Folkestone Invicta U18 0 Tonbridge Angels U18 7

Match 28/21/1893 - Tuesday, 31st August 2021 - FA Youth Cup PR

Folkestone Invicta (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (2) 7 Hartley 8,14,67,90 Vowles 77 London 80 Wootton 81
Attendance: 148

Admission: £1 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 66/1,665

Tonbridge Angels cruised into the FA Youth Cup First Qualifying Round with a seven goal demolition of their hosts Folkestone Invicta. The Seasiders had no answer to Finn Hartley who helped himself to four goals.

Tonbridge signalled their intent in their very first attack when Folkestone goalkeeper Cameron Davey made a very good save, turning an effort from Leo Vowles with little more than 10 seconds on the clock.

It was an electric start from the Tonbridge youngsters who went close twice more before taking the lead on eight minutes. A cross from the right from Josh McArthur eluded Cameron Wootton but found Hartley who fired into the bottom corner.

Tonbridge took complete control of the game after 14 minutes when a cross from Vowles was swept home by Hartley and they had countless chances to increase their lead with Davey making an exceptional save to deny Hartley a first half hat-trick.

The second period started in much the same vein but Folkestone at least forced Tonbridge goalkeeper Nat Gibb into his first meaningful save after 52 minutes.

But, for Folkestone, it was a brief foray into opposition territory as Tonbridge once more dominated until they finally broke through after 67 minutes when Wootton set up Hartley to complete his hat-trick from close range.

Sadly, for the home side, their heads went down after that goal and Tonbridge capitalised fully. On 77 minutes, a shot from McArthur was well saved but only parried to Wootton who unselfishly set up Vowles for number four.

A superbly struck free kick from 20 yards by Harry London made it five with 10 minutes remaining and a minute later Wootton buried a shot into the bottom corner for a well deserved goal.

Hartley rounded off a fine performance in time added when he converted at the far past after good work from Sam Grant.

In the First Qualifying Round the Angels will travel to K Sports who received a bye in the Preliminary Round when their opponents Lewisham Borough withdrew from the competition. The game is scheduled for the week of 13th September.

Tonbridge Angels A-A St Albans City

Match 27/21/1892 - Monday, 30th August 2021 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) A
St Albans City (0) A Goddard 59
Match abandoned after 84 minutes due to serious injury
Attendance: 723

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/1,599

Nobody wants to see a game end in this manner. With six minutes remaining and with his St Albans side winning by a single goal, Devante Stanley made a challenge on the edge of his box. Immediately, the concern of nearby players of both sides showed the seriousness of the injury. Once the severity of the injury had been ascertained an ambulance was called for, but the wait time was to be upwards of two hours. The Tonbridge officials handled the situation superbly forming a protective barrier around the player and asking those in direct view to move away to other areas. Although it seemed to take an eternity, it was only half-an-hour, the decision was made to abandon the match.

In truth the match itself had hardly been a spectacle. St Albans just about deserved their lead, taken on 59 minutes, with a goal from John Goddard, who found himself in space on the left side of the box to shoot past Jonny Henly.

One is only left to wish Devante the fullest of recoveries.

Hungerford Town 1 Tonbridge Angels 3

Match 26/21/1891 - Saturday, 28th August 2021 - National League South

Hungerford Town (0) 1 Seager 86 (pen)
Tonbridge Angels (2) 3 Smith-Joseph 7 Turner 45 Modeste 68
Attendance: 353

Admission: £8 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 222/1,561

There is a saying in sport about needing to put in the hard yards to get a reward. Firstly, I needed to put in those yards, miles and miles of them as a standstill on the M25 extended the journey time to three and a half hours and a magical mystery tour to Hungerford and then the team had to go toe-to-toe with a very physical home side, this they did and the reward was a first, valuable three points of the season.

Bulpit Lane is a bits and pieces football ground with a sizeable stand behind the far goal and another five smaller ones dotted around the pitch. It is the pitch that catches your eye on entry as it has what must be the most pronounced slope at this level, at least in the south. It slopes both ways, end to end and side to side and one would guess that you don’t want to lose the toss and being kicking up the slope in the last 20 minutes.

Sonny Miles must have lost that toss and was asked to come down the slope for the first 45 minutes and they took full advantage taking a two goal lead into the break.

Steve McKimm started with Harry Hudson in the number two shirt relegating JJ O’Sullivan to the bench; Adam Lovatt, newly arrived from Sutton United on loan, came into midfield with Aaron Smith-Joseph leading the line and leading it to magnificent effect.

