Crowborough Athletic 3 Tunbridge Wells 2

Match 76/21/1940 - Monday, 27th December 2021 - SCEFL Premier

Crowborough Athletic (1) 3 Murrain 23 Duncan 80,83
Tunbridge Wells (1) 2 Gethin 6 Lightfoot 58
Attendance: 513

Admission: £4 Senior
Programme: £1
Mileage: 50/4,192

What a Christmas Cracker and like a bottle of champagne that has proved difficult to uncork the game exploded into a dramatic finale.

In atrocious conditions, both sides deserve great credit for the entertainment served up for a crowd of over 500 in this festive A26 derby. A pitch that was always going to end up as a mud bath was never going to aid the quality of the game but both sets of players did their best to play football.

Similarly positioned in mid-table, a competitive encounter was to be envisaged and it certainly didn’t disappoint.

Tunbridge Wells started the better and it was no great surprise that they took the lead after just six minutes. Initially, a driving run by Harry Hudson from midfield saw James Nurden sent clear down the left and his low, driven cross was met by Matt Gethin who had a relatively easy tap in.

As the rain pelted down it would be easy to relate to floodgates being opened but Crowborough were having none of that and just a minute later, Elliott Duncan struck a post with the follow-up denied by an instinctive stop from 17-year-old Frankie Leonard.

The home side continued to force the pace and after Leonard had saved from Jacob Lambert and Harry Osborne had fired over they deservedly found an equaliser on 23 minutes through ex-Tunbridge Wells striker Lucas Murrain. An initial shot from Ollie Hyland came back from the crossbar and a second effort was beaten away by Leonard but the goalkeeper was helpless as Murrain fired straight down the middle from the rebound.

The game ebbed and flowed with both goalkeepers called into action. In the Crowborough goal, Cameron Hall saved from Kyron Lightfoot on a trio of occasions whilst Leonard saw efforts from Osbourne and Duncan narrowly fail to find the target.

Tunbridge Wells ended the half firmly on the front foot. A free kick from Lightfoot was saved by Hall and a shot from Hudson was deflected wide by a coat of paint.

The visitors picked up the second half as they finished the first and Hall needed to paw away a cross-cum-shot from Frankie Griffin and save from Lightfoot. But the natural flow of the game meant that Crowborough would have their spell and with it a golden opportunity to take the lead when Lambert broke through to set up Duncan whose shot was saved by Leonard but as the ball was recycled a cross found the head of Ali Mouajal who somehow directed it over the bar.

A minute later, the 58th, the Wells got their noses in front a second time with once more an initial run and pass from Hudson finding Lightfoot on the left side side of the box, his shot appeared to take a deflection and the ball looped over the stranded Hall and into the far corner.

Tunbridge Wells failed to capitalise of their momentum and back came Crowborough. In the 77th minute, the referee was left with a difficult decision as the Wells goalkeeper lay prone on the ground with the game going on around him. A pass through the left channel saw Leonard sliding in at the feet of Murrain, the slippery ball escaping his grasp and taking a knock in the process. The loose ball was sent goalwards and defenders twice cleared from the line before the referee called a halt to give the stricken keeper some attention, much to the annoyance of Crows supporters who felt there had been minimum contact with the goalkeeper.

Their upset turned to joy three minutes later when the ball was picked up from a clearance by the impressive Duncan who, from 20 yards, curled an exquisite shot into the top corner.

The game had turned now into the home side’s favour and three minutes later they found a winner when a cross from the right saw the ball fall to Osborne whose shot was parried but only into the path of Duncan who scored from close range.

So the A26 bragging rights goes the way of the Crows and on balance they just about deserved it. But as the battle weary players trudged to the tunnel, muddied head to toe to a man, they could feel the appreciation of the spectators who had witnessed a traditional no quarters given, none asked Christmas Derby.

Tonbridge Angels 0 Maidstone United 1

Match 75/21/1939 - Sunday, 26th December 2021 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Maidstone United (1) 1 Phillips 18
Attendance: 1,669

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/4,142

It had to happen sometime, for the first time since 2007, Maidstone United have beaten their neighbours in a league fixture. It’s not quite such an impressive unbeaten run for Tonbridge as it sounds, there are many years in between when the clubs have been in different divisions and Maidstone have also won the odd Kent Senior Cup encounter. But it is a defeat against the most deadly of rivals and one that it is hoped that the pain will only last for a matter of a week as the clubs meet again at the Gallagher on 2nd January.

The weather, hardly Christmasy, mild, dank and miserably wet, along with the present Covid worries might have taken a few off of the attendance but a bumper Longmead crowd of 1,669 was still in attendance for a encounter that has failed to take place during the last two pandemic-affected seasons.

Steve McKimm opted to go for Ibrahim Olutade, fresh from his winner as a substitute against Torquay United and a first start for Adam Coombes.

At the final whistle, neither goalkeeper had had an afternoon in which they were overly employed and the result came down to the visitors taking one of very few opportunities and the Angels failing to find the target from their only real chance.

Although Joe Turner shot narrowly wide on six minutes, Maidstone dominated possession during the majority of the first period and took the lead on 18 minutes. Adam Lovatt looked to have extricated himself from an awkward position but then had his pocket picked, perhaps unfairly, and when the ball fell at the feet of Michael Phillips he picked his spot in the top corner and executed his finish perfectly.

With Maidstone holding the momentum, it was felt that Tonbridge needed to get to the break without further damage and for McKimm to inject some belief into his side. This they did, without Jonny Henly making a serious save, and within a minute of the restart, Coombes found himself one on one with the Stones’ keeper Tom Hadler, but the striker didn’t seem to have clarity of thought on the finish to be applied and Hadler was able to smother at his feet. On the sidelines with the benefit of hindsight, a clip over the goalkeeper was needed as Hadler went to ground early.

