Tonbridge Angels U18 1 Kennington U18 0

Match 51/21/1915 - Sunday, 31st October 2021 - Kent County U18 Cup 2R

Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 1 Burke 83
Kennington (0) 0
Headcount: 25

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 23/2,823

Ultimately Tonbridge Angels found the winning goal but both sides deserve to take credit for producing a competitive game in atrocious weather. A howling wind was matched by downpours of Noah proportions. Even the supposed resilience of a 3G surface was stretched to its limits as standing water began to collect in one corner.

The game, as said, was always competitive but the quality was compromised by the elements. In fact, it was the outstanding piece of quality that produced the winning goal.

Tonbridge dominated the possession for much of the game but in 10 minute spells Kennington provided a serious threat.

The best chance of the first half fell to Max Cormack after 41 minutes but he pulled it wide.

It is on occasions like this that you have to admire the fortitude of the parents who get up each Sunday morning to drive their offspring to wherever and then spend the next couple of hours on the touch line getting soaked through to the skin.

Chances opened up in the second half and, thankfully, the rain relented. Kennington had one of their spells either side of the hour mark creating three good chances with Matt Larkin saving well with his feet and the Kennington supporters thought they had their noses in front as the net rippled but the shot had hit the side netting.

The winner came on 83 minutes from a move of pure quality. Fin Wolvey knocked a superb crossfield pass to the right from where Luca Bradley produced a pin point cross to the far post where he found Rocky Burke whose precise shot nestled in the net just inside the far post.

Dom Welsh was happy to earn a place in the Third Round commenting: “I think we probably had 70%+ in terms of possession but failed to break down 11 behind the ball, which is natural and never easy. They played direct, on the break and created some chances as we had to push players forward. We said at half time that one goal wins it. It’s never easy when teams put everyone behind the ball but I’m pleased with the clean sheet and into the next round.”

Tonbridge Angels 0 Oxford City 2

Match 50/21/1914 - Saturday, 30th October 2021 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Oxford City (0) 2 Harmon 47 Iacuifano 60
Attendance: 706

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/2,800

I’ve never used this blog to call out referees, it’s a tough job that very few of us would want and at non-league level they have to make decisions without the comfort blanket of another man sitting watching the game on a screen. But it is on these decisions games can be won and lost and I’m afraid Mr Aji Ajibola did Tonbridge Angels no favours.

We have seen a lot of Ajibola over the last few years and we take some history with him into every match he takes and it rarely ends well.

Did Tonbridge deserve to take something out of this game against high-flying opponents Oxford City, probably (possibly). Did Ajibola’s decisions influence the result, almost certainly.

Tonbridge made no changes from last time out at Billericay with new loan signing, Jake Hutchinson from Colchester United, on the bench.

Tonbridge dominated the first half with it taking until the 37th minute for the visitors to register their first attempt on goal.

Doug Loft was controlling the midfield and he set up the opening chance for Joe Turner who struck narrowly over after 15 minutes.

The next chance came on 27 minutes when Ibrahim Olutade headed wide and five minutes later, the same player just failed to get onto a Jamie Fielding cross.

On 40 minutes, Oxford literally laid their bodies on the line as successive efforts from Turner, Olutade and Loft were all blocked but the game entered the break scoreless.

A failure to take chances often comes back to haunt (very apt on Halloween weekend) and so it was within two minutes of the restart. A long ball into the left channel saw Joe Iaciofaro collect the ball, he turned inside Tom Parkinson, and backheeled to defender George Harmon who fired in an unerring shot into the far corner.

The first of the controversial decisions from Mr Ajibola came on 55 minutes when Fielding and Tom Parkinson both needed attention following a clash of heads. Parkinson eventually needed to be substituted but Fielding had to leave the pitch following treatment. Whilst the Angels were a man short, and with the referee not allowing the player to return to the pitch, Elliot Benyon and Iaciofaro combined for the latter to score from inside of the box. Why Fielding wasn’t allowed to return is a mystery, especially as later in the game with an Oxford player having to leave the field following injury, the referee was heard to say, “shout when you are ready to return.”