A sixth minute, right-sided free kick for the Angels initially saw a Doug Loft shot blocked but the ball was recycled to Tom Beere whose low cross was met at the near post by Smith-Joseph to get in front of his marker and turn in for his first National South goal.

Smith-Joseph was to prove an almighty handful for the home defence throughout the game but especially in the downhill half.

On 16 minutes, Loft took a powerfully hit pass flush in the face. He initially got to his feet but after 10 minutes was obviously dazed, if not concussed, and could not continue.

A reshuffle ensued with Tommy Wood entering the fray but this did not disturb Tonbridge’s dominance of the half although Jonny Henly was forced to make a smart save just past the half-hour mark.

On the stroke of half-time the ball was won in midfield by Modeste for the Angels and fed to Joe Turner who sized up his options before curling a beauty into the top left for his 50th goal for the club.

Now charged with the equivalent of running up Quarry Hill, it was important that the Angels didn’t offer their hosts a way back into the game early in the second period. This they did with a fair degree of comfort. Around the hour mark Henly made a couple of routine saves and bookings for Smith-Joseph and Modeste were picked up but it was pretty much scare free.

Smith-Joseph capped his fine afternoon in the 68th minute when he wriggled clear of the attention of a couple of defenders on the bye line to fire in a low cross, aimed at the diving-in Modeste, but finding the rear end of Matt Partridge for possibly an own goal and three points for the visitors.

A clearance from the line by Miles and, a minute later, a penalty given and converted for hand ball against the same player brought a little worry to that presumption but in truth the Angels saw out the game comfortably.

The satisfaction of a well deserved win and a far less fraught return journey sped the wheels home. Hard yards, just rewards!

Cray Valley (PM) Under-18 4 Tonbridge Angels U18 1

Match 25/21/1890 - Thursday, 26th August 2021 - Isthmian Youth League

Cray Valley (PM) (3) 4
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 London
Attendance: 90

Admission: £3
Programme: None
Mileage: 76/1,339

A joyous return to the Isthmian Youth League after a four year absence was not to be as the Angels’ Under-18’s found themselves 3-0 down after just 15 minutes but they gave good reason for optimism by remaining competitive for the next 75 minutes.

Manager Dom Welsh had several players unavailable and had to mix his squad with Academy players, some of whom had played only 24 hours previously.

Cray Valley are expected to be one of the better sides in the division and certainly displayed a level of performance of a team that has been together for a number of seasons.

The Angels could not of got off to a worse start conceding a poor goal after just 47 seconds when a under hit back pass to goalkeeper Matt Larkin allowed Flint David-King to intercept and round the keeper before slotting into the unguarded net.

Tonbridge’s first chance came after five minutes when Max Cormack headed over but the home side doubled their lead after 11 minutes when a clearance rebounded into the path of Harry Day who finished well from around 12 yards.

The Angels produced an immediate response but were desperately unlucky when a great effort from Cormack rattled the crossbar.

Sadly, on 15 minutes the hill that the Angels needed to climb became a mountain when a right wing cross found an unmarked Noah Joyce who finished from just inside the box.

It was a cruel start to life at this level, but to their credit, Tonbridge regrouped and worked hard to get themselves back in the game. This they did after 25 minutes when Josh McArthur’s direct run and cross was partially cleared to the edge of the box to the waiting Harry London who fired home.

Two chances just before the break fell to Cameron Wootton whose header was comfortably saved and a free kick in a good position that was fired over the bar by Ethan Knight.

The second period, with the Angels now kicking down the slope was a much more even contest with far fewer chances for both sides.

But any hope of a Tonbridge comeback were finally extinguished when Larkin misjudged a cross into that corridor of uncertainty, leaving Harry Hopper to head home.

London shot over with four minutes to play and Larkin made a fine save, turning the ball over the bar from a close range effort.

Dom Welsh said after the game that he was pleased with his side’s efforts after that disastrous opening 15 minutes and congratulated his hosts, whom he expects will be among the front runners this season.

There were plenty of Tonbridge supporters in the attendance of 90, thank you for your support.

Welling United Academy 5 Tonbridge Angels Academy 6

Match 24/21/1889 - Wednesday, 25th August 2021 - Academy PSF

Welling United (2) 5 19,20,63,66,90+6 (pen)
Tonbridge Angels Academy (4) 6 Wootton 9,34 Hartley 17 Hermitage 27 London 79,90+2
Headcount: 10

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 68/1,263

Tonbridge Angels Academy signed off their pre-season with a goal-packed encounter against Welling United, full of thrills, spills and some cracking strikes.

