Chatham Town 4 Sheppey United 4

Match 58/20/1861 - Saturday, 29th May 2021 - Post-Lockdown Tournament

Chatham Town (1) 4 Evans 5,48,53 (pen) OG 48
Sheppey United (2) 4Leonard 11 Carnegie 26 Midson 54,69
Attendance: 687

Admission: £1
Programme: None
Mileage: 34/3,226

The sun was shining brightly, the Beach Bar was heaving and the beer was slipping down thirsty throats as fast as the beach waiters could serve them. A scene from coast this weekend, perhaps even a snapshot of the green listed Algarve, no this as Maidstone Road, the home of Chatham Football Club.

This Post-Lockdown Tournament has proved a great success so far with the games satisfying the desire to get back into football grounds and when club’s are as innovative as Chatham then the bar is going to do great business. Football and beer have always been easy bedfellows.

On any given Saturday, the visit of Sheppey United to Chatham would bring a decent attendance, but 687? That is quite incredible. But the tournament has brought the crowds back to football in their droves. The night previous Lordswood entertained Rochester United in front of 225, no disrespect to either club but the aforesaid any given Saturday (let along a Friday night), that match-up would have been hard pushed to attract a three figure crowd.

The other factor that the tournament has served up is goals and lots of them. Despite the 1-0 result at Lordswood, six goals a game is the average.

Chatham and Sheppey served up a classic goalfest with a 4-4 draw that the fans loved but the respective managers must have watched from behind their hands. There were some splendid goals that were only matched by woeful defending from both sides. These two clubs are the big hitters in the SCEFL in the coming season, on this evidence it is going to be a Gunfight at the OK Corral. But, come the season, I’m sure Scott Lindsay and Ernie Batten are not going to have their teams walking out to Robbie Williams’ Let Me Entertain You.

One player from each side strutted, or were allowed to, their stuff. For Chatham Jack Evans was simply majestic whilst Sheppey’s Jack Midson showed that his 37 years is not going to be any sort of barrier at Step 5.

The scoring was opened in the fifth minute when Ike Orji pulled the ball back from the right hand byeline for Evans to finish at the near post. Orji became the villain six minutes later when his error allowed Sheppey’s Danny Leonard to equalise.

The game continued to be end to end before the visitors took the lead after 26 minutes when some poor defending allowed Harrison Carnegie to finish into the bottom corner.

A foretaste of what was to come throughout the second period was initiated within the first couple of minutes when the Sheppey goalkeeper saved brilliantly from Evans’ header.

But a minute later the Chats were level with more than a hint of good fortune as Andy Pugh’s effort was parried by the keeper but the rebound struck a defender and trickled into the net.

Four minutes later the Chats were in front and one minute after that Sheppey were back level. A handball gave Evans the opportunity to convert from the spot before a Midson near post header made it 3-3, thus maintaining the tournament average.

On 63 minutes that average was improved as a Matt Bodkin cross was met at the near post by the head of Evans to complete his hat trick.

But there was still one more equaliser, coming in the 69th minutes, when more woeful defending allowed Midson to make it 4-4.

That we managed to get through the final 20 minutes without any addition to the scoreline is a mystery as both defences tried their best to allow the respective attacks further opportunities. All great fun, and fun that could have been enjoyed from a beach bar!

Tonbridge Angels Academy 2 Dartford Academy 8

Match 57/20/1860 - Wednesday, 26th May 2021 - Kent Academies Cup

Tonbridge Angels Academy (2) 2 Lambert 4 Lewis 6 (pen)
Dartford (3) 8
Headcount: 10

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 32/3,192

After a blistering start, the Academy got rather caught in a blitz of their own as a very good Dartford side scored eight times to record a handsome victory.

Our old friend Ben Greenhalgh’s side tore apart the Angels as Tommy Parkinson admitted after the match: “We were beaten by a far superior team in Dartford today. But it shows our eight first year students the levels that they need to be at next year.”