In fairness, Oxford were a much better side in the second half and Tonbridge didn’t create the clear chances that they had in the first period. Hutchinson came off the bench to have a great opportunity in front of goal but couldn’t sort out his feet and then, with a minute of ordinary time remaining Ricky Modeste had a goal chalked off for offside that, to be frank, nobody could understand.

Referee’s don’t win or lose matches, but they can certainly influence the outcome.

Tonbridge Angels Academy 1 VCD Athletic Academy 2

Match 49/21/1913 - Thursday, 28th October 2021 - National League U19 Alliance

Tonbridge Angels Academy (1) 1 Hartley 22
VCD Athletic Academy (0) 2 #5 50 #11 76
Headcount: 16

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 28/2,762

The Angels Academy slipped to a disappointing defeat to a hard-working VCD Athletic on Thursday afternoon.

In the midst of half-term, Tonbridge were short of some regular starters with Luca Woodhouse a significant miss, but we have to guess that the visitors encountered similar problems.

The first 20 minutes were fairly even although the better chances were created by the Angels. A teasing cross from Leo Vowles narrowly missed Cameron Wootton’s slide at the far post and on 16 minutes, the VCD goalkeeper performed heroics as he kept out an opening attempt from Vowles as he cut in from the left and then managed to parry follow-up shots from Wootton and Ben Hermitage before the ball was cleared to safety.

Tonbridge got their noses in front after 22 minutes when a punt out from defence was headed on by Wootton leaving Fin Hartley to outpace his marker before drawing the goalkeeper and sliding the ball into the bottom corner.

In fairness, Tonbridge were the better side in the first half and had they taken their chances they could have gone into the break two or three goals to the good with Joe Tyrie putting a header wide and a corner from Ben Twist coming directly back off the bar with the resultant rebound being scrambled to safety.

After an early second half chance for Wootton went begging, VCD took a grip of the game and were not to relinquish it for the remainder of the game.

VCD worked really hard, pressed from the front and in the second half showed more energy than the Angels were able to give. Their equaliser came five minutes into the half when the centre half met a right-sided corner with a towering header that gave the Angels goalkeeper, Nathan Carter absolutely no chance.

After several near misses for VCD with very little in the reply from the Angels, the visitors took the lead after 76 minutes when the ball somewhat fortuitously deflected into the path of the VCD left winger who clinically finished.

It was a jolt that did prompt a response from the Angels but they were not able to break down the visitors resilient defence.

Manager Tommy Parkinson whilst disappointed with his own team’s performance was fulsome in his praise for the visitors: “It was boys against men for the majority of the time today. VCD worked exceptionally hard, won every tackle, header, first ball, second ball and well deserved their win today.”

Glebe Under-18 3 Tonbridge Angels Under-18 4

Match 48/21/1913 - Wednesday, 27th October 2021 - Isthmian Youth

Glebe Under-18 (1) 3 Rhodes 37,83 Boyce 64
Tonbridge Angels Under-18 (3) 4 Wolvey 9,29,58 (2 pens) Saunders 32
Attendance: 33

Admission: £4
Programme: None
Mileage: 64/2,734

Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s withstood a last ten minute onslaught from Glebe to record their first Isthmian Youth League win of the season. The Angels had led 4-1 after 58 minutes courtesy of a Finlay Wolvey hat-trick, but this was never a game that was going to be over until the final whistle.

Manager Dom Welsh was justifiably proud of his team, commenting after the game: ““Honestly made up for the boys tonight! Absolutely huge task to take any points from the game and they delivered a gritty performance! Very proud of my team!”

His team were down to the bare bones with only 12 players available and having to play a striker, Will Saunders, at centre half alongside an Under-16, Rory Kavanagh. Both put in sterling performances.

Tonbridge took a ninth minute lead through Wolvey who took a pass 20 yards out to drive in a fierce shot that the Glebe goalkeeper could only help into the net.

The Angels dominated the opening half-hour and went 2-0 up when Ethan Knight was felled as he dribbled along the bye-line following a short corner routine. Wolvey firmly struck home the resultant penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way.