It was a big moment and given that the home side enjoyed the best of the second half by a clear margin had they equalised at that moment they might well have gone on to win the game.

But Maidstone resolutely defended and Tonbridge just didn’t have the nous to break them down and real chances were thin on the ground. Substitute Tommy Wood had a header that drifted wide on 73 minutes and Jake Embery saw his effort deflected safely into the hands of Hadler in time added.

On the day, there wasn’t 15 places between the sides, so hopefully we can look forward to another competitive encounter in a week’s time.

Tonbridge Angels 2 Torquay United 1

Match 74/21/1938 - Saturday, 18th December 2021 - FA Trophy 3R

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Turner 9 Olutade 86
Torquay United (1) 1 Wright 34
Attendance: 719

Admission: £12 Senior
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/4,104

These days do not come along too often. The purpose of this blog is not to produce another match report (although far too often it slips into that) but to relate the emotion or the trials and tribulations of the day.

The process of description begins with finding a word that depicts what has unfolded before your eyes. Splendid sounds a bit posh, afternoon tea at a country house; wowzers is a bit too hip for a 70-year old; it wasn’t really wondrous because I always thought that given a set of circumstances, it was on the cards. Proud cuts it, but then I’m always proud of this club. So how about sublime, it’s a word often used in football, it’s dictionary definition, elevated, lofty in thought, doesn’t quite fit with this writer, but it feels right.

Whilst we are on the subject of words, Torquay’s manager Gary Johnson probably didn’t mean to be disrespectful in his pre-match interview, but his words were clumsy as he commented that he didn’t know where Tonbridge was and pontificated over dropping of standards. Johnson needed reminding that just three years ago, Torquay plied their trade in the exact league to which Tonbridge Angels are now situated.

And so to the match reporting bit. After the home side took an early lead, Torquay stamped their quality on the match and were well worth their equaliser when it arrived but, when I expected the visitors to kick on in the second half it just didn’t happen. Johnson spoke afterwards about lack of desire, etc. I’m more inclined to believe that one side in the second period were simply better and it wasn’t Torquay.

Torquay didn’t arrive at the ground until 40 minutes before kick off, but the opening stages didn’t look like they needed to get the journey, evidently they stayed locally overnight, out of their legs. Jonny Henly needed to save from Jack Sparkes and a header from Klaidi Lolas went narrowly wide.

But it was the Angels that opened the scoring on nine minutes when a free kick from Tom Beere saw Joe Turner allowed to drift into space and rise unchallenged to plant a well placed header past the Gulls’ goalkeeper, Mark Halstead. Who said something about standards?

Halstead was back in action on 20 minutes turning a shot from Turner that was destined for the top corner away for a corner.

Torquay enjoyed a period when they had some momentum leading up to their equalising goal on 34 minutes. Tom Lapslie saw a shot deflected that Henly did well to readjust and a Danny Wright header went just over when he probably should have hit the target. But the equaliser was a fine bit of play that perhaps smacked of Johnson’s standards. A deft pass from Armani Little found Wright who clipped the ball past the advancing Henly.

Tonbridge needed to survive to the break and did so in fairness with the minimum of concern, a free kick from a dangerous position that sailed harmlessly over about as much as the visitors had to offer.

The general viewpoint among my group of Angels supporters was that the extra quality, the extra fitness that full time training brings would probably be enough to see the visitors back to Devon with their name in the hat for Monday’s draw. But, if the desire isn’t there, then the standards drop, I think we’ve done that one now!

For 15 minutes or so, Torquay did exert some pressure with Lolas forcing Henly into a save but from the hour mark, where did they go?

The irrepressible, quite magnificent on the day, Turner shot over and on 63 minutes, following a corner which wasn’t dealt with and the scramble that ensued ended with the ball crossing the line. The linesman initially appeared to signal that the ball had crossed the line but, ultimately, he detected a foul from 25 yards away that the referee couldn’t see from five. [And having now seen the video, I'm still baffled by the decision.]

Tonbridge won a series of corners, none of which were cleared with any degree of confidence and, on 74 minutes, Tommy Wood put a header agonisingly wide.

A big moment of the game came on 78 minutes. Sparkes put Sinclair Armstrong through and Henly produced a massive save to block the giant striker’s effort.

It was to be the defining moment, a superb move ended with Adam Lovatt’s shot being saved but a minute later, the 86th, a cross into the box from Beere was spilt by Halstead and there was substitute Ibrahim Olutade, only on the pitch for four minutes, to stab the ball home.

The four minutes added time seemed like hours but it passed without any scares and Tonbridge Angels had a prized scalp.

As I left the ground over an hour after the game had finished, the Torquay coach was still in position, perhaps Gary Johnson was still using the satnav to locate exactly where he was!

Staplehurst Monarchs United 1 Deal Town 3

Match 73/21/1937 - Wednesday, 15th December 2021 - SCEFL Challege Cup 2R

Staplehurst Monarchs United (0) 1 82
Deal Town (2) 3 Coyne 7 Munday 45 OG 63
Attendance: 92

Admission: £4 Senior
Programme: £1
Mileage: 2/4,066

I was made up to have a SCEFL side 10 minutes walk from my front door. Staplehurst will never be the club that I support match to match, but when the fixture list allows, the Jubilee Sports Ground is a welcoming visit. But for how long will they want me to visit? So far, I’ve seen three home games and one away and, as yet, they haven’t managed even a draw, despite prior to this game, having been on a five game unbeaten run. A mitigating factor is that I’ve seen them play Chatham and Deal from the SCEFL Premier and Larkfield and New Hythe, expected to be among the front runners in Division One.

On a pleasantly mild evening, Deal Town exercised their higher status and completely dominated the first 45 minutes. The lack of team details via either a white board or a team sheet means that apart from the goal scorers, events will go unnamed.