Nobody would have guessed the one-sided outcome of this match after six minutes as the Angels raced into a two goal lead. The Angels were really quickly out of the blocks with the goalkeeper saving with his face at the feet of Ned Lewis, having been put clear by Jacob Lambert after three minutes, but within a minute, Lambert finished superbly to open the scoring.

After six minutes the lead was doubled when Keiarn Corner was brought down in the box. Lewis converted the penalty.

But, sadly, that was as good as it got.

It only took two minutes for the deficit to be reduced when the Angels failed to deal with a corner and a header brought the score back to 2-1.

In fairness, the Academy gave as good as they got for the best part of half-an-hour with Lewis bringing a save from the goalkeeper; Lambert dragging a shot wide and Luca Woodhouse testing the keeper.

After 36 minutes, the Angels frailty from corners cost them again and the Darts were level.

Unfortunately the Angels couldn’t get to the break with parity as, three minutes into time added, the Dartford centre forward angled a fine strike from 15 yards into the bottom corner.

A foretaste of the second period came almost straight from the restart when a shot brought a parrying save from Nat Gibb, who brought down an attacker in an effort to retrieve the ball. But a horrible miss from the spot kept the deficit at one. However, this didn’t last long and the Darts went 4-2 up following a goalkeeping error.

The Darts were now completely dominant and after 57 minutes, the centre forward made it 5-2 with a close range effort.

The Academy lads regained some composure and kept the lively opposition at bay for 20 minutes, even carving out a couple of chances or their own, but three more goals in the last 15 minutes gave a scoreline that unnecessarily painted a grim picture.

Dartford are an undoubtedly strong Academy, as the Angels found to their cost in the FA Youth Cup, but the youngsters must take this lesson on the chin and come back all the stronger for it.

Tonbridge Angels Academy 7 Ebbsfleet United Academy 0

Match 56/20/1859 - Wednesday, 19th May 2021 - Kent Academies Cup

Tonbridge Angels Academy (2) 7 Hudson 25,83,90 Corner 35 (pen),55 Lewis 58,86
Ebbsfleet United (0) 0
Headcount: 10

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 32/3,160

Three late goals added the gloss to a good all round performance from our Academy against Ebbsfleet United.

Tommy Parkinson was naturally delighted that after a faltering start in this post-lockdown tournament, his charges have found their form with successive clean sheets and victories. He said: “I’m really pleased with the last two performances where we have been defensively sound and much brighter in the attacking third. The build up play from the back and the bravery on the ball has been much better which has impacted positively in our results.”

Tonbridge enjoyed the best of the early exchanges with Ned Lewis going close twice and Harry Hudson steering one of his trademark headers from a corner at the visiting goalkeeper.

Ebbsfleet had barely threatened when the Angels went in front on 25 minutes. The danger that Hudson poses from corners proved too much and he was able to poke home at the second attempt.

Kiearn Corner was bundled to the floor in the 35th minute for a penalty, from which he proverbially dusted himself down and converted, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Tonbridge were good value for their half-time lead that could have been extended had it not been for a couple of decent saves.

Ebbsfleet started the second half with a couple of long range efforts that sailed over but found themselves three goals down after 55 minutes when a sublime through ball from Man of the Match Ben Hermitage sent Corner clear to finish calmly.

Three quickly became four when a long ball forward from Ben Twist was superbly controlled by Lewis who then applied a clinical finish.

Ebbsfleet stretched the Angels keeper, Nat Gibb to his first real save of the match, clutching a shot out of the top corner.

Tonbridge’s fifth goal, after 83 minutes, was a case of a hat trick that wasn’t and one that eventually was to be. From a Luca Woodhouse corner, Corner’s initial effort came back from the underside of the bar for Hudson to bury the rebound. Claims that Kiearn’s effort had crossed the line were dismissed by the assistant referee.

Four minutes on time, another clinical finish from Lewis made it six and between that and Hudson’s header for the seventh, Gibb preserved his clean sheet with two great saves diving to his right to push away well struck shots.