Three minutes later, it was 3-0 when Saunders met a right sided corner to plant a solid header past the goalkeeper.

If Tonbridge thought the game had been put to bed they were given a rude awakening when Ernest Rhodes seized upon a rebound after the Angels goalkeeper Matt Larkin had saved a close range effort.

Glebe exerted full pressure to reduce the deficit before half-time and Larkin was at his brilliant best to turn over a shot from Finlay Boyce that was heading for the top corner.

Glebe maintained the momentum into the second half and it took a great saving tackle from Saunders to maintain the score line.

Against the run of play, after 58 minutes, George Theis broke clear and was brought down by the advancing Glebe goalkeeper for another penalty from which Wolvey completed his hat-trick in the same manner as his first spot kick.

The comfort of a three goal lead was not to last long as, six minutes later, Boyce latched onto Larkin’s parrying save to score from close range.

When, nine minutes from time, a free kick from Rhodes found its way into the net through a crowded penalty area, it set up a grandstand finish from the home side that was met with some desperate, but brave, defending that somehow withstood an extra four minutes of added time that included a fine, low save from Larkin.

Billericay Town 0 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 47/21/1912 - Saturday, 23rd October 2021 - National League South

Billericay Town (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Modeste 27
Attendance: 866

Admission: £10 Senior
Programme: £3
Mileage: 98/2,670

A little over 12 months ago on a wet Tuesday night, Tonbridge historically won at New Lodge for the first-ever time. Sadly, the event was only celebrated by a few club officials as matches continued to be played behind closed doors as the country battled with the pandemic.

Nice though it was to be part of that small group that witnessed Tom Beere wrapping the game up four minutes from time, it felt wrong that our supporters who had seen so many disappointments at this ground over the years could only watch on from the albeit comfort of their homes via the live stream.

So we fast forward to the present, the United Kingdom, let’s face it, is still in the grip of the pandemic but without the restrictions and supporters are able to travel, on the day a torturous journey to Billericay in the hope that the magic of 6th October 2020 could be recreated.

And with a little bit of Ricky Modeste’s magic, recreated it was.

Steve McKimm has managed to re-acquire the services of Adam Lovatt from Sutton United for a couple of months and he went straight into the team whilst the absence through injury of Craig Braham-Barrett saw Modeste line up in the unusual position of wing back.

The opening 20 minutes saw little in the way of goalmouth action with Joe Turner pulling a shot wide and from a free kick a deflection took the ball narrowly wide for a corner.

In the meantime, Billericay were offering very little of note and, in the 26th minute, Modeste was found on the left wing by Lovatt in a bit of space to advance a couple of yards before curling a shot into the far top corner with the home goalkeeper, Bailey Vose, literally clutching at thin air.

Tonbridge went on to largely dominate the remainder of the half with a couple of half chances falling to Tommy Wood and Modeste.

The second half very much began with the Angels starting where they left off. Ibrahim Olutade was proving a real handful for the Billericay defence and when Wood was bundled to the ground after 57 minutes there was a strong claim for a penalty but this was waved away by the referee.

Half-chance after half-chance continued to fall the Angels way and the nagging thought began that eventually this was going to bite us on the bum as, something of this nature just always happens at Billericay.

The home side literally hadn’t had a single shot on goal as the game went into the last 10 minutes and they started to build a little bit of pressure and, so it was that the moment that never fails to arrive at New Lodge came on 87 minutes when a hopeful ball into the right channel saw the Tonbridge goalkeeper, Jonny Henly advance and, on the decision of the linesman after consultation with the referee, bring down the Billericay player for what appeared to be a very soft penalty decision.

Kweku Lucan stepped up, but his shot was weak, his aim was poor and Henly was able to fall on the ball to save with relative comfort.

In the five added minutes there were some heart stopping moments as Sonny Miles cleared away from the line and with one last gasp effort, Henly was forced into his best save of the match to preserve the points and give the travelling support the joy that they were denied 12 months ago.

