Whyteleafe Academy 1 Tonbridge Angels Academy 15

Match 109/18/1702 - Wednesday, 27th March 2019 - National Academies League

Whyteleafe Academy (0) 1 Simmons 54
Tonbridge Angels Academy (3) 15 Bartlett 15,54,65,68,88 Deere 45+4,45+5,76 (pen),90 Hudson 56 Snowden-Lewis 58,73,81 Stirman 66,79
Headcount: 15

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 76/6,500

An unfortunate injury to Whyteleafe’s goalkeeper after 19 minutes which led to a substitution with an outfield player was a contributory factor as Tonbridge Angels ruthlessly exploited their hosts misfortune with a stunning second half performance.

The result could never have been envisioned as the game moved into first half time added with the Angels Academy leading by a single Rhys Bartlett goal. But two goals in a minute gave the half-time scoreline a completely different look at 3-0.

Tonbridge went in front on 15 minutes when a header forward from Harry Hudson split the Whyteleafe defence for Bartlett to stride clear and finish.

After a corner and an accidental collision with Bartlett, the goalkeeper suffered a broken nose leading to his replacement. The outfield player turned custodian did well to deny Sam Slipper and one of his defenders came to his assistance to acrobatically clear from the line after Josh Stirman had lobbed the goalkeeper.

The goalkeeper’s handling wasn’t always the best but he was getting his body behind the ball making saves from Stirman and Bartlett, although the former was guilty of putting a gilt-edged chance wide as the clock ticked into the time added for the injury.

Early in this seven minute period, Whyteleafe created a couple of chances themselves which the lively Louis Simmons was unable to convert.

A cross from the left from Bartlett was palmed into the air for Leo Deere to score with a close range header and within a minutes after a shot from Bartlett had crashed against the bar, Deere powered in a shot that even a first choice goalkeeper would have done well to keep out.

At 3-0 it would have been easy to take the foot off the pedal and become complacent but one can imagine that Tommy Parkinson’s half-time talk was not going to allow this.

In the 54th minute a goalkeeper’s kick from the hands by Tommy Taylor was allowed, on the bounce, to find its way through to Bartlett who scored into the bottom corner. But Taylor’s assist was immediately negated as a woefully poor pass across the face of his goal was intercepted by Simmons who was able to run the ball into an empty net.

A third goal in two minutes came when Deere set up Hudson for a blistering drive from 20 yards and, two minutes later, Deere set up Ned Snowden-Lewis to score from the edge of the box for 6-1 with four goals having been scored in four minutes.

Sadly, but unsurprisingly, Whyteleafe’s heads had dropped and the game became ridiculously one-sided but also became an opportunity for the Tonbridge lads to showcase some wonderful passing football.

After 65 minutes, Bartlett completed his hat-trick when he tapped-in following the goalkeeper’s parry of Deere’s shot and Stirman added an eighth a minute later.

An eye-catching interchange of passes between Barlett, Stirman and Snowden-Lewis set up the former for 9-1.

Double figures was reached after 73 minutes when Snowden-Lewis rounded the goalkeeper and three minutes later, he was brought down for Deere to convert from the spot and complete his hat-trick.

Another fine passing move ended with Stirman making it 12-1 and Snowden-Lewis completed his hat-trick with a tap-in with Bartlett providing the assist.

A fifth goal for Bartlett with a sublime finish into the top corner and one in the last minute for Deere, his fourth, made it 15-1 for the heaviest win by any team in the league this season.

Tommy Parkinson, complete with plaster cast and crutches and making very light work of the high step climb to the dressing room, was naturally delighted and described his team as ruthless with some fantastic goals scored.

