Tunbridge Wells 1 Sheppey United 3

Match 12/21/1877 - Saturday, 31st July 2021 - SCEFL Premier League

Tunbridge Wells (1) 1 Howlett-Mundle (o.g.) 1
Sheppey United (1) 3 Aikhionbare 40 Tenyue 49 Roberts 76
Attendance: 410

Admission: £5 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 34/676

It might have been 274 days since supporters watched competitive football at Culverden Stadium but it only took another 40 seconds for Tunbridge Wells to record the first goal!

Those long days have been well used as the Culverden pitch looked resplendent and better than I have ever seen it.

With over 400 supporters gathered and a good contingent travelling up from the east Kent island, Tunbridge Wells got off to an astonishing start. Regan Corke scorched his opposing full back before sending in a low cross that was turned into his own net by Jahmal Howlett-Mundle under pressure from Matt Gethin.

Corke gave Dan Birch a torrid opening few minutes and after six minutes produced another cross for Gethin who was denied by a last ditch block. But once Sheppey manager Ernie Batten had solved the Corke conundrum and Birch worked him out then the Wells threat diminished and the pre-season favourites for promotion began to show their credentials.

After 23 minutes, from a corner, a clear headed opportunity was put over the bar by Jack Midson. The pressure continued and, after 31 minutes, Aaron Lee-Wharton produced a fantastic double save from Taureen Roberts with a third effort cleared from the line by Harry Hudson.

Lee-Wharton excelled again saving low at his near post after Junior Aikhionbare had fired in from the left of the six yard box but the Sheppey striker was not to be denied for long when he got the wrong side of Freeman Rogers to fire home a powerful strike to give the visitors an equaliser that had been a while coming.

If the first half had been a period of two halves, the second sadly for the majority of the crowd wasn’t as Sheppey took control of the game.

Just four minutes into the half, they took the lead when Roberts set up Renford Tenyue to drive the ball into the bottom corner.

As the skies darkened and thunder started to roll around the ground, the outcome of the match was as good as wrapped up as Birch, his opening torrid minutes banished, waltzed into the box to give Ryan Freeman an opportunity which was parried by Lee-Wharton but only into the path of Roberts who finished from close range.

With the result beyond doubt the main attention turned to the skies and whether a huge amount of rainfall was about to dump itself on a largely coat-less audience. Thankfully the spots never turned into anything significant until a few miles into the journey home when it became torrential.

One game into the SCEFL season and I will make the not-so-bold prediction that Sheppey and Chatham will take the two promotion places.

Sevenoaks Town 1 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 11/21/1876 - Wednesday, 28th July 2021 - Pre-Season Friendly

Sevenoaks Town (0) 1 Collins 58
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance:

Admission: £3 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 60/642

How much do you buy into the old adage that preseason doesn’t matter in terms of results? Yes, I agree that clubs that have had terrible preseasons have gone on to have great seasons and vice-versa, but there are times even to the untrained eye that you can see a pattern emerging that is concerning.

Tonbridge Angels dominated for long periods at Sevenoaks but were reduced to shots on far too many occasions from 20 yards or more. Spectacular goals can win games, but they don’t win games week in, week out.

The Sevenoaks goalkeeper, Ben Bridle-Card, was kept occupied in the early minutes, with crosses into the box that either he comfortably dealt with or they missed their target.

It was nearly at the half-hour mark when Tom Beere asked the first real question of Card who got down low to save.

A misplaced shot from Joe Turner inadvertently found Tom Hanfrey whose cross found Tom Wood but his shot flew narrowly over the bar.

The second half started in much the same manner with pot shots from Turner and Wood from distance that were safely gathered by Card.

The game was ultimately decided by a Sevenoaks goal after 54 minutes when a misplaced back pass had Jonny Henly scrambling to keep it out of his own goal. At first he seemed to have retrieved the ball but it popped out and Louis Collins was on hand to make the most of his good fortune.

Tonbridge continued to dominate with a Sonny Miles header from a corner going narrowly wide and Ibrahim Olutade seeing his effort cleared from the line.