Tonbridge Angels Academy 2 Camberley Town Academy 0

Match 46/21/1911 - Wednesday, 20th October 2021 - NLA League Cup R2

Tonbridge Angels (0) 2 Wootton 55 Wallis 64
Camerberly Town (0) 0
Headcount: 15

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/2,572

A stiff wind influenced the game at Larkfield on Wednesday afternoon, such was its strength that both sides found it easier playing against the wind than having it at their backs with the slightest of over hit passes carried out of play.

Camberley tested Nat Gibb in the opening minute whilst Billy Kent shot wide and a trio of Tonbridge corners eventually came to nothing.

Both goalkeepers were kept busy with the Camberley custodian making a fine save at his near post to deny Luca Woodhouse after 20 minutes. Neither side was particularly taking control of the game and a chance per side might have given one or other the lead.

From a 28 minute corner, Kian Austin’s header struck the cross bar and, six minutes later, Gibb needed to be at his best to save low at his near post.

The chance for chance continued into the later stages of the half with the Camberley ‘keeper saving from Woodhouse and Gibb turning away an effort on target.

The second period saw Tonbridge take a greater control of the game with the wind against them. Cameron Wootton had an effort saved before, after 55 minutes, he was on the end of a move that saw Josh McArthur’s cross fired into the bottom corner.

Nine minutes later, the Angels gave themselves a bit of breathing space when Joe Wallis glanced a header at the near post into the net.

Tonbridge largely controlled the closing stages with substitute Mason Nicholls’ shot clearing the bar; Wallis bringing a save from a corner and a Will Saunders header drifting narrowly wide.

At the final whistle, the second half performance had given the Academy a comfortable passage into the third round of the National League Under-19 Alliance League Cup with the draw yet to be made.

Tonbridge Angels U18 2 K Sports U18 2

Match 45/21/1910 - Monday, 18th October 2021 - Isthmian Youth

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Theis 45,57
K Sports (1) 2 Gardiner 13 Coiling 81
Attendance: 60

Admission: £4
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/2,534

An exquisite finish from K Sports Harry Coiling, seven minutes from time, earned the visitors a point from a competitive match at a rain soaked Longmead Stadium on Monday evening.

The opening 10 minutes were a good indication of the way the game was going to unfold as an even contest. K Sports’ Mitchell Smith had the opening shot on target with Fin Wolvey testing Taite Holtam for the Angels. But, after 13 minutes it was the K’s that opened the scoring when Mackenzie Gardiner cut in from the left and from an acute angle fired into the bottom corner.

K Sports drew confidence from the goal and Coiling drew a good save from Matt Larkin with Toby Henley completing the clearance. Coiling was proving a real handful and on the half hour he capitalised on a defensive error but his shot narrowly cleared the bar and five minutes later he drew loud appeals for a penalty that was waved away by the referee.

Tonbridge eased their way back into the game in the closing five minutes with Wolvey firing a free kick over and Rockie Burke forcing the K’s goalkeeper into a good save. But the equaliser came on the stroke of half-time when good work from Sam Grant ended with his cross finding George Theis running in at the far post to touch in.

K Sports had the better of the exchanges in the early part of the second period with Larkin saving well but it was the Angels who took the lead after 57 minutes when a free kick into the box from Joe Wallis saw Theis glance a header past Holtam.

A spectacular shot from around 35 yards from K’s Toby Sargent only just cleared the bar, but after 81 minutes, the Angels thought they had won the game when great work down the right from Burke ended with substitute Hayden Velvick’s shot being partially spilt by the keeper with Theis tucking home the rebound. But the referee disallowed the goal having deemed that the Holtam had retrieved the ball and the Tonbridge centre forward had kicked it out of his hands.

Two minutes later, the scores were level again when the ball was given away by Tonbridge and Coiling fully capitalised with a lob from the right hand angle of the 18 yard box over the head of a stranded Larkin.

Tonbridge pressed hard for a late winner with Burke bringing a brilliant save out Holtam but it was not to be and, in fairness, a draw was a fair result.