Tonbridge Angels U18 0 Hastings United U18 4

Match 108/18/1701 - Sunday, 24th March 2019 - Kent Youth League

Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 0
Hastings United U18 (0) 4
Headcount: 34

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 34/6,424

Whitehawk 0 Tonbridge Angels 4

Match 107/18/1700 - Saturday, 23rd March 2019 - Bostik Premier

Whitehawk (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 4 Miles 46 McKenzie 66 Derry 77,90
Attendance: 462

Admission: £5
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 101/6,390

As you turn away from Brighton & Hove Albion’s Amex Stadium and climb into the South Downs looking down on the rolling hills that serve as the backdrop you realise why the planning application was as contentious as it was. Climb a little further and eventually set among an equally picturesque landscape is the Enclosed Ground, home to Whitehawk FC.

Unfortunately the rolling hills apply to the playing surface as well as the backdrop. I have not seen a slope quite as pronounced as this one since Cray Wanderers were playing at Oxford Road. The heaviest slope goes from side to side, but you need to see the pitch from both ends to realise the end-to-end slope as well. I found it difficult to decide whether playing one way or the other gave any significant advantage.

Relegation-threatened Whitehawk had the opening opportunity after 10 minutes when a cross from the left by Aaron Goode found Lucas Rodrigues at the far post, but his stretching effort only steered the ball wide.

A five minute delay to the game quickly followed when Tonbridge’s Tom Beere went down without a challenge and needed to be stretchered from the field with Adem Ramadan taking his place.

The visitors started to stamp their authority on the game with a surging run from Joe Turner, who switched into central midfield for Beere, stopped by a last gasp tackle from Yannis Ambroisine.

The best chance of the half fell the way of the Angels after 25 minutes when a long cross from Ramadan found Jared Small at the far side of the box whose downward header was into the path of Chinedu McKenzie but the Whitehawk goalkeeper, Melvin Minter was able to block with his legs.

A cross into the box found Arthur Lee’s head and this was met with a crashing volley from McKenzie into the net but the whistle had blown for a foul by Lee.

Whitehawk’s best chance of the half came deep into added time when a free kick from ex-Angel Henry Muggeridge gave Duane Ofori-Acheampong a good chance at the far post but his header was woefully wide.

The final chance of the half fell to Tonbridge and really should have took them into the break in front. Jack Parter crossed from the left to the near post where Tom Derry’s deft flick brought a save with the feet of Minter but the rebound fell kindly for McKenzie who cleared the bar.

Whilst Tonbridge had the best of the first half, it had been reasonably close fought and what was to transpire in the second half would not have been envisioned by many of the 346 in attendance.

Within a minute of the opening of the second half, Turner swung in a corner from the right and attacking the ball at the far corner of the six yard box, Sonny Miles planted a header into the net to give the Angels the lead.

It now appeared that Tonbridge were enjoying the advantage of the many slopes and we’re in control of the game. After 66 minutes, they went two goals in front when a long free kick from Jack Parter found the head of Arthur Lee who directed the ball back across the face of goal from where McKenzie drove home a volley.

Whitehawk’s vulnerability in the air from the set piece was now well and truly exposed and, after 77 minutes, another Turner corner this time was headed home by Tom Derry.

Steve McKimm was now afforded the luxury of resting McKenzie and Small to the bench introducing Alex Read and Liam Smith.

Chances came and went for Tonbridge to inflict further pain on their hosts but it was the last minute when Ramadan cut in to fire a shot that was parried up in the air by Minter to the waiting head of Derry to complete the second half rout.

Credit should be given to the Whitehawk Ultras who maintained their support to the end and should have been given something to cheer when ex-Angel Nathaniel Pinney’s effort was well saved by Henly.

The stands at the Enclosed Ground accommodate plenty of seats with the temporary structures behind each game a relic of Brighton’s stay at the Withdean. The main stand is oddly positioned laying a long way back from the pitch with an area of unused grass in front of it. It is never going to rank among people’s favourites because of its limitations but I have to say it was not as bad as I was led to believe.

Glebe 3 Tonbridge Angels U21 1

Match 106/18/1699 - Wednesday, 20th March 2019 - Suburban League South

Glebe (2) 3 Powell 1,44 Pearson 62
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Diez 16
Headcount: 22

Admission: £3
Programme: None
Mileage: 64/6,289

Tonbridge Angels Under-21’s faintly flickering hopes of lifting the Suburban League South title were extinguished by a Glebe side that must win their final game, a title showdown with Lingfield, and hope that the Sussex side fail to make up what would be a seven point deficit but with four games remaining to be played.