Chances came and went in the last 20 minutes, almost exclusively for the Angels, but that clinical finish in front of goal was missing.

Staplehurst Monarchs 0 Cuxton 91 2

Match 10/21/1875 - Tuesday, 27th July 2021 - Pre-Season Friendly

Staplehurst Monarchs (0) 0
Cuxton 91 (2) 2
Headcount: 30

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 2/582

The only football club that I can walk to! My home club were deserving of a visit with my last time being three years ago. The last two years has seen the Monarchs successful on the pitch, but bureaucracy and Covid had robbed them of promotion to the SCEFL until the restructuring offered them a place in Step 5.

Staplehurst may well have some agreement in place with the league but I was surprised to see that, despite the League season starting in four days time, there are no floodlights installed and no seating stand, both of which I understood were ready to go. In fact, on my last visit I was told that all the groundworks for the lights was in place. The foundations are in place for what I would presume will be a drop-in Atcost stand.

For 45 minutes, Monarchs didn't look ready on the pitch either. A header at the goalkeeper in the first minute was a bright start but for the next 40 minutes their Kent County League opposition, Cuxton 91 completely dominated.

Cuxton went ahead after three minutes with a well worked corner played to the near post from where the #7 fired home. It seemed a training ground goal until the coach asked the corner taker if he had meant it!

I was able to recognise a few of the Staplehurst players, not from walking my dogs around the village but ex-Tunbridge Wells goalkeeper Steve Lawrence, ex-Tonbridge Angels Under-18 Alex Bishop and Tonbridge Under-21 Sam Jones. Lawrence made a good save after 11 minutes turning an effort over the bar.

But, after 17 minutes, Lawrence was beaten again when a very poor clearance from a Monarchs defender allowed the Cuxton centre forward, a very decent footballer, a virtual free hit which he took with a powerful shot.

Staplehurst managed to get to the break with no addition to the deficit but quite how, I'm not sure.

In fairness, the Monarchs made a much better fist of the second period and had a great headed effort from a corner not been cleared from the line after 57 minutes perhaps the momentum gained might have yielded a result.

They had the ball in the net after 63 minutes but this was disallowed for offside and an effort from West, a player remembered from three years ago, came back off the woodwork with three minutes to go.

Staplehurst begin their league season at Croydon on Saturday and it would be good to see the village getting behind the club in greater numbers for their first home game.

Worthing 4 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 09/21/1874 - Saturday, 24th July 2021 - Pre-Season Friendly

Worthing (2) 4 Pearce 18,56 (2 pens) Colbran 42 Trialist 48
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Wood 45
Attendance: 506

Admission: £5
Programme: None
Mileage: 118/580

A 100% preseason record came crashing to earth at a familiar landscape to previous sorry results for Tonbridge Angels.

This game would never have taken place as a preseason friendly if Worthing had taken their rightful place in National South after leading the way in the last two Covid-ridden Isthmian seasons.

There’s something about Woodside Road and Tonbridge conceding penalties and nothing changed with this visit. At least we managed to keep 11 players on the pitch.

Shorn of three experienced players in Joe Turner, Tom Parkinson and Arthur Lee, the Angels were on the back foot from the outset and never really got a foothold in the game at any stage.

Early pressure from the home side eventually led to the opening goal after 16 minutes, inevitably from the Woodside penalty spot. The Worthing 3G might have been relaid but a wicked bounce led to the ball striking the hand of Harry Hudson and the referee wasted no time in pointing to the spot from which Ollie Pearce converted.

Worthing, with their tails up and the Angels rattled, another mix-up almost gifted a goal to the home side but the ball was scrambled away and the chances continued to fall the way of Worthing until the 40th minute when a shot from Joel Colbran from outside the box nestled into the top corner.

Having barely threatened the Worthing goal, Tonbridge were given a lifeline, on the stroke of half-time, when the goalkeeper chased a ball he wasn’t going to get and was beaten by Tom Hanfrey whose pass inside allowed Tommy Wood an easy finish.

The goal however, changed nothing in terms of momentum in the second period. After just two minutes an uncharacteristic mistake from Sonny Miles, treading on the ball, which led to him being robbed with a Worthing trialist finishing past Henly.