Manager Dom Welsh felt that the game could have gone either way and despite the quality of the second goal he was disappointed at the manner in which the ball was turned over. He felt his side are making steady progress despite their inexperience, with 10 first year’s starting and another on the bench alongside two under-16’s with only one second year starting.

Gillingham 1 Sunderland 2

Match 44/21/1909 - Saturday, 16th October 2021 - League One

Gilingham (1) 1 Lloyd (pen) 20
Sunderland (1) 2 O'Brien 45 Flanagan 49
Attendance: TBC

Admission: £21 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 46/2,496

Right or wrongs, the atmosphere at Gillingham is pretty toxic at the moment. Perhaps the people that organised the plane fly-over trailing a Scally Out banner thought that high-flying Sunderland would roll over Gillingham with ease further fuelling their argument. Trouble is that Gillingham didn’t play ball, or rather they did!

Without sitting on the fence, I think Scally’s time is done, but the supporters who feel that the protesters should get behind their team for 90 minutes also have a point and today the team eventually won them over with their battling qualities.

The chanting was evident as soon as you entered the ground from the concourse and into the Rainham End, but the banners seen last week at Wycombe were not in evidence perhaps through fear of confiscation.

The plane duly arrived and circled for 20 minutes or so before departing, apart from being a distraction I’m not sure of its effectiveness of getting its point over although of course the pictures were quickly on the local news media.

But Gillingham were drawing the attention on themselves as they dominated the early proceedings with the impressive Jack Tucker bringing a fine save from the Sunderland goalkeeper, Thorben Hoffmann.

But after 20 minutes, Gillingham had the ball in the net but the referee was already pointing to the spot following a foul on Stuart O’Keefe. Danny Lloyd stepped up, sent Hoffmann the wrong way as the drove the ball down the middle.

For a team sitting in fourth position, Sunderland were pretty poor in the first period and Gillingham had chances to increase their lead but were dealt a cruel blow in the third minute of added time at the end of the half. Dan Neil was offered too much time to send in a cross that Aiden O’Brien finished from close range.

More protests led to the Police being called to the concourse during half-time and when Sunderland took an early lead in the second half through a Tom Flanagan header, trouble flared up in a corner of the Rainham End as the two factions confronted each other.

When Elliot Embleton saw a straight red card for a dreadful tackle on Tucker the fans found it within themselves to put their differences aside as the Gills desperately searched for an equaliser.

They hit the bar twice; Hoffmann made a great save to touch one onto the bar and when John Akinde was brought down it looked a clear penalty but the referee thought differently.

If Gillingham can replicate this performance and this spirit they will carry themselves clear of relegation and one can only hope that by whatever outcome with regards to the chairman, unity can be brought back to the club.

Aldershot Town Under-18 2 Tonbridge Angels Under-18 0

Match 43/21/1908 - Thursday, 14th October 2021 - FA Youth Cup 3QR

Aldershot Town Under-18 (0) 2 Davey 55 Evans 90+6
Tonbridge Angels Under-18 (0) 0
Attendance: 167

Admission: £3 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 150/2,450

So Tonbridge Angels wait for a place in the FA Youth Cup First Round will need to wait for another, but the management and squad of the Youth team can be rightly proud of their efforts at the home of National League Aldershot Town last night.

Not since 2004 has the club’s name graced the first round draw, but as Academy manager Tommy Parkinson said after the game, there was very little between the sides bar a wonder strike from 25 yards and a last kick goal when all bar Nat Gibb in the Angels goal was thrown forward in a desperate search for an equaliser.

The celebrations of the entire Aldershot squad following the second goal emphasised their relief.

The game barely threw up a clear cut chance inside the box for either side but when the ball from a corner fell at the feet of skipper Joe Tyrie, it took a brilliant smothering save from Harvey Keogh to preserve the Shots parity.

Tonbridge started the game really well and dominated the opening 20 minutes but without testing Keogh too much. Finn Hartley shot narrowly wide and Luca Woodhouse fired over, whilst in the 15th minute, Angels’ goalkeeper Gibb made a good save turning over the bar an effort from Harvey Limb.

