Tonbridge Angels U18 1 Hollands & Blair U18 0

Match 56/22/2063 - Wednesday, 28th December 2022 - Friendly

Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 1 Green 88
Hollands & Blair U18 (0) 0
Headcount: 48

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/4,002

Following Wednesday (28th December) evening’s Under-18’s friendly against Hollands & Blair that brought a 1-0 win with an 88th minute goal from Tom Green, we took time out to have a chat with Dom Welsh about the first half of the season, what we might expect from the rest of the season and a look at the youth set-up at the club.

Firstly, a quick look at tonight’s friendly against Hollands & Blair that brought a late winner. It was a bit scrappy, but the weather conditions and also the roll on/roll off nature of the substitutions probably didn’t help. 

DW: The game served the purpose it needed too, valuable minutes over the Christmas break, allowing players to stay fit. We had six players missing, so we looked to use some local Under-16 lads, to give them some experience heading into next season. I thought we played some good football at times, but struggled to find consistency throughout the game. 

Looking back at the first half of the season. This time last year we were scrapping to stay out of the bottom three; this season we are looking to break into the top three, you must be pleased.

DW: Absolutely delighted with the first half of the season. We worked hard over pre-season both on the recruitment front, to get in the right players for how we wanted to play, and also worked hard in pre-season to get the squad organised in how we wanted to play. We set ourselves a target, which we are currently on course to do! Heading into the second half of the season, if we can find some consistency across games, we would love to see ourselves keep the title charge alive! 

At the top of the table are two outstanding teams, who recently fought out a classic League Cup tie, Sutton Common and Cray Valley, how far away do you feel your side is from closing the gap on them.

DW. Two great sides! Sutton blew everyone away in the league last season and Cray always produce excellent Under-18 sides! We have somewhat closed the gap massively this season and we have shown in certain games, and sections in other games, that we are capable of mixing with the top two sides. Consistency, and a ruthless edge in front of goal, are the two stand out attributes I feel are currently letting us down. We’ve dropped points in games in which we feel if we had played at an extra 10% we could have been taking all three points! 

DW. Currently no, we now have two regulars from the academy, and we also have used Leo Vowles at the start of the season. We have always felt that keeping ‘separate ’ player wise would have the best benefit for the club and for local players. It means we provide both an educational scholarship programme, but we also offer football to those who perhaps stay at college or decide not to pursue full-time football. Having the option to use the academy lads when needed is excellent to cover absences! But given the academy train three times during the week plus fixtures. Adding another one or two sessions and games to their schedule would possibly be an excessive workload!   

Unfortunately, there is the gap in the club’s Kent Youth League structure from Under-14 jumping to Under-18, this must make bringing Under-16’s through difficult. Over time, this will hopefully correct itself, but in the meantime, how are you attracting Under-16’s?

DW: This is something we are actively working on at the moment. Fortunately we have some good links with other local clubs, who usually do not continue after Under-16’s. So we are able to identify some players already who will be looking for a new club. Throughout last season and this season we have invited local talented Under-16’s to join in with our training each week, which has had a fantastic impact on our Intake of first years. This season we have three Under-16’s who are a part of our main squad with Fin McLeod, Adam Larkin and Hamza Ali. All three of those lads have been excellent for us and, given they could have another two years with us, they have bright futures. Alongside our Under-16 players, we have another five very talented first years, this allows us to have a strong base for next season already. 

Following the installation of the 3G to Longmead the club’s profile has clearly risen, has this helped you attract players?

DW: Definitely, I also feel this will increase year on year, with other clubs coming to play at Longmead, they can see the facilities are excellent and players become interested. It has also allowed us to play an attractive style of football, which makes us an interesting opportunity to talented players who see the way we do things, and want to become a part! 

Finally, and you are going to hate this question, but would you like to pick out not necessarily your star turns, but lads that have made big improvements and those that have a positive influence in the dressing room?

DW: Really difficult to pick, as there has been such a huge difference from last year, and for me it doesn’t just come down to the new players coming in, it comes from the dedication of players who stuck by it from last season raising their game to improve the team. Recent signings of Joe Newman and Ethan Knight have given the team the option to play a different formation and change the dynamics which is great. Across the side in all departments we have looked strong. All three strikers have hit the back of the net regularly; we are blessed with some excellent midfield options, Felix Waring and Sam Firman, two of our new first years have had a great impact with their creativity and at the back we have looked largely really solid throughout. Winning creates a better environment in and around the squad but we are a closer knit bunch than we were last year which has helped us on the pitch too!