After 55 minutes, the Woodside curse reared its head again when JJ O’Sullivan upended Pattenden in the box for another penalty from which Pearce sent Henly the wrong way.

A plethora of substitutions, eight in all, from the home side finally stalled their rhythm whilst Tonbridge, who only had four on the bench anyway, introduced Zak Guerfi who injected a bit of fresh impetus.

The game drifted to its close leaving for the first time this preseason more questions than answers. One question easily answered is that if there is a better side than Worthing in the Isthmian Premier, they are the champions.

Tonbridge Angels U18 1 Kent Football United U18 3

Match 08/21/1873 - Wednesday, 21st July 2021 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 1 Wolvey 49
Kent Football United U18 (1) 3
Headcount: 25

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 20/462

If there is a time for a reality check, then preseason is that time. Sunday’s performance and comfortable win was quickly put into perspective as the Under-18’s opponents, Kent Football United were stronger in almost every department and ran out deserving 3-1 winners.

KFU showed from the first whistle that they would be an altogether different task for the Angels side. A huge centre forward dominated the central defenders whilst speed and trickery on the flanks opened up the chances for the big striker and when the Angels were able to break forward they were met with some resolute defending.

The opening minutes were KFU’s with the big striker clearing the bar in the very first minute and screwing another shot wide after ten.

The Angels slowly got a foothold in the game with Max Cormack and Harry London missing the target with efforts.

Following a free kick on the edge of the box that was scrambled away, successive corners ended with a floated cross into the six yard box from where KFU’s big striker converted with a diving header after 30 minutes.

Unfortunately the bad face of youth football reared it’s head soon after when the referee took exception to the coaching being done by the KFU coach running the line. An altercation then ensued which ended with the linesman/coach throwing the flag to the ground and departing to the technical area with a two fingered gesture towards the official. A second person continued with antagonistic comments throughout the game.

A half-time talking to for the Angels seemed to have the desired effect when the Angels equalised after four minutes of the half. A cross into the box from George Rayner was touched on and Fin Wolvey reacted quickest to prod the ball home.

Parity barely lasted a minute when a hopeful ball towards the edge of the box saw Matt Larkin making the uncharacteristic mistake of advancing to collect a ball he was never going to get; was beaten to it which offered the opportunity for the KFU player to walk the ball into the unguarded goal.

Larkin quickly redeemed himself with a flying save and catch from the ever-dangerous striker.

In fairness to the Angels lads, they pressed hard for an equaliser with Harry Sargent and George Theis testing the goalkeeper and Ethan Knight seeing his free kick deflected safely into the keeper’s arms.

But a rapid breakaway, 10 minutes from time, saw the KFU winger cut in from the left and bury the ball into the bottom corner to put the result almost beyond doubt.

In added time Wolvey was brought down in the box for a penalty award but when his spot kick sailed over the bar it about summed up the Under-18’s night. A wake-up call has sounded and knowing manager Dom Welsh, very much listened too.

Hythe Town 1 Tunbridge Wells 1

Match 07/21/1872 - Tuesday, 20th July 2021 - Pre-Season Friendly

Hythe Town (1) 1 Leighton 45
Tunbridge Wells (1) 1 Corke 8
Attendance: 135

Admission: £3 Senior
Programme: £1.50
Mileage: 60/442

This early part of this preseason is all about “firsts for”. This evening was the first time I’ve seen Tunbridge Wells for nine months, an afternoon at Erith Town when in our hearts all of us knew we shouldn’t have been there. At Hythe Town, it was good to see friends that have come through Covid safe and well and as enthusiastic about the coming season as myself.

This unusually long preseason is leaving clubs, for injury and holiday reasons, shorn of players. Grays Athletic turned up at Tonbridge a dozen short and similarly Tunbridge Wells had seven absent for a game at the Isthmian League side and, in fairness, the home side had some significant faces missing. But, certainly for half-an-hour that didn’t look the case.