After surviving the initial period, the home side wrested the momentum from their visitors and pressed hard for the opener. Limb again narrowly cleared the bar but Gibb was mostly untroubled during this time.

A Woodhouse free that was just wide of the right hand post was as close as anyone had come to breaking the deadlock.

An early header from Tom Green from a free kick was the opening chance of the second half but it was directed at Keogh.

Aldershot stepped up their game and they took the lead after 55 minutes after a period of pressure. Kailen Davey picked up a loose ball in midfield and from 25 yards found the bottom corner with a quality strike. The Angels youngsters responded well to the setback with Ben Hermitage forcing Keogh into a decent save after 57 minutes and three minutes later Cameron Wootton headed over a Leo Vowles cross.

Harry London saw his shot deflected wide and following a series of corners, the big chance fell to Tyrie after 69 minutes. A yard left, a yard right, such small margins but Keogh emerged as the Shots saviour.

Aldershot stifled the game in the last 20 minutes to the point that Keogh was booked for persistent time wasting but it was game management being well executed.

Into time added, the Angels had one final free kick from Woodhouse that was brilliantly saved by Keogh and then, in the 96th minute, Finn Evans was sent clear and clinically finished past the advancing Gibb to end Tonbridge’s involvement in the competition for this season but everyone can look back with pride in their performances.

Staplehurst Monarchs United 1 Chatham Town 7

Match 42/21/1907 - Wednesday, 13th October 2021 - Kent Senior Trophy

Staplehurst Monarchs United (1) 1 Pallett 18
Chatham Town (5) 7 Pugh 36,38 Watts 40,60 Richards 42,43 Garlinge 65
Attendance: 155

Admission: £4 Senior
Programme: £1
Mileage: 1/2,300

Both teams fielded weakened sides but Chatham’s greater strength in depth proved far too much for Staplehurst Monarchs.

For 36 minutes that outcome wasn’t really on the radar mainly because of Chatham’s wayward finishing and the unlikely event that saw the Monarchs actually take the lead.

Chatham fielded a team of mostly teenagers and in the opening 20 minutes it was a fairly even game. On 18 minutes, Kieran Pallett seized on a mistake around the edge of the box and drove past a startled goalkeeper.

Chatham responded to the shock and exerted their quality on the home side except for the final finish as chance after chance going to waste or being thwarted by the young Monarch’s keeper.

Despite the profligacy, one sensed that the breakthrough had to come and when it finally did it led to a deluge of goals.

After 36 minutes, a cross from the left saw Andy Pugh turn the ball home and within two minutes another cross this time from the right saw Pugh’s shot only helped into the net by the keeper.

The Chats went close on 40 minutes but seconds later they were 3-1 in front when Jude Watts brilliantly took the ball down and applied a clinical finish.

42 minutes saw the score advanced to 4-1 when a shot from Jack Richards went straight through the beleaguered goalkeeper. Within another minute it became five goals in seven minutes when the home defence failed to clear and the ball span into the path of Richards who made no mistake to send the Chats into the dressing room certain of their place in the next round of the Kent Senior Trophy.

The second period was a one-way procession with the only mystery as to how Chatham failed to more than two goals to the total. Mind you, the sixth goal on the hour was a thing of beauty as Watts collected a poor clearance and waltzed through several, you have to say half-hearted, challenges before finishing one on one with the keeper.

On 65 minutes, Kian Garlinge bundled the ball home for the final act of the evening with Chatham happy with their evening’s work and Staplehurst just glad it was over.

Chatham Town 5 Tunbridge Wells 1

Match 41/21/1906 - Saturday, 9th October 2021 - SCEFL Premier

Chatham Town (2) 5 Bradshaw 34,57,71 Evans 37 (pen) Pugh 80
Tunbridge Wells (0) 1 Gething 55
Attendance: 647

Admission: £5 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 34/2,299

A trip to the Bauvill with Chatham Town’s array of expensively-procured talent was always going to be a tough ask but from 2-0 down and a man light the mountain becomes insurmountable.