From the outset, Deal were on the front foot, a header from a corner narrowly wide on two minutes; the post hit after four, so it was no surprise when, after seven minutes, they went in front following a cross from the left that was headed on for Connor Coyne to touch home from close range.

Five minutes later, the visitors saw an effort come back from the underside of the bar and moments later, Steve Lawrence, the Staplehurst goalkeeper made the first of many good saves. The first half progressed without the Monarchs having a meaningful effort on goal, but their resilience at the back was to be admired but, in time added, Deal added a second when a cross from the right was met with a volley from Billy Munday to sent the East Kent side into the break with a two goal lead.

The second half’s momentum didn’t change and after 63 minutes, this Challenge Cup Second Round tie was put to bed in somewhat unfortunate manner for Staplehurst as Lawrence’s save rebounded off a defender into his net.

Deal, perhaps, went in coasting mode and Staplehurst took advantage to pull a goal back eight minutes from time with a header following a free kick.

Staplehurst are a club on the rise, a FIFA Approved Surface (as 3G/4G now needs to be referred to) is a possibility for next season and its status as a community club with age groups from five years old through to veterans is well received in the village. Most attendances at the Jubilee this season have been 100-plus although for this game it fell just short of three figures, but it shows that the support at this level is there for the club to continue to grow.

Corinthian Under-18 2 Tonbridge Angels Under-18 2

Match 72/21/1936 - Monday, 13th December 2021 - Isthmian Youth

Corinthian (1) 2 Kyeyune-Senyange 13 Husthwaite 86
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 London 11 Saunders 46
Attendance: 39

Admission: £2.50 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 54/4,064

Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s came away from Gay Dawn Farm with a hard-fought, well-earned point but at the same time feeling aggrieved that ill-discipline on one hand, but poor officiating on the other, had left them a man short for the final 15 minutes of a game that they were leading 2-1.

Josh McArthur saw red after an innocuous tackle had seen his Corinthian opponent kick-out following the challenge. McArthur’s retaliation led to a multi-player melee that when brought to order saw the red card issued, a yellow for Ben Morgan, but with the perpetrator walking away without rebuke.

The incident, in a game that had been competitive but without friction, led to a chaotic last quarter hour which also saw the Angels’ manager Dom Welsh sent to the stand. Such was the confusion that even the final whistle was shrouded in mystery.

Both sides had good chances in the opening minutes with the Angels’ Hayden Velvick bringing a good save out of the Corinthian goalkeeper after five minutes before the visitors opened the scoring after 11 minutes when Velvick pulled the ball back for Harry London to drive a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the D.

The lead lasted barely two minutes when some really good wing play down the left ended with a pass across the face of the goal to the far post leaving Kyeyune-Senyange with a tap-in.

After 15 minutes of a thrilling opening, London went close when his shot clipped the bar.

The game settled down with Corinthian in the ascendancy for a while bringing Angels keeper Matt Larkin into action and five minutes before the break the home side missed an absolute sitter as a cross from the right found the left winger at the far post but he inexplicably managed to put the ball wide of the post from two yards.

The second half was less than a minute old when the Angels were gifted the lead. A pass back to the goalkeeper, who had previously struggled with the ball at his feet, saw him take a bad touch and Will Saunders closing him down, seized upon the opportunity, to win the tackle and roll the ball into the net.

It was the start to the half that Tonbridge wanted and they took control of the game with Saunders and substitute Fin Wolvey testing the shaken keeper.

But the game changed with the sending off and Corinthian sensed their opportunity, although from the free kick that was given to Tonbridge after the skirmish, Morgan struck the bar.

Tonbridge were forced deep but defended doggedly until the 86th minute when a cross from the left found Husthwaite in front of goal, he appeared to mishit his shot, perhaps that’s doing him an injustice, but the ball looped up and over Larkin and into the net.

Unfortunately, with the referee having lost control of the situation, the final minutes became a bad tempered affair with argument taking over from football although Larkin had to be alert to save following a Corinthian corner.

When the final whistle blew, or did it, the referee continued to be in the centre of the action and further yellow cards were brandished, but to whom and why, only the official can say.

Dom Welsh declined to comment on his own sending off or other events surrounding the officials but praised his team for their desire and commitment when down to 10 men against a good team.

Tonbridge Angels 2 Dulwich Hamlet 2

Match 71/21/1935 - Saturday, 11th December 2021 - League One

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Turner 28 (pen) Smith-Joseph 79
Dulwich Hamlet (1) 2 Green 70 Higgs 84
Attendance: 798

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/4,010

This was day when football was the winner. A terrific game of football when both sets of supporters in a crowd of nearly 800 would agree that the result was the right one. A day when fourth from bottom Tonbridge Angels went toe to toe with third placed Dulwich Hamlet and a day when the match day mini beer festival was drank dry!

Anyone that has visited Champion Hill would have witnessed that Dulwich supporters like a drop of real ale, so it’s no secret that the first festival was scheduled with that knowledge! From around an hour before kick off through to 70 minutes into the game, the queue was continuous and the kegs of Tonbridge Brewery and Constellation were going down a treat.

On the field, Tonbridge Angels announced a new signing, Adam Coombs, a striker from Cray Wanderers, who took his place on the bench. Tommy Parkinson, Ricky Modeste, Doug Loft and Craig Braham-Barrett were all unavailable through injury.

Jonny Henly was the first to be tested, turning a free kick from Giovanni McGregor over the bar and Dulwich largely dominated the opening 20 minutes.

But it was the home side that took the lead after 28 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after Aaron Smith-Joseph’s wing play and cross into Joe Turner, whose initial shot was parried by Charlie Grainger at the near post but as the ball rebounded to the Angels’ leading scorer he was clumsily brought down. Turner converted from the spot.