They will take their shooting boots into Tuesday evening’s FA Youth Cup tie at Folkestone Invicta but, just by the scoreline alone, the need will be to tighten up defensively.

On a warm lunchtime at Sidcup, Tonbridge started the brighter and opened the scoring after nine minutes when excellent link-up play between Luca Woodhouse and Fin Hartley opened up the opportunity for Cameron Wootton to sweep the ball into the bottom corner. Wootton, who has waited a while for a goal, surged in confidence and tested the Welling goalkeeper twice in the next couple of minutes.

On 17 minutes, the Angels went two goals up when Fin Hartley produced a great strike into the top corner after a free kick had only been partially cleared to his feet.

There was no time to rest on their lead as within three minutes Welling were back level. After losing the ball in midfield, a Welling player strode forward a couple of paces and unleashed a shot that cannoned in off the underside of the bar. Four minutes later they produced another cracker with a curler past Nat Gibb and into the top corner.

The game continued to rain goals when Tonbridge regained the lead following a cheeky lobbed pass from Woodhouse for Ben Hermitage to finish after 27 minutes. They restored their original two goal advantage on 34 minutes when Hartley set up Wootton to shoot across the face of the goalkeeper and into the far corner.

Tonbridge retained their 4-2 lead at the break but only by virtue of a superb double save from Gibb.

Good saves and wasteful finishing from both sides left the second half surprisingly goalless for the first quarter hour but then the goalfest picked up pace once more as Welling once more scored two goals in quick time to get back to level terms. The first came with a shot from all of 35 yards that went in off the underside of the bar and two minutes later were level with a well worked goal.

For the first time in the match, Welling looked the better side but with 11 minutes to go, it was the Angels who regained the lead with another fine strike this time from 20 yards by Harry London.

Tonbridge finished the match the stronger and into injury time London was on hand to collect the rebound after Will Saunders header had been well saved.

Amazingly there was still time for one more goal when, after six minutes of added time, the referee, who had been excellent, pointed to the spot for Welling to bring the final score to 5-6.

Gillingham 1 Cheltenham Town 1

Match 23/21/1888 - Tuesday, 24th August 2021 - Carabao Cup Second Round

Gillingham (1) 1 Oliver 20
Cheltenham Town (1) 1 May 24
Attendance: TBA

Admission: £10
Programme: None
Mileage: 46/1,195

Gillingham, on and off the pitch, appear to be a club in disarray and Steve Evans’ post-match press conference only reaffirmed that supposition.

Ticket sales for this Carabao Cup Second Round tie had not reach four figures 24 hours prior to the game and whilst the attendance figure is presently under wraps, a guess would be there were little more than 1,200 in the ground.

On entry, there were no programmes and the food and drink kiosks under the Rainham End were limited to a single one.

On the pitch, whilst accepting that managers choose to rest players in the League Cup, it seems Evans could only field what he had and when his main goalscorer Vadaine Oliver limped out of the fray at half-time, it fell on the shoulders of central defender Max Ehmer to lead the line.

The game started in a bright fashion with Gillingham the dominant side with Oliver going close before opening the scoring with a far post header from a Olly Lee cross, the big striker climbing highest and out muscling the goalkeeper.

The lead only lasted four minutes when a long ball forward wasn’t dealt with and a pass let in ex-Chatham striker Alfie May to score.

Those 25 minutes were as good as it got from an entertainment point of view and both teams got bogged down in a turgid battle.

It’s almost inconceivable that the second half could plunge to new depths but somehow it did with neither side having the guile to break each other down.

The referee could have seen fit to blow his whistle on 90 minutes rather than submit the meagre crowd to five extra minutes of purgatory, but at least the mandarins at the EFL had the foresight not to inflict an extra 30 minutes but go straight to the excitement of a penalty shoot out. Excitement, this was about as exciting as a Chris Whitty slideshow but somewhat more bizarre.

After Lee had despatched the first penalty, Cheltenham’s Conor Thomas stepped up to send Aaron Chapman to his right whilst rolling the ball left. Stuart O’Keefe saw his spot kick saved by Owen Evans and then for the next four Cheltenham penalties the ball was rolled left while Chapman tumbled to his right, each one seemingly identical to the first.

As the ball trickled over the line for the fifth time, Gillingham supporters departed with no kind words for their chairman and the manager took his cue to fire an unveiled attack on Mr Scally, that suggested that a parting of the ways is only days away.

