about to be released tells its tale and the evidence of this game bares testament to that thought.

Two teams, Gillingham sitting 18th to Shrewsbury’s 19th with every club below still facing the prospect of relegation, bellowed mediocrity but sadly, with one notable exception, didn’t even reach that heady height.

As Shrewsbury had passed up chances to win the game which plodded its way into time added, substitute Gareth McCleary let fly from 25 yards to find the top corner, the polar opposite of what had previously gone by in regular time.

How John Marquiss managed to spoon the ball over the bar from six yards one will never know and he was just one of several visiting offenders.

The game had its emotional moments with goalkeeper Glenn Morris, saluted throughout on his last appearance for the Gills whilst Sam Vokes was given a guard of honour from his team mates on his 70th minute substitution to mark his retirement from the game.

Gillingham fans are a resilient bunch, in the past eight days they’ve travelled in huge numbers to suffer a 6-2 defeat at Barnet and had the embarrassment of the club’s end of season awards dinner cancelled presumably because of the lamentable season. But, nonetheless, 6,000 of them turned out for a meaningless game and despite the winner, you cannot say they were rewarded. They deserve better.

Photo: Jim Case

Tonbridge Angels 1 Torquay United 2

Match 80/25/2422 - Saturday, 25th April 2026 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Babajide 67
Torquay United (0) 2 Moore 58 Morgan 61
Attendnance: 2,026
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/4,979

GULLS FLY AWAY

They came to Tonbridge in their hundreds, adding a swathe of yellow to the Yeomans Community Stadium. They left, as one supporter said, job done.

Torquay United, a giant of a club who really shouldn’t be National League South, arrived in the knowledge that a win could see them avoiding the playoff eliminators whilst defeat could see them fail to make the knockout stages at all.

When Paul Wotton was dismissed in March after a 5-0 home defeat by Chelmsford, this challenge seemed unlikely but the appointment of the ex-Totton manager, Jimmy Ball, has seen a remarkable turnaround in form.

For the home supporters there was a relaxed atmosphere, satisfied with their mid-table finish after a start to the season that shouted relegation from the rooftops. But the nervousness of the Torquay supporters is what we want for ourselves, to be there with something to play for (at the top of the table) on the last day.

Those of a certain vintage will remember final days of the past when keeping in touch with games elsewhere meant having a transistor radio to the ear listening to the updates as a main commentary match continued. Of course these days the smart phone means that a goal scored at Bath City is transmitted within seconds, but this also brings the “fake news” as Maidstone United supporters suffered when, having fought back from two down at Bath to win 3-2, news circulated that a late Hornchurch goal against Maidenhead had secured an unlikely playoff spot, only to have their celebrations cut short.

Torquay brought the sunshine of the English Riviera with them but, in fairness, the Garden of England has been similarly blessed all week. Tonbridge manager, Alan Dunne, gave Scott Wagstaff a starting place in what was likely to be his final game with the Angels.

Perhaps the nervousness of the visitors contributed to a flat first half which saw little goalmouth action with neither goalkeeper seriously tested.

The game turned in the west country team’s favour in the matter of a couple of minutes around the hour mark. Firstly, after 58 minutes, an inswinging corner was bundled home by Deon Moore, a disappointing goal to concede that had echoes of Maidstone’s opener in the Kent Senior Cup Final.

On 61 minutes, Dylan Morgan cut in from the left to curl a shot into the bottom corner and, with results elsewhere, Torquay moved into third place.

Tonbridge didn’t lie down and a spectacular 25 yard strike from Bunmi Babajide reset the ambitions of the visitors who retreated to defend what they had.

Chances came for the Angels, a great one for Alfie Pavey, one-on-one with the keeper, but the custodian came out of top.

But the yellow army wound their way back west, ready to sell out Plainmoor next Saturday and roll on towards the National League. Personally (but selfishly) I hope they make it, with Truro City back on the the fixture list, it is one less long journey to deal with and although Plainmoor is a big ground in National League South, being corralled into a corner with limited facilities isn’t ideal.

But, their good natured supporters who swelled the Angels’ coffers with more than a few pints sunk, deserve it.

Tonbridge Angels 0 Maidstone United 2

Match 79/25/2421 - Wednesday, 22nd April 2026 - Kent Senior Cup Final

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Maidstone United (0) 2 Kargbo 49 Court 90+7
Attendnance (TBA): 1,200
Admission: £15
Mileage: 48/4,941

THE WAIT GOES ON

That went well! Let’s get this out of the way from the outset, Maidstone United won the Kent Senior Cup Final because they were the better side on the night; they had the best player on the field and found two finishes in a game where that art was severely lacking.

But, I’m making no apology in being a Tonbridge Angels supporter and this blog doesn’t hide that fact and, without condoning the behaviour of Tonbridge’s Alfie Pavey, the after-match carnage would have been avoided if the Maidstone goalkeeper, Nathan Harness, had stayed with his team mates celebrating their win and not make the inane decision to sprint 60 yards across the pitch to goad Pavey, who met him with a headbutt that laid him out. Without that run, the cup would’ve been presented, both teams could take their medals and everyone would have gone home, elated or disappointed.

Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium is a bit cavernous with little more than 1,200 people inside with 475 Maidstone supporters occupying the Gordon Road stand whilst 750 Tonbridge fans (and neutrals) were sat in the lower tier of the Medway Stand with both ends uninhabited.

The match, not of the greatest quality, was not helped by poor officiating from an experienced referee, Dan Blades, who has many games at National League level and, supposedly, is in line for promotion. Nobody should accuse him of being biased, he was equally bad for both teams. Perhaps the wisest decision he made all night was at the final whistle when, as the carnage ensued, he wandered away to the dressing room.