Tonbridge might have gone two-up just five minutes later when Jake Embery was through on goal following a sublime pass from Turner, but after rounding the Dulwich goalkeeper, the ball ran away from him.

Tonbridge went into the break probably just about deserving their lead, meanwhile the half-time queue at the beer stall was getting longer!

Dulwich were obviously going to go for it after the break and whilst Turner went close on 54 minutes, good chances were spurned at the other end and, on 67 minutes, Henly made what is becoming his weekly miraculous save from Jack Holland.

But the reprieve was short lived as Danny Mills opened up the Tonbridge defence before Jordan Green slotted past Henly.

Dulwich now had the momentum and Darren McQueen should have done better that shoot straight at Henly, but the visitors were rocked back on their heels after 79 minutes when a cross from Smith-Joseph was inexplicably fumbled into his own net by Grainger.

But thoughts of an unexpected three points were quickly dashed when a 25 yarder into the top corner from Jordan Higgs brought the scores level once more.

Tonbridge sought a winner, Holland making a last ditch challenge to deny Ibrahim Olutade but ultimately the clock ticked through its added time just as Tonbridge broke out from defending a corner.

Great game, well worth a celebratory beer, but the sold out signs were up!

Hugh Christie 8 Brompton Academy 0

Match 70/21/1934 - Wednesday, 8th December 2021 - Academies Championship

Hugh Christie (4) 8 Nunes 22 Mpyadora 23,34 Elliott 43 Devlin 72 Lazell 73,80 Brown 83
Brompton Academy (0) 0
Headcount: 15

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 32/3,972

It’s been a tough last four or five weeks for the Academy with eight potential elite squad players being ruled out with injuries which has meant results haven’t gone so well for squads two and three as players have been promoted into higher squads (which is positive news) often leaving Squad Three at bare bones, but performances have been improving and it was good for Squad Three that, for once, the boot was on the other foot with no games for the two more senior squads enabling Joe Ford to choose from a full squad and even supplement his team.

It took the Angels 20 minutes or so to make the breakthrough against Brompton Academy (SEFA) but once Sammy Nunes scored with a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, the floodgates were opened.

A second goal was added a minute later after Charlie Hatcher had sent Joseph Mpyadora through to finish coolly past an goalkeeper clearly frustrated by his absent defence.

This second goal signalled a siege on the visitors goal and it was somewhat surprising that it took another 11 minutes before the scoreline was added to with the Brompton goalkeeper admirably keeping out efforts from Harry Flemming and Mpyadora.

But he was beaten again after 34 minutes when a fine move involving Harrison Parks and Reece Elliott ended with Mpyadora adding his second goal.

Parks was involved again in setting up an opportunity for Hatcher, who was twice denied but Hatcher added a second assist with a pass into Elliott who rounded a defender, slotting home an assured finish.

The half-time team talk surrounded maintaining standards despite the obvious weakness of the opposition, but Brompton actually had their best period after half-time and their best player twice tested the Angels’ goalkeeper and a header from a corner rattled the crossbar.

But the momentum switched back to the home side and after a series of missed chances, Ryan Devlin produced a 25 yard lob over a stranded keeper.

Two minutes later, on 73, Jack Lazell thumped home a 20 yarder for 6-0 and after 80 minutes he doubled his tally with a shot that slipped from the goalkeeper’s grasp.

Hatcher helped himself to a hat-trick of assists with the final goal giving Ellis Brown a tap-in.

It was an easy victory for the Championship North team and one that should give them confidence in the coming months.

Tonbridge Angels U18 3 East Grinstead U18 1

Match 69/21/1933 - Monday, 6th December 2021 - Isthmian Youth

Tonbridge Angels U18 (2) 3 London (pen) 8 Garcia 24 Lambert 90
East Grinstead U18 (0) 1 68
Headcount: 30

Admission: £4
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/3,940

Tonbridge Angels Under-18 manager has always maintained that this first season back in Isthmian League football would be one of transition with his squad full of first years and supplemented by Under-16’s coming up against teams made up of players two, perhaps even three, years older and stronger. It is no secret that those two years can involve a lot of growing.

In the first half of this game, with seven first years and three Under-16’s in the starting 11, we were treated to a sneaky peak into what next season might bring and what we saw was very exciting.

The pace of Hayden Velvick and Isaac Barden was electric and the visiting East Grinstead side struggled to cope and when Velvick and George Rayner linked, a desperate challenge felled the latter for a eighth minute penalty that was duly converted by Harry London.

A mazy run from Velvick that ended with his shot being deflected wide and an effort from Rayner that was narrowly wide emphasised the problems that East Grinstead were having containing the threat from the left hand side.

That said, East Grinstead thought they had levelled the score after 15 minutes but the goal was disallowed for offside after the referee consulted his assistant and gave notice that they were here for a contest when they struck the bar with a header.

On 24 minutes Tonbridge went two goals up when a stunning volley from Zach Garcia found the top corner after being set up by Barden.

The goal appeared to knock the stuffing out of the visitors and the Angels took complete control of the rest of the half with Garcia striking the bar and Barden seeing his 20 yard effort hit the right hand post.

In the second half East Grinstead broke up play better and consequently Tonbridge’s fluid play of the first half wasn’t so much in evidence and there had been a couple of warnings before a pass put an East Grinstead forward through on goal to clinically slide the ball past Matt Larkin on 68 minutes.

The game had a real ebb and flow as the visitors searched for an equaliser with the Angels attempting to exploit the space as East Grinstead threw bodies forward in an exciting final 20 minutes.

Both goalkeepers needed to make saves and East Grinstead had two great chances, one of which was wastefully put over the bar from three yards.