Tonbridge Angels 0 Bath City 1

Match 22/21/1887 - Saturday, 21st August 2021 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Bath City (1) 1 Cooke 7
Attendance: 637

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/1,149

So, we are almost out of firsts, thank god for that I hear you say! But, for the record, Tonbridge Angels welcomed a crowd back to Longmead for the first time in 553 days. Sadly, the majority of those fans were not rewarded with three points but it was so good to hear the sound of supporters singing and cheering on their favourites, whether that be Angels fans or the sizeable contingent that had made the long journey up from Bath.

That journey was obviously onerous as the kick-off had to be delayed for 15 minutes as the Bath City coach only arrived at the ground at 2:25 pm. Prior to the game a minute’s applause was observed for all those associated with Tonbridge Angels who have passed away during those intervening 553 days. In among the names announced by the stadium announcer were an ex-Chairman, several ex-players and much-loved fellow supporters including my own dear friend Geoffrey Calderhead.

The game was a tight affair, just three shots on goal between the two sides, and it was settled early in the contest.

For the second time in this embryonic season, the Angels fell behind in the opening ten minutes. From a Tonbridge attack in which Ibrahim Olutade got a shot away that was comfortably saved by the Bath City goalkeeper, Ryan Clarke, literally a couple of passes later, Coady Cooke was one-on-one with Jonny Henly, finishing well into the far corner.

Neither side managed to assert any dominance with Aaron Smith-Joseph firing into the side netting after 38 minutes the closest either side came to adding to the score sheet.

The home side began the second period on the front foot with good crosses coming in from Smith-Joseph and Ricky Modeste but each time the ball evaded an attacker by a matter of inches.

After 71 minutes, Joe Turner registered a shot on target and with four minutes remaining, a Tom Beere corner appeared to be curling straight in but the ball drifted just wide.

There was one last opportunity but a Turner free kick from the edge of the box sailed over the bar and the visitors were celebrating their victory.

This was a much improved performance from the Angels, who deserved something from the game but the lack of quality in the final third was their undoing.

Dover Athletic Academy 0 Tonbridge Angels Academy 2

Match 21/21/1886 - Wednesday, 18th August 2021 - Academy Pre-Season Friendly

Dover Athletic Academy (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels Academy (1) 2 Woodhouse 22,87 (pen)
Headcount: 14

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 60/1,111

The Academy produced their best performance of pre-season to beat a Dover Athletic side for the very first time at Academy level.

Every player to a man put on a performance worthy of mention and they were thoroughly deserving of their fine victory.

After a relatively quiet opening 20 minutes, Tonbridge fashioned the first chance of the game when Luca Woodhouse’s effort was deflected wide for a corner, from which, Joe Tyrie’s diving header marginally cleared the bar.

But a minute later, the Angels were in front. A sharp interplay between Josh McArthur and Isaac Barden set up Woodhouse to fire low beyond the goalkeeper’s reach.

Buoyed by their goal, the Angels youngsters grew in confidence and, despite Nat Gibb making a 25th minute save, they dominated the game and created the best of the chances.

After 28 minutes, Billy Kent struck the crossbar and shot narrowly wide after 36 minutes whilst Barden and Leo Vowles both had shooting opprtunities.

Dover improved after the break and had their best chance of the match after 55 minutes when, with time and space, a shot from inside the box cleared the bar. But, for all their pressure, Gibb was only asked to make routine saves which he did with impeccable handling.

Just past the hour mark, substitute Cameron Wootton cut in from the right and curled a shot towards the top corner but the ball was clawed to safety with an agile save from the goalkeeper.

As the Angels started to tire, Dover made the running in the last 20 minutes but with Tyrie, Kian Austin and Shay Brennan defending resolutely the home side barely registered a shot with Gibb collecting every cross delivered into his six yard box.

Three minutes remained when Barden waltzed into the box to draw a clumsy challenge leaving the referee little option but to point to the spot. Woodhouse calmly sent the goalkeeper to the right while rolling the ball in the opposite direction.

An excellent performance and result that left a feeling of optimism for the coming season.

AFC Wimbledon 1 Gillingham 1

Match 20/21/1885 - Tuesday, 17th August 2021 - League One

AFC Wimbledon (0) 1 Palmer 86
Gillingham (0) 1 Kalambayi (o.g.) 90+7
Attendance: TBC

New Ground: 345

Admission: £15 Senior
Programme: £3
Mileage: 116/1,051

Football is the strangest of games, don’t we just love it! For pretty much all of the 100 minutes that this game was played, Gillingham were absolute dogs poo and when they went down to 10 men with 20 minutes to go, survival was the sole objective. Eventually the resolve was broken with four minutes to go and disconsolate supporters headed for the exit, but the game is never over until the final whistle!