Glebe’s more direct style made greater use of the slope at Foxbury Avenue in the second half and a single goal was enough to see off the Angels’ challenge, who despite having a reasonable percentage of the possession, were lacking a clinical edge in front of goal.

The evening could not have started worse for the visitors when a defensive error allowed Glebe’s Oscar Powell a free run on goal after just 55 seconds which ended with a comfortable finish past Joe Roberts.

Tonbridge did settle into the game and, playing down the slope, created chances with Jorge Diez bringing a good save out of Mackay Foley, low to his left, followed a minute later, by another save this time to his right to deny Gideon Donkor.

The Angels finally made a breakthrough after 21 minutes when good work down the right from Donkor ended with a cross that was met by Diez but his shot was probably not goal bound when a deflection from a Glebe defender turned the ball into the net.

Both sides had chances to go into the break in front with Foley saving well at his near post following a Tonbridge corner and Roberts saving with his feet to deny Powell who had once more been sent clear. Powell was wasteful with a free header that cleared the bar before, in the final minute of the half, a strong run and cross from Alfie Sharp gave Powell a tap-in from close range to give the home side a half-time lead.

From the outset of the second half, Glebe used the know-how of their own pitch and went direct with a shoot-on-sight policy that whilst somewhat wayward left the feeling that it would eventually pay a dividend.

This it did after 62 minutes, but not quite in the manner expected when a corner from the left was turned in at the far post by Henry Pearson.

With nothing to lose, Tonbridge pressed forward and whilst Connor Watson and Carsel Hylton had attempts on goal they were consistently getting caught on the break and Roberts brilliantly turned a shot from Sharp over the bar and pushed another effort to safety.

It seems almost madness in the middle of March, a full five weeks before an albeit late Easter period that normally makes or breaks promotion or relegation issues, Tonbridge will bring down the curtain on their Suburban League season on Saturday with the visit of Sevenoaks Town to Longmead.

Tonbridge Angels 0 Bromley 1

Match 106/18/1699 - Tuesday, 19th March 2019 - Kent Senior Cup Semi-Final

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Bromley (0) 1 Hooper 17
Attendance: 389

Admission: £7 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/6,225

Perhaps Tonbridge Angels demise at the semi-final stage of this season’s Kent Senior Cup was a by-product of Leyton Orient’s progress to the FA Trophy Semi-Finals. The Senior Cup is this county is a far stronger competition than in neighbouring pastures and for club’s such as Tonbridge, and they rank at least in the middle tier of the Kent FA’s hierarchy, they need the fortune of coming up against one of the bigger teams at a less than convenient time.

But as Orient’s Trophy commitment had left Bromley with time on their hands last weekend, added to a league position that sees the Ravens marooned in mid-table with little or nothing of significance to play for in the remaining weeks, the National League side arrived at Longmead with a virtually full strength first team to contest what might have normally been a bit of an irritation.

For Tonbridge the timing was less than perfect. They very much have bigger fish to fry in terms of a promotion campaign and with an eye towards Saturday’s league game against Whitehawk and the longer term, those carrying slight niggles were rested to the bench or not risked at all. This brought Luciano Osbourne, from the Under-21s, and Michael Kamara, a player quickly signed on dual registration from Woking, into the starting line-up.

At the final whistle fine performances from the two custodians saw a highly entertaining game restricted to a single goal for the visitors and a place in the Final where they will meet Maidstone United, who saw off Gillingham via a penalty shoot-out.

David Gregory, in the Bromley goal, was the first to excel after 11 minutes when he made a brilliant double save from Sonny Miles with Liam Smith’s ambitious overhead kick that narrowly cleared the bar ending the danger.

Bromley took the lead on 17 minutes when a Smith clearance was quickly returned to the flying Dennon Lewis who got to the bye-line before pulling a cross back to JJ Hooper who tucked it home from close range.