Tonbridge made the game safe as the clock ticked into time added with a goal of beauty with virtually half the team involved. It started from the goalkeeper who rolled it out for Rory Kavanagh to pump it forward into the path of Garcia who made ground before pulling the ball back to London who fed Luca Bradley. His cross was received by Velvick, laid into the man over, Max Lambert who buried into the bottom corner. Phew, I think everyone got a mention!

East Grinstead fashioned another chance and they should also take some credit for their part in an exciting game with a very solid second half performance.

Dom Welsh commented after the match: “This was probably our best passing performance of the season in the first half, could have been three or four up and were denied two stonewall penalties. Second half was more about digging in, two games in two days (some played in Sunday’s Kent Cup match) took its toll a little, but we still had some good moments and missed some great chances.”

Tonbridge Angels Under-18 3 Phoenix Sports Under-18 4

Match 68/21/1932 - Sunday, 5th December 2021 - Kent U18 County Cup

Tonbridge Angels U18 (3) 3 Wolvey (pen) 5 Kent 33,40
Phoenix Sports U18 (1) 4
Headcount: 30

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 20/3,902

Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s bowed out of the Kent County Cup as Phoenix Sports mounted a stirring comeback in the second half to turn a 3-1 half-time deficit into a 4-3 victory.

At a damp, cold Mascalls, on Sunday afternoon, Tonbridge took an early lead when a good move ended with Will Saunders being bundled over inside the penalty area for Fin Wolvey to convert from the spot.

If anyone doubted the competitiveness of this cup tie that was dispelled as Phoenix roared back from their setback and Matt Larkin needed to be at his best saving low to his left but parity was only to last another minute as the tall Phoenix right midfielder struck a well placed shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Tackles were full bloodied, no quarter given, none asked as the two teams genuinely went toe to toe but it was the Angels who regained the lead on the half-hour when Billy Kent cut in from the left before firing in a shot that took a deflection and looped into the top corner.

Tonbridge were now the dominant side with Sam Grant going close before, five minutes before the break, a long punt downfield from Larkin caused the Phoenix central defenders some difficulty and Kent capitalised by winning the challenge, running through on goal before slotting the ball past the goalkeeper to score despite the best efforts of a defender on the line.

Phoenix Sports came out for the second half with renewed vigour but it was the Angels that went closest in the opening exchanges as the goalkeeper did brilliantly save from Max Lambert and then save the rebound from Grant and, from the resultant corner, Joe McCusker struck the bar.

But having survived going three behind, Phoenix took control of the game and the Angels were left to desperately defend for long periods without respite. Such pressure was inevitably going to lead to a goal and just past the hour mark, Phoenix were right back in the game when the Phoenix midfielder scored his second of the game with a towering header from a free kick.

The Angels were barely getting out of their half and were giving away free kicks in dangerous areas as the pressure mounted. Phoenix eventually got the equaliser they deserved with seven minutes remaining when from a corner the ball was bobbing around with no Tonbridge player able to make a clearance before it was poked home from close range.

Having got back to level terms, Phoenix showed no sign of settling for penalties and despite some dogged defending from the Angels they found a winner in the 90th minute to progress to the semi-finals.

A magnanimous Dom Welsh afterwards paid tribute to his opponents but also felt that tired legs with only having one substitute available had left his side unable to withstand the pressure.

Slough Town 2 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 67/21/1931 - Saturday, 4th December 2021 - National League South

Slough Town (1) 2 Tenconi 45 Kuhl 77
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Embery 8
Attendance: 526

Admission: £9 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 74/3,882

Luck is a difficult thing to evaluate in the context of a football match. As a for instance if a shot hits the post that’s unlucky, but if that shot comes in from two yards out, it’s not really is it? To evaluate a whole game into terms of whether you were unlucky is even harder. Jon Underwood, the joint manager, of Slough Town, considered his side lucky that at half-time they were not 3-0 down and Tonbridge certainly had the play and chances to be at least that score line in front. Underwood is right they were lucky but as those chances came and went to add to Jake Embery’s opening goal after eight minutes, to say Tonbridge were unlucky is a bit more debatable.

Where Tonbridge were unfortunate was with injury, firstly to Ricky Modeste, always a potential match winner, after 31 minutes, in what looked a bad one that could keep him sidelined for some while and in the second half, after 59 minutes, the highly influential Doug Loft limped out of the action.

Tonbridge started well, got there noses in front when Embery, making his first start, capitalised on poor defending to lob the Slough goalkeeper, Jonathan North and proceeded to completely dominate the half from that point on.

Embery, who was looking the answer to the Angels’ attacking prayers, had a shot well saved by North; Loft narrowly shot over and Tom Beere had a couple of efforts that were not too far away.

But, into the first minute of stoppage time, Slough found an equaliser that they far from deserved. A long throw into the box wasn’t dealt with by the Tonbridge defence, bouncing a couple of times before Alfonso Tenconi stabbed it home. It was an ugly goal, a lucky break for Slough, but from the visitors point of view, you make your own luck by simply clearing the ball.

After donkey’s years of watching this game, I’m still baffled by how a game can turn in the duration of the half-time break as Tonbridge produced a second half performance polar opposite to that of the first 45. Slough obviously improved, gaining confidence from the fortunate half-time scoreline, but were they that good? My eyes tell me otherwise.

Where I will lay claim to unlucky is that Tonbridge had a bench of forwards and the loss of two midfielders unbalanced the team completely and where there had been cohesion now there was a muddle.

The home side saw a shot saved by Henly and on 53 minutes, following a corner, they had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper.

At the other end, following a free kick into the box, Sonny Miles saw his effort cleared from the line by Aaron Kuhl.

Henly produced a point blank save after 74 minutes when a cross into the box fell to Tenconi but his close range effort was blocked by the body of the Tonbridge goalkeeper.

With 13 minutes remaining, Slough took the lead when the ball switched from a Tonbridge free kick into their box to a punt forward that saw Kuhl clear to finish. It was a disappointing way to concede what ultimately proved the winner, but can the Angels bemoan their luck, it’s hard to make the case.