As we return to as close to normality as we will probably ever be, life is all about firsts. So, for the first time in 625 games, I’m watching Gillingham in a competitive game and a first new ground in 10 months.

The first thing about the new Plough Lane is that it’s not easily accessible. Parking is non existent, so the train was decided as the best option but the underground leaves you with a 25 minute walk, which is a long trek when you are desperate to catch a train home.

The ticketing was a bit ponderous with one harassed woman searching through a box of envelopes to retrieve your envelope which contains the QR code for scanning. Quite why this could not be delivered to a personal phone is a bit of a mystery.

Once inside the stadium is functional without being exciting and, until Wimbledon scored with a couple of minutes to go, lacked any sort of atmosphere. Pet hate of mine is being charged £2.50 for a cup of tea and my brother said the pies were not good either.

The ticket plan didn’t give a true reflection on the seating position and consequently we were tucked alongside the corner flag.

As mentioned Gillingham were pretty poor, but Wimbledon were not much better and this made for a first half of questionable quality.

Gillingham had one period after about half-an-hour in which they got the ball down and almost proved they were capable of playing some decent stuff but, for the most part, it was hit it long in the direction of Vadaine Oliver and hope for the best.

Wimbledon, for all their domination, barely asked Jamie Cumming to make a serious save although one would have to say that his handling was impeccable.

During the Gills brief period of ascendancy, Dempsey and Reeves brought saves from the Dons’ keeper, Nik Tzanev.

Whilst an over-officious referee was starting his collection of Gillingham players in his book with the booking of Robbie McKenzie, the visitors were guilty of giving away far too many free kicks in dangerous areas.

Having subscribed to the theory that the second half couldn’t get any worse, Wimbledon got marginally better and the Gills, one could argue, actually did get worse.

David Tutonda picked up a booking on 55 minutes that was ultimately to lead to his dismissal for a reckless challenge on Henry Lawrence, the best player on the pitch, after 72 minutes.

The rearguard action for Gillingham was on and they defended manfully with Jack Tucker outstanding but they eventually lost the battle with the clock when McCormick stood up a cross for Ollie Palmer to head home from close range with four minutes remaining.

All seemed lost for Gillingham and into the final minute of six added, AFCW's Ayoub Assai sprinted clear only to be flagged offside. Instead of just leaving the ball, he elected to round the goalkeeper and then heave it into the stand. Pure madness, but the booking he received was the minor retribution. As the clock ticked past 97 minutes, Gillingham made one last effort, gaining a free kick that was lofted into the box but half-cleared to Harvey Lintott, whose volley was going well wide until it took a wicked deflection and looped over the stranded goalkeeper.

Pandemonium reigned among the travelling faithful, the most unlikely of points had been gained and made the long walk back to Tooting Broadway just a little less tiresome.

Ebbsfleet United 5 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 19/21/1884 - Saturday, 14th August 2021 - National League South

Ebbsfleet United (4) 5 Poleon 8,27,28 Bingham 14 Mekki 81
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Olutade 74
Attendance: 1,132

Admission: £12 Senior
Programme: £3
Mileage: 54/935

There is a sense of excitement that every new season brings but for obvious reasons this one was even more intense. 517 days since Tonbridge Angels fans legitimately entered into a stadium to watch their side in a competitive away match; a relatively short journey to local rivals Ebbsfleet United all added to the sense of anticipation.

Sadly, just like it did in the FA Cup First Round against Bradford City, it can all come tumbling down around you in the very shortest of times. This was always going to be one of the toughest possible openers and those fears were quickly realised. If Ebbsfleet are not in and around the top positions at the end of this season, then there has to be some unbelievably talented sides in this division.

On a hot afternoon, Tonbridge felt the heat from early on when the home side took an eighth minute lead when a good build-up presented a shooting opportunity for Dominic Poleon who found the bottom corner.

Six minutes later a bad start turned into a nightmare one when a punt forward somehow found Rakish Bingham through the centre in time and space to lob the advancing Jonny Henly from 20 yards.

The traffic was one-way and chances came thick and fast for the Fleet before, after 27 minutes, it was as good as game over when following Tonbridge’s first real chance of the game from a corner, Tom Parkinson headed into the path of Sonny Miles who saw his effort saved by Josh Gould. From the clearance, Poleon was clear again and curled his shot into the far corner.

Sixty seconds later, Poleon had his hat trick and Angels supporters were fearing a cricket score. Once again, the Tonbridge defence were undone by a single pass and Poleon finished with clinical efficiency.