Buoyed by their goal, Bromley enjoyed a period of dominance with Lewis a constant menace. Frankie Sutherland set up Richard Brindley to fire over snd Lewis tested Jonny Henly.

Tonbridge re-found their feet and, after 37 minutes, Gregory was brought back into the action with a superb touch over the crossbar from Alex Read following a Jared Small cross.

Early in the second period it was Henly to the rescue of the Angels as he denied Hooper and the follow-up from Jordan Higgs.

The second half was tit-for-tat until the closing 10 minutes when forced to throw bodies forward to save the tie, Bromley caught the home side on the break and it took a brave save at the feet of Shaike Kamara by Henly to keep the game alive.

A final flurry of corners, in which Henly advanced into the opposition box, saw a header from Arthur Lee go agonisingly wide to usher the Ravens into the Kent Senior Cup Final.

Both sides efforts had been fully appreciated by an attendance of 389 with the Tonbridge support justifiably proud of their team’s performance.

Tonbridge Angels 2 Corinthian Casuals 0

Match 105/18/1698 - Saturday, 16th March 2019 - Bostik Premier

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 McKenzie 10 Turner 83 (pen)
Corinthian Casuals (0) 0
Attendance: 391

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/6,187

Sometime in May, when promotion has been sealed somewhere, given the vagaries of this season’s play-off format, in the far-flung reaches of the North-East of England, this result from an instantly forgettable match probably won’t register as a major stepping stone towards that goal. But the professionals will point out that these days when the elements are as difficult to overcome as the opposition are exactly the games that have to be won to achieve anything. A howling gale made any decent football virtually impossible even against an opposition that were limited as Corinthian Casuals.

An early goal, courtesy of some woeful Casuals’ defending, should have set the path to a comfortable afternoon, but it didn’t quite work out that way. A cross from the right from Jared Small landed at the feet of Juevan Spencer whose attempted clearance went straight to Chinedu McKenzie, who said thanks very much and despatched the ball into the bottom corner.

With the wind at their backs, Tonbridge needed to put the game beyond their visitors before they turned around, but the elements proved difficult whichever way you were facing.

Tom Derry headed wide; a Tom Beere free kick was steered wide by McKenzie and Casuals’ goalkeeper, Dan Bracken made a good save to deny Joe Turner.

Battling against the gale, Corinthian Casuals were unable to conjure much in the way of opportunities but a straight through ball sent their leading scorer, Warren Mfula, through on goal after 35 minutes only to be denied by Jonny Henly who scooped the ball away from the striker’s feet as he attempted to round him.

McKenzie had the ball in the net again but this was ruled out for offside, but the Angels went into the break knowing they had little room for mistake with the wind now going to be against them.

Henly was called into action five minutes into the second period, saving at the feet of Benjamin Aghadiuno and Coskum Ekim fired narrowly over as the Casuals naturally took control of the game.

Just past the hour, Derry brought a save from Bracken as Tonbridge made what was a rare foray forward but whilst the momentum was with the visitors they too were making very few opportunities.

Henly saved from substitute, ex-Angel Bradley Woods-Garness and full back Hakeem Adelukan fired wide before the home side finally put the game to bed with a penalty seven minutes from time.

A free kick from the left, taken by Beere, found the outstretched hand of Majed Osman, giving the referee little choice but to point to the spot. Turner held his nerve to shoot firmly into the bottom corner.

Opponents beaten, elements beaten, move on was the soundbite. There are more difficult opponents to come, whether there will be more testing elements is doubtful.

Tonbridge Angels 1 AFC Hornchurch 0

Match 104/18/1697 - Saturday, 9th March 2019 - Bostik Premier

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Derry 85
AFC Hornchurch (0) 0
Attendance: 509

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/6,149

It was a goal 413 minutes in the making and when it came it was not a 35 yarder into the top corner that us fans love but a finely worked move that has coaches salivating.