After a really hot day that had turned into storms, the evening was at least a bit fresher. The Wells fairly roared out of the traps and in the second minute Lucas Murrain rattled the crossbar. After eight minutes the visitors were in front when Regan Corke cut in from the right to drive home at low shot.

Corke was proving a real live wire with Hythe struggling to contain his threat down the right. Meanwhile, Hythe were not really posing any threat of their own.

A lightning counter attack, just past the half-hour deserved a goal for the Wells but Harry Hudson narrowly put the finish wide after brilliant work from Harvey Killick and Corke had opened up the home defence.

Corke once more exercised the home goalkeeper before Hythe finally started to make an impression on the game bringing Aaron Lee-Wharton into the game, turning away a low shot for a corner.

Exactly as the clock ticked onto 45 minutes, a long high cross found Hythe’s Noel Leighton at the far post to head home an equaliser.

The second period saw more of an equal contest with far fewer chances. Murrain was sent clear on 53 minutes but shot wide and after 68, Killick struck the post after good work from Connor Pring and Jordan Johnson-Palmer.

Lee-Wharton was not unemployed making good saves on a couple of occasions.

A bad looking injury to a Hythe player delayed the game for several minutes and the last chance for either side to win the game fell to Corke whose driven shot was agonisingly wide.

An entertaining game as preseason goes, the Wells performance was very encouraging and, more importantly, it was good to spend time with those people having come through this horrible period of our lives.

AFC Uckfield U18 1 Tonbridge Angels U18 7

Match 06/21/1871 - Sunday, 18th July 2021 - Pre-Season Friendly

AFC Uckfield U18 (0) 1 83
Tonbridge Angels U18 (4) 7 Knight 20,60 London 38,51 Cormack 40, Wolvey 45 Rayner 73
Headcount: 60

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 62/382
New Ground: 345

The return of Isthmian Youth team football to Tonbridge Angels started to feel very real with the publishing of the fixtures seeing a home fixture first night out on Monday, 23rd August against Cray Valley PM.

Meanwhile, preseason started with a roasting Sunday lunchtime fixture at AFC Uckfield. The pleasant little ground doesn’t carry a wealth of parking and my gratitude went to the main road Indian restaurant owner that kindly afforded me a place in his car park. The ground also offered a new destination, the first for nine months.

Dominic Welsh has been diligently putting together his squad for the new season, a mixture from last year’s Under-18’s and Under-16’s four of whom featured.

Tonbridge started the game on the front foot with Harry London forcing the Uckfield goalkeeper into a save after nine minutes. It took 20 minutes for the Angels to breakthrough with Ethan Knight applying a cracking finish after being sent clear by London.

Once the opening goal had been scored, Tonbridge took complete control whilst playing some attractive football. Max Cormack struck a post before another splendid shot, finding the net from 20 yards from London after a corner was half cleared set up a rush of goals before the break.

A well worked goal with Cormack and Hayden Velvick linking before Cormack finished with a tap in for the third. A fourth was added on the stroke of the break when the very impressive Harry London opened up the Uckfield defence for Fin Wolvey to fire the ball into the bottom corner.

Given that the heat was now reaching 31degsC, both sides maintained an impressive work rate in the second period which was a credit to Uckfield after they went five behind six minutes into the half when London curled a sumptuous shot into the top corner.

On the hour, Knight exercised a ‘96 Gascoigne goal, flicking the ball over the defender and finishing for number six.

A 25 yard drive from Rayner found the net, coming down from the underside of the crossbar for number seven after 73 minutes but great credit to Uckfield as they dug in and managed a consolation goal as the winger ran from inside his own half to finish well past the largely unemployed Matt Larkin.

The final whistle must have come as a great relief for both sides who had given their all in really uncomfortable conditions.

Merstham 1 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 05/21/1870 - Saturday, 17th July 2021 - Pre-Season Friendly

Merstham (0) 1 Dillon 58
Tonbridge Angels (2) 2Smith-Joseph 35 Beere 40
Attendance: TBA

Admission: £5
Programme: None
Mileage: 86/320

Today was more of what you expect from Pre-Season, scorching hot. Merstham is a lovely setting for a football ground with high hedges that provided second half respite in the shade, as the thud of leather on willow would have sounded more appropriate than the raucous voices of high energy footballers.