For the first 30 minutes, 11 against 11, Chatham could possibly have made the argument that they were the better side, but it wasn’t overwhelming and Tunbridge Wells were well and truly in the game. But, in the space of three minutes, a defensive error and a rush of blood left them 2-0 down and reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of Ryan Cheek.

Sheppey, and possibly Glebe, will make their case as contenders but with the likes of Jack Evans and Dan Bradshaw, along with the older hands of Matt Bodkin and Ryan Hayes, all players that could and should be playing at a higher level you get the feeling that they should win the league at a canter.

Hayes had shown the threat in the opening 20 minutes forcing Aaron Lee Wharton (ALW) in a good, low save with the rebound hacked away and then setting up Bradshaw with a chance that he should have done better than pull wide.

But the Wells were not without their own chances with James Nurden having a shot blocked and Josh Froggatt striking the top of the bar.

But after 34 minutes the home side got their noses in front when Nurden failed to take the opportunity to clear and Hayes crossed, low and hard across the face of the goal for the arch poacher Bradshaw to touch home from close range.

Three minutes later the game changer came when Hayes curled a shot towards the top corner and beyond the clutches of ALW, Cheek was positioned on the post and successfully turned the ball away but with the use of his hand. The referee had no alternative but to show the red card and the punishment was doubled as Evans scored from the spot.

Chatham continued to dominate after the break with Evans starting to revel in the extra space afforded by the man advantage. A wonderful link with Charlie Dickens ended with the full back volleying the ball out of the ground before setting up Hayes with a great chance that he wasted.

Then out of nothing but a punt forward, Matt Gething was clear and with the Chats goalkeeper Andy Walker hesitating, the Wells striker finished well and the visitors were back in the game.

But those hopes lasted a mere two minutes when, after 57 minutes, Hayes crossed to the near post for Bradshaw to glance a header into the far corner.

The Wells goal was now under siege and the only surprise was that it took another 15 minutes for Chatham to score again, due to brave defending and some wasteful finishing. A cross from the right was met by the head of Bradshaw, ALW saved well but the ball broke to the striker who completed his hat-trick and his afternoon’s work, being immediately substituted.

Bodkin and Evans were now showcasing their skills, as the Tunbridge Wells defenders were frightened to put in tackles inside the box and eventually the ball fell to substitute Andy Pugh, whose close range shot could only be palmed into the net by ALW.

ALW singled handedly kept the scoreline at five making three saves in the final minutes.

Chatham are a club ready for Step 4. The stadium has improved beyond recognition in the last three years; they have the 3G surface generating revenue; they have a massive (in terms of Step 5) fan-base that enjoys the facilities in terms of bar usage and, most importantly, they have a squad that could sustain themselves at the higher level.

Tunbridge Wells 5 Bearsted 2

Match 39/21/1904 - Tuesday, 5th October 2021 - SCEFL Premier

Tunbridge Wells (1) 5 Gethin 3 Nurden 46 Cheek 51 Corke 72,89
Bearsted (1) 2 Ababio 33 Stace 78 (pen)
Attendance: TBC

Admission: £5 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 36/2,187

Tunbridge Wells produced a scintillating second half performance to overwhelm a Bearsted side that had appeared to have gone into the break with the momentum.

On a thankfully dry and mild evening that had followed a day that had started with a deluge that had brought flash floods in areas in the south-east, it was a credit to the ground staff at Culverden that the game was able to go ahead. But the threat of a postponement had obviously affected the attendance that had looked pretty sparse.

Those that came had barely focused their eyes on the far end when Matt Gething drove the ball home from the right side of the box.

The early minutes of the game were surprisingly open and chances came thick and fast. Sam Stace went close for Bearsted after 10 minutes whilst, a minute later, Gething went close.

Jordan Ababio announced that he would be a threat on 14 minutes and on 34 minutes duly delivered with a run that scythed through the Wells defence and ended with a blistering shot from the angle of the six yard box.

Ababio would turned provider three minutes later when his cross really should have produced a goal for Andy Irvine who somehow steered his header wide. The ex-Wells striker was somewhat lucky to stay on the pitch a couple of minutes later when a poor challenge brought him a yellow card.