DW: Would just like to say a massive thank you to everyone at the club, and involved with the team for their support over the last year!

Tonbridge Angels 0 Welling United 1

Match 55/22/2062 - Monday, 26th December 2022 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Welling United (0) 1 Azeez 54
Attendance: 1,270

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/3,964

The buzz words of the moment from Premier League managers down to those in Non-League, including our own Jay Saunders and his counterpart at Maidstone United, Hakan Hayrettin, are “fine margins”. If ever a game was won, or lost, on a fine margin it was this one. Biased I might be, but not one-eyed enough to claim that Tonbridge deserved to win this game, but they certainly didn’t deserve to lose it and, moreover than not, those fine margins are decided by a player with that little bit of extra sharpness in front of goal. Such players are few and far between at Step Two and should you have one, you are paying a pretty penny to retain those services.

Welling United have one, Ade Azeez and coupled with Stefan Payne, they form one of the most potent partnerships in the division. One moment of quality from Azeez and some stout defending, something Welling have not been renowned for this season saw the visitors home.

A bumper Boxing Day crowd of 1,270 were treated to a decent afternoon’s entertainment, albeit that the majority went home disappointed with the result, but hopefully not the performance.

Jay Saunders made two changes from the side thumped last time out by Weymouth. Louis Collins came in for Dajon Golding, who as left the club and Jamie Fielding replaced Tariq Hinds.

An early chance for Welling saw a corner cleared but as the ball was returned, the ex-Gillingham man, Payne failed to find a connection from in front of goal.

Payne and Azeez combined well after 10 minutes with a cross from the former taken off the toes of his partner by Fielding.

Tonbridge’s first chance of the game came on 17 minutes when a low cross from Fielding wasn’t collected by Myles Roberts, who then saved well from Jack Wood before the ball was belted to safety.

Another chance fell the Angels way, 10 minutes later, when a corner from the left was met with a header from Fielding that landed at the feet of Jordan Greenidge, but as the striker tried to shoot on the turn he missed the ball altogether.

Tonbridge were now carving out the better of the chances with a Devonte Aransibia effort blocked and a Sonny Miles shot saved by ex-Angels loanee, Roberts.

As the game entered its final moments before the break it became a little tetchy with a scuffle breaking out following a foul on Aransibia that brought a yellow card for the Welling offender and this was followed by a yellow for Scott Wagstaff for a foul on Daniel Nkrumah. Deep into added time there were big calls for a penalty as Greenidge went down under a challenge from Roberts, advancing to the corner of his 18 yard box, but the referee decided that the Tonbridge striker had dived and issued a yellow card.

Welling got their noses in front after 54 minutes when Azeez was involved at the beginning of a move that saw the ball swept along the line to Nkrumah, whose inch-perfect cross was met by Azeez to cushion a volley past Jonny Henly from the edge of the six yard box.

Tonbridge pressed hard for an equaliser with Collins firing wide and a far post header from Greenidge brought a good, low save from Roberts just past the hour. Aransibia also saw a dipping effort from outside of the box, touched onto the bar by Roberts, who was obviously enjoying his return to Longmead.

The visitors had a great chance to put the game to bed on 72 minutes when a wonderful bit of work and pass from Azeez sent Payne clear, one-on-one with Henly, who advanced to edge of his box but Payne slipped the ball past him, only for his shot to rebound off the post.

In the desperate final seconds of time added, Henly was sent forward to add more than just nuisance value to the attack and first he met the corner with a header; then two more shots blocked and away for another corner. This time Henly met the ball cleanly with his head and it took a good save from Roberts to turn it over from underneath his crossbar and there was no time left for the resultant corner.

Fine margins …

Sands United 0 SE Dons 7

Match 54/22/2061 - Friday, 23rd December 2022 - Friendly

Sands United (0) 0
SE Dons (3) 7
Headcount: 105

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/3,926

Best part of a fortnight without a game and this friendly at Tonbridge with two clubs with an interesting back story was tempting.

Sands United are a club that is set up for fathers and other bereaved family members who have lost a child to come together through a shared love of football. The team also commemorate their babies' all too brief lives by proudly displaying their names on the kit worn for every match.

SE Dons are a Sunday League team that have become a YouTube sensation boasting thousands of supporters worldwide and regularly drawing four figure crowds to their matches in the Orpington and Bromley Sunday League. The club has ex-Southend striker Andy Ansah as their chairman and his son Zak is a team member.