Things threatened to get embarrassing for the Angels as a strong shout for a penalty was waved away and a fifth goal was disallowed for offside. The half-time whistle could hardly have been more welcome.

Whether it was the heat; Ebbsfleet taking their foot off the pedal (could they really have maintained that blistering pace for the whole 90 minutes) or Steve McKimm managing to get some stability into his side but the second half restored some pride. That is not too say that the home side didn’t rack up another bundle of chances.

After 59 minutes, Aaron Smith-Joseph registered a shot on target for the Angels but it was comfortably gathered by Gould. On 62 minutes, Ebbsfleet treated themselves to the luxury of removing Poleon and replacing him with ex-Gillingham hotshot Elliott Romain, such is the depth of talent available to the Ebbsfleet manager, Dennis Kutrieb.

Tonbridge replaced their ex-Gillingham man Doug Loft with Zak Guerfi, who at least injected a bit of energy and striker Tommy Wood with Ibrahim Olutade.

And finally, after 74 minutes, the Angels fans had something to celebrate when good work down the right by Guerfi led to Modeste having a shot that was parried by Gould but Olutade was on hand to fire home the rebound. Gallows humour maybe, but the “we’re going to win 5-4” at least brought smiles.

It wasn’t to last as, on 81 minutes, Adam Mekki cut in from the left to fire home a shot across Henly and into the far corner for the home side’s fifth.

Henly made a couple of decent stops in the closing minutes to retain some semblance of respectability to the score line.

One would be quick to jump to the conclusion that a long, hard season for the Angels is about to ensue, but surely there cannot be too many Ebbsfleet’s around, although I’m sure that Dartford, Dorking and Havant games are going to be equally challenging.

Greenways 2 Staplehurst Monarchs United 1

Match 17/21/1882 - Monday, 9th August 2021 - SCEFL 1

Greenways (1) 2 Abioye 44,63
Staplehurst Monarchs United (0) 1 Pallet 70
Attendance: 83

Admission: £3 Senior
Programme: £1
Mileage: 26/823

Two teams without a point on the board following the opening two rounds of fixtures fought out a feisty encounter at Cobdown with the home side, Greenways emerging as the winners on the night.

With potentially three clubs to be relegated from SCEFL Division 1, I fear that my home town club, Staplehurst Monarchs’ stay in Step 6 might be a short one. But I am also inclined to think that Greenways might be similarly looking over their shoulders.

At half-time the game was evenly poised and Staplehurst were more than a shade unlucky to go into the break a goal down, but come the finish, wasteful finishing from Greenways denied them a clearer margin of victory.

A decent crowd of around a 100 had very little to enthuse about in the opening 20 minutes before Staplehurst brought the first real save of the game from Greenways goalkeeper Dan Stevens.

A free kick saw the Staplehurst central defender’s header go marginally wide after 28 minutes, quickly followed by Stevens saving at Peter West’s feet. After 34 minutes a free kick from the right clipped the far post with the Monarch’s cursing their misfortune.

After dominating the half, the visitors fell behind in controversial circumstances a minute from the break. Greenways swung in a corner from the right that was met with a downward header that goalkeeper Steve Lawrence parried low into the path of Rhys Abioye who touched home from close range with the Staplehurst defenders claiming offside.

Greenways were more of an attacking force in the second period but Abioye was wasteful when sent clear and shot wide two minutes into the half and James Austin shot over after 55 minutes.

Abioye scored his second of the evening after 63 minutes when he slotted in from close range but a tight angle.

Staplehurst got themselves back into the game after 70 minutes when a long through ball sent Kieran Pallet clear to score with a very good finish.

This did set up a tense finish that on a couple of occasions threatened to boil over with a couple of naughty challenges bringing recriminations from both sides.

As the Monarchs desperately sought an equaliser, going closest seven minutes from time, Greenways also had a couple of chances on the break. And thereby lies the tale, both sides need to be much sharper in front of goal or a long, hard winter is going to follow.

Tonbridge Angels 0 Dover Athletic 4

Match 16/21/1881 - Saturday, 7th August 2021 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Dover Athletic (2) 4 Williamson 1 Trialist 7 Cosgrave 70 Carney 90
Attendance: 322

Admission: £4 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 38/797

I think at this time of the year I write pretty much the same post wherever I might be. Finally we have reached the end of preseason, the phoney war has finished and supporters are looking forward to their season opener, in the case of Tonbridge Angels at Ebbsfleet.

Are we ready will be the worry for supporters everywhere and the answer is that there are no more chances for experiment, next Saturday points are on the table.