If the number seven shirt of Ababio had lit up the first period it was the red number seven of Regan Corke that electrified the second.

Just 20 seconds if the half had elapsed when Corke capitalised on an error from Adesima Luqman and crossed for James Nurden to find the bottom corner.

The momentum had completely changed and Gething was denied before a cross from the left was headed home by Ryan Cheek.

The Wells were now in complete command of the game and on 72 minutes wrapped it up with a goal of unlikely similarity to Ababio’s first half effort. Corke’s pace and control saw him carve his way through a Bearsted defence almost frightened to put in a tackle and his finish was a shot that whistled past Illiah Saukh.

Bearsted were offered an unlikely lifeline when a clumsy challenge brought a penalty award from which Stace fairly blasted his spot kick straight down the middle.

But a comeback was not on the cards and in the second minute of time added, Corke’s corner deceived the goalkeeper and went straight in.

Tonbridge’s enforced three week break gives me the opportunity to watch three Wells games on the trot, I hope they are all as entertaining.

Tonbridge Angels 2 Concord Rangers 3

Match 38/21/1903 - Saturday, 2nd October 2021 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Turner 37 Olutade 50
Concord Rangers (1) 3 Payne 39 Green 46 Allen 86
Attendance: 463

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/2,151

Football can be the cruellest of games and, reflecting life, sometimes you don’t receive the rewards that are justifiably deserved.

Such was Tonbridge Angels fate on a afternoon of monsoon conditions, they were the better side but emerged pointless as Concord Rangers found a winner in the closing minutes in the most unfortunate of manners.

The weather forecast had been for driving rain, a 99% possibility, and the early morning drizzle quickly turned into the expected deluge.

Twenty months ago this game would not of reached its conclusion but the tireless work of the ground staff and thousands of pounds of investment have produced a surface that can now withstand the fiercest of downpours.

Steve McKimm made one change from the side that beat Dorking last Saturday. Adam Lovatt’s loan spell has ended and with the prospect of no games for three weeks it wasn’t renewed at this time. Into the side came Jamie Fielding but the bench looked paper thin with just four, two of which being 16-year-olds.

Tonbridge made the early running with Joe Turner in the thick of everything that was good about them, but the best of the early chances fell to Concord’s Lamar Reynolds who fired over.

After one of several corners, Concord’s goalkeeper, Myles Roberts, briefly the custodian in a loan spell at TN10, failed to hold the greasy ball and the scramble that ensued might have brought a goal but saw the ball hacked to safety.

Turner had the clearest chance after 24 minutes with a shot narrowly wide of the post and three minutes later his free kick was just over the crossbar.

On 33 minutes, Concord reminded the Angels back line that they were still in the game and Jonny Henly needed to be at his best, making a superb double save from Reynolds.

But it was the Angels that took a deserved lead after a break from Ibrahim Olutade ended with a cross for Turner to touch home from close range.

The lead was only to last two minutes as Joe Payne drove home after good work down the left.

As the teams turned round for the second period it was Tonbridge’s turn to face the howling gale and driving rain. Henly’s first kick saw the ball returning in his direction to highlight the task in hand and this was made harder when the visitors went in front after just a minute of the half when an unchallenged header from Danny Green found the target.

This time it was the Angel’s turn to quickly respond and after 50 minutes Turner’s free kick was audaciously back heeled into the net at the far post.

The home side now dominated the proceedings and thought that they had gone in front after 64 minutes when a Tommy Wood header was ruled out, we know not why.

The chances to get the noses back in front came and went for the Angels before, four minutes from time, a wicked stroke of misfortune gave Concord the opportunity to win the game which was gratefully accepted by Ben Allen. A hopeful punt forward saw Allen, first take advantage of a slip on the sodden grass by Harry Hudson and as Henly advanced he similarly slipped over to allow the Concord player a finish from an acute angle into the unguarded goal.

The weather-depleted crowd of 463 showed their appreciation of a good Angels performance and that sometime’s it just isn’t your day.



Picture: Dave Couldridge