Sands held out well in the first half with just a 13th minute goal conceded but two goals just prior to the break gave SE Dons a comfortable half-time lead.

Two goals in a mminute on the hour mark made is 5-0 for the south Londoners and two penalties took the score to 7-0.

The result was far less important than the cause.

Tonbridge Angels 0 Weymouth 5

Match 53/22/2060 - Saturday, 10th December 2022 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Weymouth (4) 5 Rose 24 O'Connell 27 Ash 44,45,52
Attendance: 805

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/3,888

This was like Tales of the Unexpected Part II, but with a completely different outcome.

After the complete performance of Tuesday evening, came a Saturday horror show to which defies explanation.

Weymouth, as a club, arrived at Longmead ever so slightly peeved at their hosts refusal to move the kick-off to a time that would enable everybody to get back to Dorset in time for the England game and left with the smug satisfaction of not only the points but the imposition of a sobering scoreline.

Nobody really saw this coming. Weymouth, despite recent improvements in results following a change of manager and an influx of new players, still propped up the division.

Adding to the gloom, it was freezing.

It took Weymouth 23 minutes to open the scoring but the writing had been on the wall for some while before that. The visitors forced several corners and Jonny Henly produced a good one-handed save to thwart Bradley Ash and when they had the ball in the net, the goal was ruled out as referee, Steven Hughes, had already blown the whistle for a free kick to the visitors on the left hand side of the box. But justice was served as from the resultant free kick, Akheem Rose, literally rose unchallenged to plant a header past Henly from inside the six yard box.

Three minutes later, and the few hardy fans from Weymouth that had put club before country, were celebrating again when a cross from the right from Tom Blair was met at the far post by Keelan O’Connell who volleyed past a helpless Henly.

Two goals in the space of a couple of minutes right on the break, saw the game well out of the reach of the Angels. On 44 minutes, Tonbridge failed to clear to safety and the ball was won back and fed to Ash, who lashed in a shot from the left hand angle of the six yard box between Henly and his near post.

If 3-0 was going to be a difficult half-time team talk for Jay Saunders, a fourth made it virtually impossible. Ash cut in from the left, skipped past a couple of half-hearted challenges before playing a one-two with Rose and burying his shot into the bottom corner.

Any thoughts or a miracle comeback were quickly put to bed as Weymouth went five up and Ash completed his hat-trick on 53 minutes. He collected a long ball forward and tucked it past the advancing Henly.

The cold and the woefulness of the Angels performance proved too much for many as an exodus began with the best part of 40 minutes remaining.

Those supporters missed very little as it was the visitors that mostly threatened to add to the scoreline rather than Tonbridge attaining any sort of respectability.

One to position in the day to forget folder.

Tonbridge Angels Academy 8 Eastbourne Borough Academy 2

Match 52/22/2059 - Wednesday, 7th December 2022 - National League Under-19 Alliance

Tonbridge Angels Academy (3) 8 Velvick 12,54,58 Saunders 34 Hermitage 38,65,77 (pen) Tyrie 57
Eastbourne Borough Academy (1) 2
Headcount: 15

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/3,850

The Academy produced a ruthless second half performance to maintain their 100% start to the league season with hat tricks from Hayden Velvick and Ben Hermitage.

Velvick increased his season’s total to 19 in 10 games whilst Hermitage has 11.

Although the Angels led by 3-1 at the break, there was little to suggest that they would run away with the game in the second period.

Whilst the Angels dominated, Eastbourne defended well after a shaky start in which the home side opened the scoring after 12 minutes. A long ball into the left channel from skipper Joe Tyrie found Velvick, who cut in from the left, skipping a couple of challenges, before finding the far corner from an acute angle close to the bye-line.

Tonbridge continued to have the majority of the play with Hermitage bringing a save from the goalkeeper and Josh McArthur firing over before a surging run from Leo Vowles ended with a blocked shot that rebounded to Will Saunders who drove the ball home.

Eastbourne quickly responded with a fine shot from 20 yards after 36 minutes but the Angels restored their advantage two minutes later when McArthur set up Hermitage to score from 10 yards.

Tonbridge opened the second half on the offensive and within the first quarter-hour had taken the score to 6-1. After 54 minutes, Saunders sent Velvick clear to slip past the advancing keeper and Tyrie rose highest to head home from a corner after 57 minutes. A fine move involving Vowles and McArthur, saw Velvick springing the offside trap to make it 6-1 after 58 minutes.