In Tonbridge Angels case, the final preseason game could not have started worse with the visitors, Dover Athletic, going ahead after just 17 seconds through Ben Williamson.

After seven minutes the Conference side were two up when a cracking shot from a trialist, who sideline gossip told that he had been released by Birmingham City, came back from the crossbar to strike Tonbridge goalkeeper, Jonny Henly, on the back and trickle over the line.

Dover might have gone three up after 13 minutes when following a corner three separate attempts the Angels defence managed to scramble the ball to safety.

Tonbridge’s best efforts of the half came after 21 minutes when Zak Guerfi’s shot from the edge of the box struck the bar and on the stroke of half-time Ibrahim Olutade saw his close range opportunity was saved at the near post by Adam Parkes.

Intermittent heavy rain had brought about two changes of position and the second half was viewed from the sanctuary of the main stand.

A 55th minute Arthur Lee header from an Aaron Smith-Joseph cross that went narrowly wide was about as good as it got for Tonbridge as after 70 minutes a shot from Aaron Cosgrave squirmed under the body of Jonny Henly to put Dover three to the good.

A final minute goal for Dover Academy graduate Noah Carney wrapped up proceedings and brought down the curtain on this extended preseason.

Up and down the country, whether your preseason results have been good, bad or indifferent they count for nothing and as the curtain also falls on a spellbinding Olympics, let the games begin.

Tonbridge Angels Academy 3 Erith Town Academy 3

Match 15/21/1880 - Wednesday, 4th August 2021 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels Academy (0) 3 Saunders 63,67 Kent 90+5
Erith Town Academy (0) 3
Headcount: 10

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 32/759

No August is any different in terms of Academy football, some mainstays of the previous three years have moved on and into senior football and a new first year intake take their places with the same aspirations.

And one of the satisfactions of their coaches and minibus driver(!) is to watch their development from these first tentative steps to where we hope they will be in nine months time and beyond that in the next three years.

In terms of Tonbridge Angels Academy, defenders no longer have the massive influence that Harry Hudson brought, but newly-installed skipper Joe Tyrie can step into his boots and inspire the first years around him and no longer will the goals be coming aplenty from Ned Lewis, but Cam Wootton will need to be the on-pitch guide for the likes of Fin Hartley.

Manager Tom Parkinson played most of his second/third years in the first half with the bulk of the new recruits playing the second period. In truth, the first half team looked pretty rusty, unsurprising given the curtailed 2020/21 season.

Probably the best two chances of the first half came in the first quarter hour. A cross from the right saw Wootton pressure the Erith goalkeeper into a poor punched clearance that fell to Hartley whose snap shot came back from the bar.

Two minutes later, Erith brought a brave, but painful save, from Nat Gibb, who saved at his near post from a shot at close range that cannoned into his midriff.

This was followed in the 14th minute when Wootton was sent clear but the goalkeeper denied him pushing his effort aside for a corner, from which, Erith staged a lightning breakaway only for the Erith winger to show a lack of composure and shoot over.

The rest of the half showed a lack of urgency from both sides with the visitors marginally the better side.

The second half was probably always going to produce goals given the inexperience of both sides. The opener, after 50 minutes, came for Erith when the Angels’ goalkeeper flapped at a cross which eventually allowed a tap in.

Erith doubled their advantage on the hour when the Tonbridge ‘keeper was only able to parry a shot into the path of an unmarked player for another close range goal.

Credit to the Angels youngsters for their response and, after 63 minutes, Will Saunders capitalised on a goalkeeping error to halve the deficit.

Four minutes later, they were level when Saunders finished with a powerful shot after being set up by Mason.

Tonbridge held the momentum and carved out the chances but, with six minutes remaining, Erith bundled the ball home at the far post to restore their lead.

Tonbridge threw everything forward in a desperate search for an equaliser that befitted an FA Cup match and were eventually rewarded in the fifth minute of time added when Hartley laid the ball into the path of Billy Kent who slammed it home.

Nine months hard work awaits and their progress will be watched with interest.

Bearsted 2 Crowborough Athletic 2

Match 14/21/1879 - Tuesday, 3rd August 2021 - SCEFL Premier League

Bearsted (1) 2 Stace 5 Majoyegbe 82
Crowborough Athletic (1) 2 Lambert 6 Bartlett 89 (pen)
Attendance: 80

Admission: £4 Senior
Programme: With entry
Mileage: 15/727

One of the more satisfying aspects of being involved with Academy football (nothing more than driving the minibus!) is seeing 13/14 year-olds grow into young men and into senior football. So, with a collection of past and present Tonbridge Angels Academy players turning out for Crowborough this season, the short trip to Bearsted was a welcome opportunity to view their progress.