That the Kent FA has labelled the occasion as “an evening to remember” can only smack of the suits partaking a little too heavily in the liquid refreshments.

The first half, on an evening that became increasingly cold, was one in which the Angels had the better of the possession and territory, but the two best chances fell to the Stones.

On 23 minutes, the Angels had a viable penalty appeal turned away as Harness felled Frankie Baker in the box in an effort to retrieve the ball.

The first meaningful shot of the evening came a minute later when a shot from outside of the box from Jordon Thompson, Harness did well to get down and push the ball away to safety.

After 35 minutes Maidstone should have hit the front when a cross from Leo Hamblin found the head of Hamzad Kargbo who steered the opportunity wide of the right hand post and, as the clock ticked into added time, Maidstone debutant Mark Boruk, who had an impressive game, swung in a cross from which John Gilbert wastefully blazed over.

The opening of the second period saw better intent from Maidstone and they were ahead after 49 minutes when a Riley Court corner dropped in the box for Kargbo to squeeze the ball into the far corner from close range.

Just past the hour, Matt Rowley was called upon to make a good, low save to deny Court, as the 19 year-old was proving the driving force in either midfield.

Angels’ manager Alan Dunne rang the changes but clear opportunities were thin on the ground.

On 81 minutes, Maidstone were reduced to 10 men when Hamblin was shown the red card for an off-the-ball incident and the Tonbridge contingent sensed a turning point in the game and, in the final minute it came, when Naz Bakrin steered a free header wide from six yards.

Seven minutes of added time saw shots from Pavey and Maidstone’s Jamie Yila, who inexplicably hooked the ball wide with an open goal gaping.

In the very final act, Court sealed the cup with a free-kick from the edge of the box, a fitting way for the best player on the pitch to end. It is a shame, that a 19 year-old saw fit to take time out of his celebratory run to his own supporters to provoke a seasoned professional in Scott Wagstaff. The petulance of youth.

The final whistle, the chaos, the felling and the miraculous resurrection of Harness saw the presentations put on hold as the Tonbridge team returned to the dressing room.

51 years and still waiting for an Angels Kent Senior Cup win whilst, for the 20th time, Maidstone take the honours in a game that as the Kent FA say, will be remembered, but for all the wrong reasons.

Photos below from Dave Couldridge

Tonbridge Angels Women 2 Maidstone United Women 3

Match 78/25/2420 - Sunday, 19th April 2026 - South East Counties Women's Football League

Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 Churchill 13 Herbert-Smith 36
Maidstone United (2) 3 Culpitt 25 Kelsi Wilkinson 45+6 Madamombe 50
Attendnance: 428
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/4,893

CRUEL END TO TITLE CHASE

Second place is a particularly cruel position in which to finish a season in the seventh tier of women’s football and second place is where, almost certainly, Tonbridge Angels Women will finish for a second consecutive season.

It is a hobby horse of mine that the structure of women’s football in the lower tiers needs addressing. This season, Maidstone United and Tonbridge Angels have been far too strong for their division. Maidstone haven’t lost a game and Tonbridge have only lost to Maidstone, the rest are trailing miles behind. What benefit is it to the competition to stunt the growth of a progressive club leaving them in a division in which next season they will continue to be too strong unless they lose their players who have ambitions for a greater standard.

Last season, a vacancy arose and one club with the correct criteria got promoted and that might happen again this season, but that is a lottery. Surely, 12 team divisions have the scope to expand?

Already this post sounds sour grapes. None of it, on the day Maidstone were the more composed side and well deserving of their win that leaves them needing to win at Hollands and Blair to confirm the title, whilst Tonbridge play host to Long Lane hoping for a miracle.

Tonbridge had done all they could to promote the game and were rewarded with an impressive 428 filing through the gates on a warm, sunny day.

The game started nervously with neither side settling into their natural rhythm but it was the Angels women that hit the front on 13 minutes with a well worked goal. A cross from the right from Charlotte Cresswell was headed on by Phoebe Farnham to an unmarked Aimee Churchill who took her opportunity to fire past a helpless Cara Davies.

Both goalkeepers were tested before the Stones equalised on 25 minutes when a driven shot from Georgia Culpitt found the bottom corner from 20 yards.

On the half-hour a nasty collision between Culpitt and Angels goalkeeper, Lois Bartlett, saw the keeper take a blow to the head that forced her substitution by outfield player Beth Kemp, who in the absence of a regular keeper took her place between the sticks.

Perhaps knowing this, Maidstone took a shoot on sight policy and, from distance, Neve Platt rattled the crossbar.

On 36 minutes, the Angels retook the lead when a clearance fell at the feet of Mollyanne Herbert-Smith, who lobbed a stranded Davies from the edge of the box.

In the much extended added time, due to Bartlett’s injury, Maidstone equalised when Kelsi Wilkinson was sent to clear to finish past Kemp.

The rolling substitutions rule allowed Bartlett to return at the start of the second half but after conceding Maidstone’s third goal when Chi Madamombe ran from deep to finish into the bottom corner, she was forced from the field again still feeling the effects of the blow to the head with Kemp returning for a second spell with the gloves.

Maidstone dominated the second period with the Angels struggling to get a meaningful spell in the half. Resolute defending, wayward finishing kept Tonbridge in the game and, into another long period of added time, their chance came when Herbert-Smith fed Grace Mayhead, but her shot was saved by Davies and soon after the celebrations began for Maidstone United.

If two-season justice prevails local rivalry will be resumed next season in the London and South East Regional League.

Pictures: Tonbridge Angels Women