Tonbridge showed little sign of taking their foot off the pedal although Nat Gibb was pressed into action turning over a shot before a typical Vowles surging run and cross presented Hermitage with a goal from close range after 65 minutes.

Josh McArthur was brought down in the box for Hermitage to convert from the spot and complete his hat trick.

Credit to Eastbourne who continued to battle away and were rewarded when a substitute scored with five minutes remaining.

Tommy Parkinson commented: “A really good attacking performance from the squad and some fantastic goals scored! We go into Christmas with eight wins from eight.”

Tonbridge Angels 3 Eastbourne Borough 0

Match 51/22/2058 - Tuesday, 6th December 2022 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Greenidge 1 Aransibia 48 Jack Wood 62
Eastbourne Borough (0) 0
Attendance: 550

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: 3
Mileage: 38/3,812

Well, this was a pleasant change and it wasn’t meant to be like this!

A first minute goal set up an evening with the football played out in front of you as relaxed as an end-of-season testimonial. There was time to discuss the cricket in Pakistan and the upcoming World Cup Quarter Final when England will meet France.

Eastbourne Borough arrived at Longmead on a run of five successive wins that had launched them into the play-off places. True, they also arrived with players, including goalkeeper, Lee Worgan, missing but Tonbridge took the game to their visitors from the first whistle and never lost control of it.

The big news prior to the game was the departures on James Taylor and Dylan Gavin. Whilst loanee Gavin returned to Charlton on the back of a lack of game time, the loss of Taylor is viewed as a big loss, although not quite as big as it might have been viewed a couple of months back. After a period on the sidelines through injury, Taylor has found it difficult to force his way back into the side and with a trial in Spain beckoning, he decided that should that not work out he would like to seek a club closer to his Hereford home.

The Angels were in front on 56 seconds after a log ball out of defence was headed on by Jordan Greenidge into the path of Lewis Gard who fed Jack Wood out on the right wing. The on loan Southend man took on his marker and pulled the ball back from the bye-line into Greenidge whose first attempt was blocked but he finished from close range after the ball rebounded back to him for his fifth goal of a highly productive loan spell.

Tonbridge dominated the first half hour with Greenidge heading over and a Craig Braham-Barrett effort clearing the bar before Jonny Henly was pressed into action saving well at his near post from Miguel Scarlett.

Just before the break, in a carbon copy of the opening minute goal, a cross from Wood was met by Greenidge but his clipped shot just drifted wide of the far post.

Tonbridge opened up the second half, also as they did the first, adding their second after 48 minutes, with Tariq Hinds skipping a challenge down the right before crossing into the box where the late arriving Devonte Aransibia converted from around the penalty spot.

The lead was increased to three on 62 minutes allowing the speculation of England’s quarter-final chances to begin. A goal kick from Henly was headed on in the centre circle by Greenidge and there was Wood scampering away from the defence before composing himself for an assured finish.

Whilst we enjoyed our relaxation time, there were chance at both ends but nothing that was going to stress the Tonbridge support.

Picture: Dave Couldridge

Tonbridge Angels U18 1 Corinthian U18 2

Match 50/22/2057 - Monday, 5th December 2022 - Isthmian Youth League

Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 1 Firman 90
Corinthian (2) 2 Pinder 27 Daniel 37
Attendance: 33

Admission: £4
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/3,774

It was a ring rusty Angels U18's that slipped to a disappointing home defeat against Corinthian.

Postponements and gaps in the fixture list have led to Dom Welsh’s side having gone five weeks without a game and it showed. Heavy touches and misplaced passes were the hallmark of the evening and a lot more was needed to overcome a decent Corinthian side.

On a wet, cold night, Dom Welsh was able to field as strong a side as at any time this season including new signing Joe Newman, who provided a positive note to the evening.

The Angels started brightly with both full backs testing the visiting defence. After three minutes, Adam Larkin linked well with Sam Firman but his shot was at the goalkeeper and a minute later, Newman latched on to a clearance and his cross fizzed across the face of goal.

Corinthian settled into the game and they forced a series of corners that saw a header saved by Matt Larkin, who also saved well from Henry Griffin with the rebound blazed over the bar.

Tonbridge had the ball in the net after 25 minutes but this was disallowed, seemingly for a push in the area. But, two minutes later, the visitors were in front as a corner was only cleared to the edge of the area from which Jeremiah Pinder drove a shot into the bottom corner.

The Angels responded with a couple of half chances but fell two behind after 37 minutes when the ball was worked down the right side before Isiah Daniel scored from an angle, 10 yards out.