This was the first of four games against teams in the lower reaches of the league and it is generally considered among the Angels’ support that close to maximum points needs to be taken if they are going to gain not only a play-off place but one with home advantage.

Three points were duly delivered ... eventually.

Visitors AFC Hornchurch, managed by ex-Gillingham boss Mark Stimson, started the game with a yellow card for his son Charlie for a poor challenge after just three minutes and the first opportunity when Sean Marks headed wide.

Tonbridge proceeded to take the game to their visitors but chances, real chances, were very few. A cross from Jack Parter was met with a Tom Derry header but directed at goalkeeper Callum Chafer after 21 minutes whilst, after 34 minutes, good link play between Joe Turner and Chinedu McKenzie saw Chafer save well, low to his right.

The Angels’ best moment of the half came with five minutes remaining when Turner’s effort was brilliantly turned aside by Chafer.

The dynamic of the game was hardly changed by the half-time break with the game largely being dominated by the hosts but Hornchurch did have the ball in the net after 51 minutes but ruled out for offside.

Sadly, the game was brought to a halt early in the second period when Tonbridge skipper, Tom Parkinson needed lengthy treatment before his ankle was immobilised and the player stretchered from the field and onto hospital for assessment of the injury.

The injury break took the wind (and it was very windy) out of the Angels’ spell and Hornchurch enjoyed a spell on the front foot but without causing Tonbridge goalkeeper, Jonny Henly, too many problems.

Steve McKimm rang the changes in search of the winning goal with, in addition to Tom Beere’s introduction for Parkinson, Adem Ramadan for Jared Small and Alex Read replacing McKenzie.

And finally it came. Beere slid a sublime ball inside of the full back for Turner to cross low to the near post from where Derry slid in to finish a wonderfully crafted team goal.

Hornchurch raised the heartrate as they staged a late rally but, in truth, it was too little too late.

Sutton United Academy 2 Tonbridge Angels Academy 1

Match 103/18/1696 - Wednesday, 6th March 2019 - National Academies League

Sutton United (0) 2 Igbineweka61 Brown 84
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Masungeyi 5
Headcount: 15

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 106/6,111

The first team management of Steve McKimm and Barry Moore watched on from the bench as Tonbridge Angels Academy let slip a half time lead to go down 2-1 at a windswept Sutton United.

Ola Williams was paired in the centre of defence alongside Harrison Mayhew which allowed Harry Hudson to move into midfield.

Tonbridge could not have wished for a better start, going ahead in the fifth minute. A long punt forward from goalkeeper Tommy Taylor saw his Sutton counterpart, Matthew Kerdy, advance beyond his penalty area but this turned into a gross misjudgement as Saul Masungeyi robbed him of the ball and was left with an open goal in which to finish.

For the next quarter-hour, buoyed by the early goal, the Angels took the game to their hosts and Williams went close with a header after Kerdy had flapped at a free kick.

Sutton though had dangerous outlets on both flanks with Phillipe Souza and Juan Olaves-Castillo posing problems for both Angels’ full backs.

A good cross from Frank Kennedy saw Mayhew’s header go wide but the momentum of the game had changed in the favour of Sutton.

On the half-hour a cross from the left was met by a header from Golden Igbineweka that was saved by Taylor, who was needed again almost immediately as Olaves-Castillo cut in from the left to shoot.

Overall, despite their possession, Sutton had not really created a clear-cut chance and Tonbridge just about deserved their half-time lead.

Sutton’s coach is Marvin Williams, Marvellous Marvin as he was known in a spell at Longmead, and his troops dominated the second period. There were early opportunities that wastefully cleared the bar and Michael Boyo dragged a shot wide.

Eventually, Sutton had to get it right and a move from the right ended with the.Sutton full back, Andrew Appiah pulling a cross back from the bye-line across the face of goal to give Igbineweka an easy close range header to equalise.

Tonbridge steadied the ship and Hudson headed over before a piece of sublime skill from Sutton substitute Kiyo Brown who, from 30 yards, spotted Taylor off his line and produced an immaculate chip over the stranded goalkeeper.