The day also represented the first day of my football supporting life post-Directorship as the Tonbridge Angels AGM brought to an end my time on the board. I now look forward to enjoying the game, back on the terraces with friends and fellow supporters.

Covid is still probably dictating that the M25 on a hot weekend is nowhere near as busy as you might expect and a trouble free ride into leafy Surrey was a blessing.

Tonbridge brought and retained their 100% preseason record but did concede their first goal of the period to the Isthmian Premier League side.

Joe Turner was first to test the home goalkeeper with a well struck shot that was parried to safety after three minutes.

A minute later, the first of several testing of the woodwork came when a cross from the left was met by wing back Jerry O’Sullivan whose shot came back off the right hand post.

Merstham slowly found their feet and on 17 minutes forced Jonny Henly into a decent stop and 10 minutes later Henly made a better stop with the follow-up striking a post.

Tonbridge finally went ahead after 33 minutes when a Tom Beere free kick came back off the crossbar for Aaron Smith-Joseph to fire home the rebound.

Five minutes before the break the visitors doubled their lead when Beere volleyed in from the left hand edge of the six yard box after being set up by Smith-Joseph.

Following the usual rash of half-time changes from both sides, Craig Braham-Bennett rattled a post three minutes in the half before Merstham exerted a bit more pressure and deserved their way back into the game when Ryan Dillon angled a drive into the bottom corner.

The game rather died on its feet in the second period probably due to the near 30deg heat with barely half chances falling to either side.

Tonbridge Angels 1 Lewes 0

Match 04/21/1869 - Tuesday, 13th July 2021 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Turner 31
Lewes (0) 0
Attendance: 206

Admission: £4 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/234

So it wasn’t to be. Once again a penalty shoot-out proved to be the root of disappointment for England fans as Italy departed Wembley as European Champions.

Two days later, the Final was still the topic of conversation although most of that surrounded the disgraceful online abuse of the three black England players that had missed their spot kicks and ticketless thugs that had forced their way into the stadium.

But, for the real football supporters, it was time to get the disappointment out of the system with pre-season continuing at Longmead Stadium.

Tonbridge Angels maintained their 100% pre-season record in a feisty encounter with Lewes that, at times, defied the description of friendly. A single goal, a fine strike from Joe Turner on 31 minutes was ultimately the decider. The miserly Angels defence have yet to concede a goal in four pre-season games.

Steve McKimm was pleased with his side commenting after the match that “We played against a good footballing side, a more physical side. The boys stood up to it and we played some good stuff as well.”

Tonbridge made the running from the opening whistle forcing three corners that came to nothing before the first chance of the game saw ex-Angels stopper Lewis Carey make a good save from Turner who had been set up by Zak Guerfi.

Lewes forced Jonny Henly into his first save of the match before Guerfi picked up the first yellow card of the evening following a couple of clumsy challenges.

On 31 minutes, good work from Ricky Modeste found Turner on the left edge of the box from where he curled a sumptuous shot into the top corner.

A couple of further chances fell to the Angels before the break with Ibrahim Olutade unable to get the ball from under his feet to create a meaningful shot and Tom Parkinson heading wide.

On 56 minutes a poor challenge on Turner brought a reaction from the Tonbridge man and following a scuffle involving several players, Turner collected a yellow card and the Lewes player that committed the original foul was sent off.

The game continued with its state of irritation and Modeste picked up a yellow card.

Luca Woodhouse, a second half substitute, sent in a teasing cross that narrowly evaded everyone in the box and with 20 minutes to go, the Angels triumvirate of 16 year-olds joined the fray. One of those youngsters, Bobby Moore, created two fine openings in the closing minutes for Joe Turner, the first being well saved by the substitute Lewes goalkeeper and from the second he struck the left hand post.

Woodhouse had one final chance that he sliced wide as the Angels saw the game out for a deserved victory.