As the rain fell harder at the start of the second half, Tonbridge opened up with a header from Adam Larkin that was wide.

The game as a whole rather lost its way and became scrappy with a couple of efforts per side not exactly working the keepers.

A good move involving Felix Waring and Firman ended with substitute Finlay McLeod firing over whilst Pinder also wasted a chance for the visitors.

The game became frustrating as many stoppages brought a World Cup time added of 13 minutes and after three of these the Angels gave themselves the opportunity when defender Will Puffette, sent forward, headed goalwards for Firman to touch the ball over the line.

In the extended stoppage time, Tonbridge fashioned a chance but it ended with a header that cleared the bar.

Dom Welsh was disappointed with his team’s performance commenting: “I don’t think we showed a true version of ourselves tonight, it just didn’t click.”

Hungerford Town 0 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 49/22/2056 - Saturday, 3rd December 2022 - National League South

Hungerford Town (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Aransibia 38
Attendance: 330

Admission: Pass
Programme: Not purchased
Mileage: 234/3,736

It was cold, it wasn’t pretty and it was a long way from home but winning ugly at a place like Hungerford hasn’t always been in the Angels DNA.

The first real cold snap of the winter has arrived. The heaviest coat was in the boot of the car and gloves were donned for the first time this season.

Hungerford are always welcoming, but with them languishing at the foot of the table, the place was even more soulless than usual. It’s perhaps a trifle sanctimonious to decry the pitch but it was hardly conducive to any sort of quality and the pronounced slope dictated the pattern play of each half.

Jay Saunders made three changes with Lewis Gard returning after injury; Dajon Golding and Jack Wood coming in for Joe Turner (following his hernia operation); Louis Collins (concussion protocol) and Jamie Fielding on the bench.

Tonbridge, kicking down the slope, just about edged the early stages without too much threat but the best early effort was a shot from Hungerford's George Smith from distance that cleared the bar and after 18 minutes, Jonny Henly was brought into serious action making a smart save from Ryan Jones.

Having survived those scares, Tonbridge regained the momentum with Golding sending in a cross that just eluded Jordan Greenidge, who, after 26 minutes, saw a header saved by Jed Ward.

The traffic had turned one-way, downhill, with Wood and Greenidge seeing efforts bravely blocked as the home side for forced to defend their area in numbers.

The pressure finally told on 38 minutes. Initially, a free kick saw a shot from Sonny Miles deflected for a corner from which Gard floated to the far post to Devonte Aransibia who rose highest to head home.

The second half at least felt marginally warmer under the cover of the stand behind the goal. Hungerford obviously prefer to play down the slope in the second period and consequently searched hard for an equaliser. Henly turned a Jake Evans chip over the bar just past the hour and Jones shot narrowly wide.

The Angels had to dig really deep in the last 20 minutes to retain their lead but, despite the ball seemingly being permanently in their half, they saw out those minutes without any great alarm although the Angels supporters behind the goal at the other end held their breath on several occasions.

It wasn’t a classic, it was never going to be, but a couple of weeks ago a similar match at Concord Rangers was lost. Winning ugly can be a beautiful thing.

Tonbridge Angels 1 Havant & Waterlooville 1

Match 48/22/2055 - Saturday, 26th November 2022 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Greenidge 9
Havant & Waterloovile (0) 1 Faal 83
Attendance: 964

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/3,502

The loudspeakers belted out The Proclaimers and the crowd sang along. This was captain Sonny Miles’ day, a 500th appearance for the club that he has graced for not far short of two dozen years.

After representing the club as an Under-10; he made his debut in 2008 against Merstham and here we are 14 years later, and barring one season when he was lured to the dark side by now Angels’ manager, Jay Saunders, he continues to be the rock at the centre of our defence with his no-nonsense defending and, friend or foe, a constant stream of chatter.

The team on the other side of the pitch were another of the high-spending, full-time clubs that sit healthily in the top three with their goals scored column the best in the league. So Sonny’s task to celebrate the occasion would be a daunting one and one that threatened to go horribly wrong after 11 minutes in an incident that I’ve only ever seen before on television!

After the presentation of a framed “500 Miles” shirt, Sonny lined up in an Angels XI that showed Craig Braham-Bennett returning to the side with Dajon Golding retiring to the bench.

Havant showed their attacking capabilities right from the outset and Muhammadu Faal put a shot only narrowly wide of the right hand post. But it was Tonbridge that took a ninth minute lead when Jordan Greenidge, winning the ball on the left touchline, surged inside to strike into the far corner.