The goal gave Tonbridge just five minutes to retrieve the situation and, to their credit, they gave it a grandstand finish with Williams and Mayhew heading wide and having the ball in the net but being ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper.

A disappointed manager, Tommy Parkinson, tweeted after the game that his side had produced a timid/weak performance against a good Sutton team and that his boys need more desire and conviction in games if they want to succeed.

Steve McKimm’s twitter verdict was that it was a good game and on another day Tonbridge may have got a draw. A very honest and talented group of lads.

Tunbridge Wells 3 K Sports 1

Match 102/18/1695 - Tuesday, 5th March 2019 - SCEFL Premier

Tunbridge Wells (3) 3 Power 41 Pearson 45+2 Bryce-Borthwick 57
K Sports (1) 1 Perry 48
Attendance: 159

Admission: £4
Programme: £2
Mileage: 38/6,005

Michael Power, Shaggy to his mates, Marmite to his team’s supporters whoever they may be in a roaming career that took in Tonbridge Angels en-route to his present parent club, Cray Wanderers, who head Bostik South by a staggering 13 points. Surplus to requirements, at least in the present, despite being Cray’s second leading goalscorer, Shaggy has pitched up at Tunbridge Wells on loan, from where his first appearance served to confirm his Marmite status.

But, on this evening when Tunbridge Wells broke a sequence of eight games without a win and recorded only their second home win of the season, Power’s goal and an assist will do a great deal to warm any of the supporters with any misgivings about the robust striker.

On a miserable night with intermittent heavier rain breaking up the continual drizzle it was once again testament to the Wells’ enduring support that 159 turned out given both the elements and the dreadful home form.

That home form showed little sign of abating in the early stages as visitors, K Sports, opened up testing Callum Hampson on a couple of occasions in the first 10 minutes.

Once Tunbridge Wells settled into their task with Power shooting over and Chad Bryce-Borthwick bringing a fine save, low to his left, out of Adam Highstead who turned the ball away for a corner, from which Perry Spackman headed goalwards to Power, whose header cleared the bar.

After 34 minutes, K Sports’ Tom Skelton forced a good save from Hampson and the Wells had the ball in the net but this was ruled out for offside.

But, after 41 minutes, the Wells went in front. Tom Pearson’s pace took him clear before pulling back a cross that should have been dealt with by Skelton, but he got his feet in a muddle and the ball fell to Power who made no mistake.

Better was to come, two minutes into first half added time when Pearson indulged us with a sublime finish from the left side, perfectly executing a chip into the far corner over a forlorn Highstead. Did he mean it, was it really a cross? Let’s give him a deserved benefit of the doubt.

All the good work of the later stages of the first half appeared to be on its way to being undone when, after just three minutes of the second half, K Sports reduced the deficit. A corner was not dealt with and although Hampson saved the initial shot from Jack West, the follow-up was firmly drilled home by Jason Perry.

But the home side quickly restored their two goal advantage when Power set up Bryce-Borthwick to arrow a shot into the bottom corner.

Power left the field three minutes later, his job done with his new supporters loving the taste of Marmite.

K Sports’ Charlie Smith crashed a free kick against the bar with 10 minutes remaining as the Wells saw the game out with relative comfort and with it a welcome three points.

Tonbridge Angels Ladies 2 Maidstone United Women 3

Match 101/18/1694 - Sunday, 3rd March 2019 - Kent Plate

Tonbridge Angels Ladies (1) 2 Janes 42 Burton 90+4
Maidstone United Women (2) 3 Beeput 10,49 Stacey 16
Attendance: 155

Admission: £2
Programme: With Entry
Mileage: 38/5,967

Tonbridge Angels Ladies paid for a slow start in which they conceded twice in the opening 16 minutes and after working hard to bring the game back to 2-1 at half-time they conceded early in the second half to once more have a two goal deficit to recover.

The game, played at Longmead Stadium, attracted an excellent attendance of 155 especially given a wet and windy afternoon.