Tonbridge Angels 5 Grays Athletic 0

Match 03/21/1868 - Saturday, 10th July 2021 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (2) 5 Lee 28 Modeste 42 Parkinson 58 Wood 72 Beere 89
Grays Athletic (0) 0
Attendance: 179

Admission: £4 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/196

So the next game that I watch, albeit from the relative comfort of my armchair, will be the biggest in the nation’s football history for 55 years. The country will hold its breath on Sunday, 11th July 2021, no one with an ounce of football knowledge expects it to be easy, and winning a competition of the magnitude of the European Championship never should be.

Alongside the manager and players of 1966 that have received legendary status, Gareth Southgate can lead his squad into the hearts of the nation, not that they haven’t already done so.

And all they need to do is beat Italy. 33 games unbeaten, a couple of months shy of three years, so the task is huge but not insurmountable and the fact that the game is at Wembley with the majority of the support being England’s should not be underestimated.

All of which has no bearing on Tonbridge’s comfortable 5-0 win against a makeshift Grays Athletic team but in years to come it will put into context the moment of time when the nation was in waiting. Pre-season is progressing nicely, three wins out of three, 10 goals scored, none conceded, new players settling in well, new shape looking positive and supporters are back.

Tonbridge dominated from the first whistle although it took 28 minutes to break the deadlock when Arthur Lee headed in at the far post from a Tom Beere left wing corner.

Just before the break, Tommy Parkinson stood up a cross to the far post for Ricky Modeste to score with a diving header. Two preseason goals, both headers for the Grenadian international.

The second half introduced Craig Braham-Bennett, a Montserrat international, just one more needed and Tonbridge can postpone games during the international breaks!

A 58th minute corner saw a Grays defender turn the ball into his own net under pressure from Parkinson. It’s pre-season, if Tommy wants to claim it, he can have it!

The fourth goal after 72 minutes was a thing of beauty. A long crossfield pass from Joe Turner found Beere on the right and his low cross was turned home by Tommy Wood.

The afternoon was wrapped up in the last minute when Beere’s shot from outside the box left the goalkeeper stranded after taking a bit of a deflection.

Sadly we know England won’t have it this easy tomorrow but the country awaits, it shouldn’t expect but it lives in hope that finally, football’s (no, I’m not going to say it!)

Tonbridge Angels 3 Chipstead (Surrey) 0

Match 02/21/1867 - Saturday, 3rd July 2021 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (2) 3 Turner 21 (pen) Modeste 43 Hanfrey 69
Chipstead (Surrey) (0) 0
Attendance: 206

Admission: £4 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/158

Eighteen months on from the last time supporters entered Longmead Stadium for a first team fixture, many made an emotional return to a place that has sadly changed forever with the absence of dearly departed family and friends to whom proper farewells were denied by the pandemic.

In 18 months some players have come and gone and supporters who have previously held season tickets for many years were never able to make their own judgements on whether they were good, bad or indifferent.

Some of those players took the club to the First Round of the FA Cup for the first time in 46 years; won matches at Chelmsford and Billericay for the first time in a generation but the pandemic denied their joy.

The pandemic still has its hold. Life is not normal when you have to leave your telephone number to enter a football ground and the click now comes from your mouse rather than a turnstile. But Longmead was a happy place, as the song goes “friends shaking hands, saying how do you do”, just because they can.

The game itself was not so much an hor d’oeuvre for a little matter of a Euro Quarter Final, more the welcoming bowl of peanuts on the bar, but the football served up by the Angels was a tasty appetiser for the feast that was to come.

Tonbridge went ahead after 21 minutes when Ibrahim Olutade was brought down in the box for Turner to convert the penalty.

Tonbridge returned the compliment after 33 minutes but Jonny Henly made a fine save from the Chipstead spot kick.

A lofted cross from the right found the leap of Ricky Modeste to head home on his first appearance for the club, two minutes before the break.

A well driven shot from Tom Hanfrey into the bottom corner wound up the afternoon’s scoring after 69 minutes and allowed the triumvirate of 16 year olds another 20 minutes pitch time.

England spared the nation a nervous evening with a resounding victory and after the emotional return to Longmead, it really did feel that Football’s Coming Home.