The lead was apparently not too last too long as one of the strangest incidents I’ve seen in a long while transpired. Initially a cross from the left from Joe Newton was handled by Miles as the ball was about to drop onto the head of Jason Prior. We held our breath, surely not today of all days, was Sonny about to see a red card? Referee Matthew Norton rightly deemed that a cross is not a goal scoring attempt and the yellow was brandished but a penalty given. What happened next was, at first baffling, and something that is going to witnessed very few times in a lifetime. James Roberts stepped up to take the penalty and sent Jonny Henly the wrong way, but as he struck the ball, he slipped and both feet made contact, thus disallowing the goal. It was a great spot from the referee, and I would hasten to add, the young lad stood alongside me!

Louis Collins had a great chance to double the Angels advantage on 24 minutes when Joe Turner headed the ball forward and Collins got in behind the Havant back line but his attempt to lob Brad House was a tame one and the goalkeeper collected with ease.

Havant continued to create chances, Danny Wright flicked a header wide and Faal was denied by Henly with a save at his near post and, five minutes before the break, Faal should have done a lot better than shoot straight at Henly when sent clear.

Henly continued his heroics early into the second period saving with his legs again, this time from Charlie Ruff, whilst just past the hour, Faal shot wastefully over. It was not quite one-way traffic and Greenidge won the ball just inside Havant’s half before sending Devote Aransibia clear but his shot was taken too early and drifted wide.

Henly saved a long shot from Roberts and then produced a remarkable stop to deny Faal and with Paul Rooney blazing the rebound over, as the game entered its final 10 minutes, perhaps another great win was on the cards.

But, in football it is the hope that kills you and with seven minutes remaining those hopes were dashed. Tommy Parkinson, on as a substitute, attempted to shepherd a ball out of play for a goal kick, but Newton hooked the ball back to Faal whose initial shot was parried by Henly but it rebounded back off Faal and into the net.

A point would have been most acceptable before the kick-off but this was heartbreaking. But, this was Captain Fantastic, Sonny Miles’ day, duly awarded Man of the Match (and not without merit) and it was fitting that a superb defensive display had brought reward from the game.

Tonbridge Angels 2 Bracknell Town 4

Match 47/22/2054 - Saturday, 19th November 2022 - FA Trophy 2R

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Greenidge 45,56
Bracknell Town (2) 4 Sanders 3 Miles (o.g.) 23 Esprit 49 Grant 73
Attendance: 669

Admission: £12 Senior
Programme: £3 purchased
Mileage: 38/3,464

It’s mid-November so it’s time to bid farewell to the Wembley dream for another year.

In years to come, Angels aficionados and historians will have a favourite quiz question regarding one management team that inflicted two first entry round exits with different clubs in the same season. The answer is Jamie McClurg and Carl Withers and this time there can be no excuses of hopes being kicked into the long grass.

Bracknell Town’s joint management team left Binfield almost immediately after their FA Cup success for their step three neighbours and came to Longmead after an admirable FA Cup First Round performance against Ipswich Town. They replicated their previous employers four goals with a display in which they were the better of their hosts in every department.

The seemingly never-ending procession of new players to Longmead continued with the arrival of a towering striker in the shape of Jordan Greenidge from Hemel Hempstead.

The inconsistency that has become the watchword of this Tonbridge squad is borne of their inability to play the same team in successive games, through unavailability, all season and the consequence is that either side of that magnificent performance at Ebbsfleet there have been shockers at Concord and this Trophy exit.

On the day this was a defensive nightmare but that’s not where the problems have been this season, mostly that’s been okay.

In midfield, how we craved to see Taylor, Gard, Santos and Wagstaff together. Never happened and now never will.

Up front is well chronicled and, despite his two goals, the jury is already out on Greenidge.

A case has to be made that five or six weeks of stability of selection with what we have would, at least, give some clarity and, personally, I’m confident we would continue to accumulate points as players return from long periods of injury.

Bracknell started the game in a positive manner; scored after just three minutes and pretty much stayed on the front foot for rest of the game.

For the opening goal, Jonny Henly saved low from a shot by Joe Grant but his parry only fell at the feet of Darryl Sanders who tucked it home from close range.

Dajon Golding put a diving header well wide before the visitors doubled their lead on 22 minutes when a free kick from the right was floated in to the far post where Sonny Miles turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Grant.