Jacob Lambert has already received very favourable reports from acquaintances who regularly watch the Crows whilst in this evening’s team was also Harrison Mayhew and Rhys Bartlett with Joe Tyrie on the bench.

The game got off to an electric start that threatened a goal fest. In the first minute Bearsted’s Giorgio Russo fired over the bar and from a third minute corner, Daniel Melvin’s header was saved by Cameron Hall. So it hardly came as a surprise that Bearsted opened the scoring after five minutes when Sam Stace was sent clear to lob the advancing Hall from 20 yards.

The lead was to last barely 60 seconds when Lambert received the ball and coolly stroked into the bottom corner.

Bearsted dominated the half and had several chances to restore their lead with a headed opportunity for Lekan Majoyegbe the best, but the game got to the break with the same scoreline as it had after six minutes.

The second half started with a tetchy period that saw three bookings, two for Crowborough, in the space of three minutes.

Once it settled down, it was Bearsted that continued to have the momentum but were wasteful with their chances. A great move opened up the Crows after 57 minutes but only ended with Jason Dawson’s shot clearing the bar and further chances for Andy Irvine and Harrison Hatfull failed to find the target.

Eventually, it took some poor defending from Crowborough who allowed a harmless looking free kick find its way through to central defender Majoyegbe to stab the ball past Hall.

But the came was not lost to Crowborough and a through ball saw Bartlett sprint clear only to be brought down just inside the box. Bartlett, himself, sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to secure a point for the visitors.

It wasn’t quite Roy of the Rovers stuff, but Crowborough’s red and yellow away kit certainly resembled the famous strip worn by Melchester Rovers.

K Sports 2 Tunbridge Wells 2

Match 13/21/1878 - Monday, 2nd August 2021 - SCEFL Premier League

K Sports (0) 2 Butler 47 Oshin 69
Tunbridge Wells (0) 2 Wells 54 Hudson 88
Attendance: 207

Admission: £4 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 36/712

Aaron Lee-Wharton was the hero as Tunbridge Wells managed to leave Cobdown with a point following Harry Hudson’s headed equaliser a couple of minutes from the end in a tightly contested game.

In a mirror image of the opening minutes of Saturday’s game against Sheppey, Regan Corke was the early threat giving Jordan Wells the chance to press K Sports goalkeeper, Charlie Walker, into action.

K Sports had the opportunity for an eighth minute lead after James Nurdin had brought down Isaac Bignell with a clumsy challenge. Victor Aiyelabola’s spot kick was saved low to his left by Lee-Wharton, who then reacted brilliantly to turn aside the follow-up from George Batten.

In terms of chances, the game was nick and tuck throughout the first half, the best of the efforts coming from Josh Froggatt, whose impudent lob from 30 yards wasn’t too far away and Lee-Wharton needed to be at his brilliant best to claw an Aiyelabola effort out of the top corner after 40 minutes.

K Sports needed just two minutes of the second period to open the scoring. Bignell supplying the cross for Kane Butler to fire home a shot that took a deflection to wrong foot Lee-Wharton.

Tunbridge Wells responded well and in the space of two minutes, both full backs Nurdin and Frankie Griffin tested Walker before, in the 55th minute, Jordan Wells crashed home a shot from 30 yards that left the goalkeeper grasping at thin air.

In the 66th minute, K Sports were offered another golden opportunity to regain their lead when Robbie Bissett was deemed to have brought down Butler on the right side of the box. Responsibility this time fell to Ian Batten, but he could only watch with despair and amazement as his shot bound for the top corner was clawed away by Lee-Wharton with an incredible save.

The relief for the Wells lasted just moments when following the resultant corner, Michael Oshin stabbed home a loose ball in the six yard box.

Tunbridge Wells went in search of an equaliser and the home side looked hard for a third that would put the game to bed, so good chances came at both ends.

On 72 minutes, substitute Euan Sahadow found Corke at the near post but his shot was turned away by Walker and quickly followed by K Sports Max Morgan being sent through only for more heroics from Lee-Wharton saving at his feet.

Hudson was thrown forward in the search for the equaliser and with seven minutes remaining firstly his shot was deflected wide for a corner, from which, his header was narrowly wide.

But Hudson was to be the saviour. A shot from the left was pushed away by Walker but Corke recycled the ball from the right and stood up a cross for the spring-heeled Hudson to bury with a firm header.

Tunbridge Wells, almost certainly went home the happier with their first point of the season whilst K Sports, for 24 hours, lead the embryonic table.