Embery had worked himself into the ground and Tommy Wood came on to try to salvage something out of the game but the major opportunity came in the last minute when Ibrahim Olutade had the goal at his mercy with a stooping header but it went wide and the game was lost.

Cliche time, football is a game of small margins and misfortune plays its part but sometimes, good luck is only made by yourselves.

Bishop Justus 4 Hugh Christie 2

Match 66/21/1930 - Wednesday, 1st December 2021 - Academies Championship

Bishop Justus (1) 4
Hugh Christie (1) 2 Carter 17, Elliott 55
Headcount: 60

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 74/3,726

A Development game with the Academy is usually a quiet affair with one man and a dog watching, or in most cases, this man without his dog. But this trip to Bromley and Bishop Justus proved somewhat different!

These games are mostly played on school pitches at a time when the vast majority of students are diligently immersed in their studies, but on this occasion about 50 lined the touch line to give their Bishop schoolmates some boisterous support and when Tonbridge’s Squad 2 team turned up following their earlier kick-off at Eltham then there was support for both teams.

It was a cold day and when the darkest of clouded dropped a heavy hailstorm it dampened the high spirits for a brief period.

The Hugh Christie (Tonbridge Angels Academy) struggled to get into the game from the outset and goalkeeper Will Young was forced into a double save just prior to Bishop Justus taking the lead after eight minutes with a header from a corner sparking World Cup winning celebrations from the sideline with the harassed referee struggling to keep them of the pitch and behind the line!

The Angels found their feet and on 17 minutes were level after a shot from Charlie Hatcher was well saved but, from the resultant corner, a well directed header from Cameron Carter that sparked similar, perhaps retaliatory celebrations.

Those Bishop classmates were given more to cheer in the remainder of the half with Young being kept busy but Sammy Nunes had a couple of efforts that were not too far wide.

The second period saw Bishops initially maintain their momentum and a cracking 25 yard effort needed a fine save from the Angels’ second half goalkeeper, Noah Blackmore.

But it was the visitors who took the lead on 55 minutes when good work from Harry Flemming saw Reece Elliott collect a pass to drive home a 25-yarder into the top corner. Now bolstered by the Squad 2 contingent the celebrations got even more exuberant!

Sadly that spirit was quickly extinguished as a loose ball dropped in the box for Bishop to level the score two minutes later.

Poor defending from corners cost the Angels again after 67 minutes when another header was unchallenged and when a shot was buried into the bottom corner with eight minutes to go, the spoils were going the way of the Bromley side. There is no place for solemnity with the Development squad and the bus ride home was bouncing with a singalong, perhaps it was a good choice not to bring the dog!

Tonbridge Angels 0 St Albans City 0

Match 65/21/1929 - Tuesday, 30th November 2021 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
St Albans City (0) 0
Attendance: 304

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/3,652

Given that Tonbridge Angels were losing 1-0 and had been largely second best in the original game that was abandoned because of a serious injury to St Albans’ Devante Stanley, a point virtue of this goalless draw should be considered one gained. Happily, Devante was in attendance and, whilst still a long while from a return, is hoping for a full recovery.

Tonbridge’s problems in front of goal continue and Jake Embery has been added to the squad, coming in from Horsham. The 21-year-old made his name at Herne Bay where he scored a bucket load of goals before moving to Maidstone, where he had an injury hit spell.

After Saturday’s visit to freezing Canvey, the temperature at Longmead seemed almost balmy.

Embery started from the bench in an unchanged team with Sonny Miles making his 450th appearance.

In all honesty, the first half was a bit of a slog. My half-time comment being that if I stood there long enough a football match might break out.

All the first half chances fell to Tommy Wood, but a header that went over and some good defending brought nil return. Ricky Modeste had a reasonable penalty claim turned away whilst Jonny Henly in the Angels’ goal was largely unemployed.

Thankfully, a game did break out in the second half and the entertainment level rose appreciably. Tonbridge maintained the majority of the forward momentum and put several dangerous crosses into the box, particularly from Modeste, but such is the striker’s lot at present, they were always an inch away from contact.

Wood was replaced by Ibrahim Olutade on 70 minutes and Embery for Aaron Smith-Joseph on 77. Both showed high energy and linked well but still the chances continued to fall into the narrow miss category. Joe Turner, who had a diving header and another effort go wide, ended the game as a passenger as a result of a knock, painfully limping away after the game and as the leading goalscorer it was a worrying sight.

Canvey Island 0 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 64/21/1928 - Saturday, 27th November 2021 - National League South

Canvey Island (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Turner 57
Attendance: 363

Admission: £6 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 108/3,614

It was horrible. The wind howled and it’s bitterness cut through you like a knife. As the second half progressed the rain added to the discomfort for the players, at least we had the sanctuary of a roof. This was Canvey Island in the bleak midwinter and this was a banana skin, an accident waiting to happen.

Canvey Island might be two divisions lower but they lead Isthmian North, undefeated, with 33 points out of a possible 39 and one could only imagine, brimming with confidence.

The wind was so strong that it barely mattered which way you were kicking. Against the wind and goalkeepers were seeing the ball returning to them; with it, the deftest of passes just ran away.

Tonbridge dominated and Jonny Henly barely had a meaningful save to make but emerged as the hero with two saves of top quality, the first later described as one of the best ever seen in non-league.

You had to tip your hat to the hardy souls that took up their normal place behind the goal on the open terrace that carries a decent height for watching the game but also leaves you exposed to the worst of the gale. I was not so brave and took my place with an element of shelter.

Tonbridge showed their intention to get a grip of the game from the start and had efforts from Tom Beere, Sonny Miles and Joe Turner before Canvey managed to muddy the gloves of Henly after 25 minutes.