Tonbridge produced a couple of half-chances, headers from Louis Collins and Ben Swift that cleared the bar before they give themselves a lifeline just prior to the break with a goal from Greenidge who converted a Joe Turner cross with a good finish from around eight yards.

Using a well-worn football phrase of “small margins” the game probably had its defining moment just two minutes into the second half when Golding, put through, crashed his shot against the bar and Bracknell broke upfield and almost immediately restored their two goal advantage through Jordan Esprit, who cut in from the left to bury a low shot between Henly and his right hand post.

The Angels gave themselves plenty of time to retrieve the situation when, after 56 minutes, A free kick from Turner found the head of Greenidge and his looping header sailed into the far corner.

After 65 minutes, Henly breathed a sigh of relief as a shot came back off the post straight into his hands but that relief was short-lived as a cross found Grant peeling off the back of a defender to volley home Bracknell’s fourth.

Tonbridge had their half-chances to drag the game into penalties with Collins twice heading over and Greenidge pulling a shot wide, but, in truth, there could be no complaints as to the merit of their visitors success.

Last season’s run to the Quarter Finals of the FA Trophy heightened belief that one day, a Wembley visit might happen but season 2022/23 hopes end, as always, in frustration.

Tonbridge Angels Academy 6 Ebbsfleet United Academy 2

Match 46/22/2053 - Wednesday, 16th November 2022 - National League U19 Alliance

Tonbridge Angels Academy (1) 6 Davies 25 Velvick 47 Tyrie 49 Vowles 52 Hermitage 75 Mdyadora 79
Ebbsfleet United Academy (1) 2
Headcount: 20

Admission: Free
Programme: None purchased
Mileage: 38/3,426

The Academy maintained their unblemished start to the League season whilst inflicting a first defeat on their visitors, Ebbsfleet United, with a comprehensive win at Longmead on Wednesday lunchtime.

Three goals in the opening seven minutes of the second half put the game out of reach of Ebbsfleet after a first half in which the Angels were wasteful in front of goal, despite going into the break a goal to the good.

That lead barely reflected a half of Tonbridge dominance from the outset in which the visiting goalkeeper, Connor Cooper, was not only kept busy but excelled in the process. Two chances went astray in the opening two minutes with Jezreel Davies going close following a corner and, moments later, Hayden Velvick shot across the face of goal.

Will Saunders tested Cooper before the goalkeeper made a double save to deny both Saunders and Ben Hermitage.

Saunders needed to be substituted in the 18th minute by Billy Robbins as the chances continued to be made and wasted, or denied, as Cooper continued to save the day.

On 23 minutes, an extraordinary piece of skill from Davies, deserved a better outcome than a disallowed goal as he beat three players but unfortunately as he lobbed the ball over the head of one defender, the ball struck his hand before he dispatched his shot into the bottom corner.

But Davies was not to be denied two minutes later, when from all of 25 yards, he picked up a loose ball in midfield and struck a shot into the top corner that Cooper could only watch and admire.

The right hand post came to the goalkeeper’s rescue when a cross-cum-shot from Hermitage bounced off the woodwork, who also pulled a shot wide on the stroke of half-time.

Two minutes after the restart, Velvick was sent clear by a long pass forward; the pacy forward took on his marker, turning inside, before firing home a shot past Cooper.

A third goal came on 49 minutes when, following a right-sided corner from Leo Vowles, Tom Green knocked the ball goalwards from the far post for skipper Joe Tyrie to touch it over the line.

In this five minute spell, Robbins did well to pull the ball back inside the area for Vowles to power an unstoppable shot from 12 yards to almost put the game to bed and, perhaps, a little complacency set in as Ebbsfleet pulled two goals back.

Angels’ goalkeeper, Nat Gibb dwelt on the ball and was robbed allowing a tap in for 4-1 and on 72 minutes the visitors might have sensed they were back in the game when a ball out of defence saw Hadez Karim race clear to finish past Gibb.

But tha Angels regained their ascendancy with Josh McArthur setting up Hermitage for 5-2 and substitute Joseph Mdyadora produced a composed finish after cutting in from the right.

Tyrie headed over twice in the closing stages as the Angels finished the game strongly.

Academy Manager Tommy Parkinson commented after the game: “A solid performance from the squad against a good Ebbsfleet side. Some good goals scored but lacked quality in the final third at times.”