Rochester United 1 Chatham Town 5

Match 55/20/1858 - Tuesday, 18th May 2021 - Post-Lockdown Tournament

Rochester United (0) 1
Chatham Town (3) 5 Bradshaw 13,19 Bodkin 23 Pugh 55,65
Attendance: 320 plus children

Admission: £1 Senior
Programme: £1.50
Mileage: 42/3,128

Look to your left, a programme cover, look at the picture below people. Finally, the shackles removed, the gates are open and the people came!

Rochester United, Chatham Town, Punjab United, Sheppey United and Lordswood have got their heads together to create this Post Lockdown Tournament and the evidence from the first night at Rede Court Road is that there is a pent-up demand that these games will go someway to satisfy.

Included in the people that came were friends that have not been seen for over a year and we shook hands because we were allowed to. Perhaps this really is the beginning of the end.

The match wasn't really a contest. Once Dan Bradshaw, who is surely going to feast himself on goals next season, tucked away a couple in the first 20 minutes there was never a doubt as to the outcome. Matt Bodkin, who along with Ryan Hayes, at an advanced age is still miles to good for the SCEFL, scored a fine individual goal to put the Chats three clear at the break. In the second half, two crosses from Hayes saw Andy Pugh add the fourth and fifth, the latter a superb, diving header at the near post. Chatham took their foot of the gas, introduced some Academy players which allowed Rochester a late consolation goal.

The evening didn't quite have the raw emotion of the fans at the FA Cup Final on Saturday but for the 340 at Rede Court, it was a step towards normality.

Bromley Academy 0 Tonbridge Angels Academy 1

Match 54/20/1857 - Wednesday, 12th May 2021 - Kent Academy Cup

Bromley Academy (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels Academy (0) 1 Hudson 87
Headcount: BCD

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 76/3,086

Our Academy won a hard-fought game at Bromley with an 87th minute header by Harry Hudson from a well-rehearsed corner routine that had twice previously found the skipper’s head but failing to break the deadlock.

In an evenly contested match, both sides had their chances but it was the Angels’ goalkeeper, Nat Gibb, who emerged the hero with a truly remarkable first half save which he followed up with a second period penalty save.

Tonbridge started the game brightly with Ned Lewis shooting narrowly wide after five minutes and, two minutes later, Keiarn Corner saw his effort deflected over the bar having been set up by Lewis.

Bromley responded and gained momentum but despite having several attempts on goal, Gibb was not unduly troubled as Hudson’s back line kept them to long range efforts until a 26th minute header from a free kick cleared the bar.

The home side should certainly have entered the break in front as two chances fell their way in the final five minutes. The first was denied by a wondrous save by Gibb, who readjusted his body weight to divert a well struck and deflected shot onto the crossbar from which the ball was scrambled to safety.

The second followed an uncharacteristic mistake from Hudson that allowed a low cross to the far post where, from two yards, a Bromley attacker inexplicably managed to scoop the ball over the bar.

Two minutes into the second half, Bromley were awarded a questionable penalty following a foul by Chester Smith. From the spot kick, Gibb guessed correctly to get down, low to his left, and save brilliantly.

Tonbridge gained confidence from that moment and started to open up the Bromley defence on the break. Regan Bowden saw his shot saved and Lewis directed a header at the goalkeeper before the corner routine, with Luca Woodhouse playing it short to Lewis to open up the angle for a cross (or vice-versa), produced the first headed opportunity for Hudson on the hour.

With six minutes remaining a Bromley shot narrowly went the wrong side of the right hand post before the Bromley goalkeeper saved at the feet of Cameron Wootton, when a square pass to Lewis would almost certainly have brought a goal.

Due warning was given to Bromley, when the corner routine worked once more with five minutes to go, Hudson heading over but two minutes later it brought its justified reward as Hudson’s header found its way past the goalkeeper.

Tommy Parkinson was very pleased with his side after the game, having been critical of them in recent matches. His side had a fair-sized complement of first year students who all acquitted themselves well.