After 31 minutes, the visitors went desperately close as from a corner, Tommy Wood’s shot was cleared from the line by a defender on the far post, the ball fell to Turner on the edge of the box but his shot was wide.

Canvey were having great difficulty making any use of their advantage of the wind at their back with almost all of their passes over hit given the conditions.

Two minutes before the break, Tonbridge went the closest of the half when Wood’s shot looked like it was at least bound for the inside of the post but agonisingly rolled the other side.

Rain started to lash down in the second half to add to the impossible conditions and the wind continued to be the winner with the ball sailing over the bar and carried into the sea!

Tonbridge took the lead on 57 minutes when Craig Braham-Bennett crossed the ball into the box to Wood who laid it back to Turner whose 20 yard shot took a deflection enroute to the back of the net.

Braham-Bennett was needed for his defensive duties three minutes later clearing from the line before Tonbridge had the ball in the net a second time through Smith-Joseph only for it to be mysteriously ruled out for offside after the referee consulted the linesman.

Canvey, with now nothing to lose, threw bodies forward to rescue the game that would go straight to penalties should they find an equaliser and in the 89th minute they so nearly did. A cross from the left found Connor Hubble, who dummied a defender giving himself the space for a clear shooting opportunity 12 yards out. His shot was well struck but somehow Henly got across to push it away, it was a truly great save. In the bar after the game, a Canvey supporter said there wasn’t another player on the pitch that he would have wished the chance to fall to. Hubble didn’t miss, he was denied.

Henly was called into action again in time added as a shot from the right of the box looped towards the far post but Henly was there again to palm the ball to safety.

The banana skin was avoided, the elements denied but the day had one final frustration to throw at us as the bridge was closed for about 45 minutes for a three car crash. But, we were warm in the car with the knowledge that our name was in the hat for Monday’s draw.

Tonbridge Angels Academy 7 Sutton United Academy 0

Match 63/21/1927 - Wednesday, 24th November 2021 - National Academies League Cup

Tonbridge Angels Academy (1) 7 Tyrie 24 Hartley 65,72 Kent 78,82 Nicholls 87 Twist 89
Sutton United Academy (0) 0
Headcount: 14

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 32/3,506

Four goals in the last eight minutes, given the number of efforts on goal during the game, gave a fair reflection as Tonbridge Angels Academy cruised into the National Academies League Cup last 16, winning by 7-0.

Sutton United put up a stubborn resistance during a first half that was mainly one-way traffic but only produced a single goal for the Angels.

Tonbridge started the game on the front foot, had a goal disallowed for offside after five minutes, and saw efforts from Ben Hermitage, Ben Twist, Billy Kent and Cameron Wootton saved by the busy Sutton goalkeeper before they finally broke the deadlock after 24 minutes when a corner was headed on at the near post for skipper Joe Tyrie to convert at the far post.

A mixture of wasteful finishing and stout defending kept the Angels at bay, including a trio of attempts on goal after 38 minutes that were either denied by the goalkeeper or the woodwork.

Whilst a single goal lead is always vulnerable, with Sutton virtually pinned in their own half for long periods there was little threat on Nathan Carter’s goal.

Twenty second half minutes passed with a disallowed goal from Hermitage after the ball had struck the overhead wire and several chances going begging before Finn Hartley, on as a substitute, finished in the bottom corner after being sent clear by Kian Austin.

Kent struck a post prior to Hartley adding his second and the Angels third, taking a fine pass from fellow substitute Mason Nicholls before burying his shot into the same square footage of netting as his first.

This was the goal that broke the resolve of Sutton and the Academy ran riot in the closing minutes as heads dropped in opposition.

Billy Kent was rewarded for sheer persistence when his 20 yard shot whistled past the goalkeeper to make it 4-0 after 78 minutes and four minutes later he found the net again after being set up by Nicholls.

Kent reciprocated the assist to allow Nicholls to add goal number six from around the penalty spot and Ben Twist rounded off a fine performance from midfield with a shot from outside of the box.

There was still time for Kent to see his shot turned onto the crossbar by the keeper before the final whistle following which Tommy Parkinson reflected: “A dominant performance from start to finish with several players missing. Pleased to get another clean sheet and score seven goals to get through to the next round.”

Larkfield & New Hythe 1 Tunbridge Wells 2

Match 62/21/1926 - Tuesday, 23rd November 2021 - SCEFL Premier

Larkfield and New Hythe (0) 1 Beecroft (pen) 89
Tunbridge Wells (1) 2 Keyte 45 Gething (pen) 48
Attendance: 160

Admission: £3 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 28/3,474

Aaron Lee Wharton emerged as the hero, as with so many other times this season, as Tunbridge Wells edged past Larkfield and New Hythe in the SCEFL Challenge Cup.

On a bitterly cold evening, The Wells held on defiantly during the five minutes of added time after Larkfield had scored a last minute penalty.

Larkfield had launched a final 10 minutes assault after going 2-0 behind early in the second half through a Matt Gething penalty.

After a quiet opening, Wharton opened his catalogue of saves with a save with his feet after 13 minutes.

Unfortunately, much of this report won’t be naming the Larkfield players as the white numbers on a yellow shirt made them impossible to see once they got a few yards away.

One player always recognisable is Jake Beecroft and he saw his effort blocked before the Wells started to exercise a threat of their own with a Jordan Wells shot that cleared the crossbar and an effort from Johnny Phillips that found the side netting when a pass across the face of goal might have been the better option.

Wharton was back in action saving brilliantly from Josh Jackson twice in quick succession.

On the cusp of half-time, Tunbridge Wells almost took the lead when an effort from Wells struck the right hand post after being set up by Gething.

But they were not to be denied when the resultant corner was half-cleared to the edge of the box from where a well struck volley from Danny Keyte gave Larkfield’s goalkeeper, Scott Andrews no chance.