Tonbridge struggled to adapt to the conditions and when, after 10 minutes, a loose pass was intercepted by Maidstone’s Amanda Beeput, the tall striker strode clear to bury a shot into the bottom corner.

After 16 minutes a lofted clearance saw Maidstone’s #10 clear and although Samantha Wright saved bravely the first attempt the ball rebounded kindly for #10 to shoot into an open goal.

Leaving themselves with a plenty of time but a mountain to climb, the Angels’ Ladies began to settle into the game with Kelly Moran and Becky Mackley combining well before the latter’s shot was blocked.

But, after 33 minutes, they gave themselves a fighting chance when a well delivered corner from Florentia Anastasiou was met with a firm header from Becky Janes to reduce the deficit to 2-1.

Leading goalscorers Mackley and Janes saw efforts go respectively wide and high as the Angels ended the half on the front foot.

Sadly, all the hard work of the later stages of the first half were quickly undone within three minutes of the restart when Beeput found too much space after being sent clear by Gemma Sullivan. Although her first attempt was blocked by Anastasiou, the rebound fell kindly for the Maidstone striker to finish clinically.

Wright’s brave dive at the feet of Beeput denied her a hat-trick as did a good save, low to her left, on 78 minutes.

To their credit the Angels fought hard to the finish and got a consolation in time added when Sara Walker was scythed down in the box allowing Burton to convert from the spot.

The Ladies have very little time to feel sorry for themselves as next Sunday they go into another semi-final against Lewes Foundation in the Chairman’s Cup.

Enfield Town 0 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 100/18/1693 - Saturday, 2nd March 2019 - Bostik Premier

Enfield Town (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 401

Admission: £7 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 123/5,929

The last two Tonbridge Angels games have been an examination of the glass half-full, half-empty state of mind.

Half-full and satisfaction is taken that no ground has been made by two play-off chasing rivals. Half-empty points you in the direction that Tonbridge have now gone 328 minutes since their last goal.

On a blustery afternoon that had firmed up the pitch in north London, the hosts, Enfield Town enjoyed the best of the first half with Tonbridge thanking the woodwork for taking them into the break on level terms.

The second half was a different matter, and by the finish, a draw was a fair result.

After a first minute effort from Joe Turner that employed goalkeeper, Matt Dolan, the home side picked up the mantle and exerted considerable pressure. After eight minutes a fine cross from the excellent Mickey Parcell found the unmarked head of Billy Bricknell but the ace marksman inexplicably steered his header wide.

Enfield were cursing their luck four minutes later when a 25 yard shot from Sam Youngs struck the underside of the crossbar with Jonny Henly making a brilliant save to thwart Bricknell from the rebound.

The Angels did find a riposte but Tom Derry delayed his shot and was muscled out.

Bricknell and Kezie Ibe combined well before setting up Parcell to drive a shot across the face of goal and narrowly wide.

Parcell, for all his good work, was lucky to see yellow for a crude challenge on Adem Ramadan.

Tonbridge were thanking the woodwork once more after 32 minutes when an Enfield corner from the left was met with a header from Bricknell that crashed against the bar.

Tonbridge needed to improve into the second half and right from the outset they were on the front foot and within two minutes they should have been in front when a Turner effort was deflected into the path of Derry who fired wide when it was easier to score.

It was certainly not one of Derry’s better days as only another couple of minutes elapsed before Alex Read set him for another attempt, but with the same result.

Successive Turner corner’s saw Arthur Lee plant a header against a post and Alex Read’s stab at goal cleared from the line.

Four great chances in the opening 10 minutes of the half had not found reward and from that point the game evened out. Lee received a caution after bringing down Bricknell who had been sent clear, quickly followed by the central defender steering a header wide from a free kick.

After 75 minutes the visitors had a strong penalty claim for handball turned away, thus equalling out a first half claim for similar from James Folkes.

Jonny Henly was required to make a great save as the game entered time added to preserve the hard earned point.

Steve McKimm was a glass half-full manager after the game as he took satisfaction from three difficult days on the road.