Tunbridge Wells went two goals to the good after three minutes of the second half when Connor Pring was brought down in the box for Gething to convert sending Andrews the wrong way.

Larkfield responded and forced the Wells onto the back foot for much of the second period in which Wharton excelled.

An incredible double save after 50 minutes signalled the start of his extraordinary performance but even he needed the help of a defender to clear from the line from a third effort.

A close range effort saved by the feet from Charlie Smith defied belief and a touch onto the bar and a line clearance were needed to preserve the lead.

Tunbridge Wells broke out on occasions and following an electric run from James Nurden, Phillips wastefully blazed over and a good moves involving Frankie Griffin and Nurden ended with Gething shooting over.

But the game returned to the Wharton show with the goalkeeper even getting the better of one of his own defenders as a deflection looked bound for the net.

An 89th minute penalty, given for dangerous play against Jack Hope, saw Beecroft finally beat ALW, something of an achievement as he has saved nine penalties this season!

As some disgruntled Larkfield supporters left the ground at the final whistle berating the referee for a couple of very optimistic penalty claims, the Wells supporters could only break into song “Oh, Aaron Lee Wharton”, a goalkeeper of immense talent for this level.

Tonbridge Angels U18 1 Sutton Common Rovers U18 4

Match 61/21/1925 - Monday, 22nd November 2021 - Isthmian Youth

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 McCusker 84 Sutton Common Rovers (2) 4 Hamsted 24 Bradley (o.g.) 26 Wall 67 Moore 70
Attendance: 59

Admission: £4
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/3,446

Sutton Common Rovers showed their division-winning credentials in a first half of total dominance. Our Youth lads made a much better fist of the second half and battled hard to the very end but it was a case of holding up your hands and admitting they were beaten by a really good team, the best we’ve seen this season.

A mixture of Tonbridge resilience, couple of good saves from Matt Larkin and some wasteful finishing kept the game scoreless for 24 minutes but two goals in the space of two minutes gave SCR the lead that was more reflective of the game.

Although the defending at set pieces was an improvement on last week’s game at Maidstone, it was that vulnerability that cost the opening goal when a right-sided corner was met by a powerful header from SCR’s skipper Oliver Hamsted that gave Larkin no chance.

Two minutes later a low cross from the right was turned into his own net by Luca Bradley, under pressure at his near post.

Tonbridge did well to get to half-time with the scoreline remaining the same with Larkin saving from the dangerous Jonah Wall.

The second half started in much the same vein with Larkin saving again from Wall but the Angels wrested some of the momentum away from their visitors and Toby McKimm in the SCR goal was asked to make his first save from Ben Morgan.

Larkin produced a great save at his near post just past the hour but he was helpless after 67 minutes when the ball fell invitingly to Wall to finally win his personal contest with the Angels’ keeper.

As with the first half two goals came in quick succession and a good build up down the left ended with Bobby Moore having an easy close range finish.

It is great credit that the Angels lads heads never dropped and they were well worth their consolation goal, six minutes from time, when a well flighted free kick from 16-year-old George Rayner was headed home by Joe McCusker.

Dom Welsh was suitably fulsome in his praise of his opponents after the game commenting: “It was a tough evening against an outstanding side. Probably the best side we will play all season, credit to everything they did. Excellent in possession and just as good out of it. Our boys worked hard but fell short. But, it’s good experience for the future that we finished the game with eight first years and three under-16’s on the pitch.”

Pictures: Dave Couldridge

Tonbridge Angels 1 Chelmsford City 1

Match 60/21/1924 - Saturday, 21st November 2021 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Turner 23
Chelmsford City (0) 1 Jackson 61
Attendance: 686

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/3,408

It finally happened! A long cross from the right by Jamie Fielding, in the side for the suspended Craig Braham-Barrett, found the head of Joe Turner. We’ve waited a long time and the ball took an eternity to cross the line at the far post, but cross the line it did. Let’s put the numbers to rest, 27th minute at Billericay to the 23rd minute, five games later minus four minutes, 446 in total. It’s done, we can move on.

I don’t like labelling games in November with clubs in a similar lowly position as six pointers but from a general confidence point of view it wasn’t a game to lose and with the drought 1-1 was better than a 0-0.

Added to Braham-Barrett’s absence, Adam Lovatt and Tom Parkinson were both out injured so the bench was depleted with two forwards and the two kids.

Both teams had their spells in the game of ascendancy and, ultimately a draw was a fair result. Perhaps if it was a boxing match the judges might just have given it to Tonbridge, although the Chelmsford manager, Robbie Simpson, in his very fair appraisal of the game, might choose to differ.

Chelmsford’s goalkeeper, James Dillon, looked under pressure in the early minutes, firstly almost punching the ball into his own net after 18 minutes and then needing the goal line intervention of Michael Spillane from the resultant corner.

The opening goal for the Angels illustrated the end-to-end nature of the game with Chelmsford’s Cameron James rattled the crossbar before the Angels countered and took the lead with Turner’s goal.

The game went into a period of nothingness with Chelmsford having some degree of pressure but without testing Jonny Henly to any great degree.

Chelmsford dominated the early part of the second half but continuing to fail to exercise Henly but, just past the hour, they equalised. Freddie Hockey saw his shot blocked, likewise the follow-up attempt from Charlie Sheringham but the ball fell to ex-Gillingham hitman Simeon Jackson whose shot found the net via the inside of the left hand post.

After a difficult period following the goal, Tonbridge finished the match the stronger and forced six corners in the remaining time but, what has been a recent failing, none of them produced a moment of high anxiety for the City defence.

A point is a point and, even at this stage of the season, positives are taken from Billericay and Braintree defeats. Perhaps the tide has turned and we won’t need to be looking over our shoulders at such results.