Ebbsfleet United 1 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 45/22/2052 - Saturday, 12th November 2022 - National League South

Ebbsfleet United (0) 1 Monlouis 47
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Swift 10 Miles 62
Attendance: 1,507

Admission: Pass
Programme: None purchased
Mileage: 54/3,388

About 200 Angels fans travelled to Ebbsfleet more in hope than any expectation, after all the hosts were top of the league, unbeaten in all competitions, the only club in the pyramid that could make that claim. But, every one of those fans, went home on a high of elation as their team upset the form books to win 2-1.

Captain Fantastic Sonny Miles’ 62nd minute goal (what was he even doing there!) led to a 35 minute assault on the Angels goal but heroic defending, countless blocks as bodies were thrown in front of the ball and superb goalkeeping from Jonny Henly saw Jay Saunders’ team through to a famous victory.

In the relative calm of pre-match, Saunders chose to go with three centre backs, Jamie Fielding alongside Ben Swift and Miles with Tom Parkinson dropping to the bench in favour of Tariq Hinds.

In his Friday Briefing, Saunders said “We are not going to just sit back” and in the opening quarter-hour his team were true to his word as they took the game to their hosts. Dajon Golding was proving a handful leading the line and Tonbridge forced early corners before taking the lead in the 10th minute when a cross from the right was laid back into the path of Swift by Golding and his shot from the edge of the box rocketed into the roof of the net past a helpless Mark Cousins.

Joe Turner was stopped in his tracks by a cynical foul from Ben Chapman and Turner’s effort on 23 minutes needed a good block.

On the half-hour, Ben Swift needed treatment for a cut head that saw him return minutes later, Terry Butcher-like, head swathed in bandages and, no less heroic.

A close range header from Luke O’Neill brought a great save from Henly and whilst Swift was off the field, the Angels goalkeeper made another superb stop to deny Rakish Bingham.

Just prior to the break, Louis Collins was sent clear but his shot was wide of the post.

The league leaders came out for the second half, with probably words from Dennis Kutrieb stinging their ears and they were level within two minutes of the restart when a corner saw Kieran Monlouis rise the highest to head home from a right-sided corner.

The home side should have gone in front when Bingham shot over from right in front of goal but the Angels got their noses back in front on 62 minutes when brilliant persistence from Hinds saw his cross knocked on to the far post by Scott Wagstaff where Miles was positioned to turn the ball in from close range.

The Angels fans were in dreamland but the reality was there was over half-an-hour to play and to defend and to a man, bodies were thrown on the line. Henly saved brilliantly from Dominic Poleon and turned a shot from Shaq Coulthirst away for a corner with a fine low save.

As the clock ticked into an eternally long six minutes of added time, Henly once more came out on top in his contest with Coulthirst and in the third minute substitute Dylan Gavin might have given the Tonbridge supporters a comfortable last couple of minutes when he raced clear only to be denied by a last ditch tackle.

As Henly fell on the ball after yet another corner, referee Callum Walchester brought the curtain down on not only Ebbsfleet’s unbeaten record but a Angels victory that will live long in the memory.

Captain Miles said after the game: “To a man everyone was superb, last ditch tackles, clearances off the line, we took our chances when they came. They are a very, very good team, we did very, very well.” And there is not an Angels supporter tonight that is not echoing those sentiments!

Concord Rangers 1 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 44/22/2051 - Tuesday, 8th November 2022 - National League South

Concord Rangers (0) 1 Williamson 49
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 309

Admission: Pass
Programme: None purchased
Mileage: 128/3,334

Tonbridge Angels were left to rue a night, and a first half in particular, of missed chances before falling to a disappointing defeat on a wet, thoroughly miserable evening on Canvey Island.

It was a hugely frustrating evening for the vast majority of the Angels faithful, many of whom were hurrying to get through the turnstile as the first whistle was being blown following an accident on Remembrance Way, the main route on and off the island and then saw their return home lengthily delayed by a road closure on the A21. It truly was a night to forget.

Tariq Hinds was one of those delayed and his place in the starting XI needed to be changed as Jamie Fielding returned. Jeremy Santos' hamstring injury saw the return of Tommy Parkinson whilst Ruben Soares-Junior and TQ Addy were on the bench for Dajon Golding and Joe Turner, who will play on despite needing a hernia operation at the end of the month.

Concord Rangers fielded two old Angels favourites in their line-up with Ricky Modeste starting and D’Sean Theobalds on the bench.

The first half was, well you can choose the adjective, but I’ll go for dumbfounding. Virtual total domination for Tonbridge, corner after corner; miss after miss; block after block and a night in which the Concord goalkeeper, Mitchell Beeney will be able to look back with pride.

It left the Angels supporters with a sense of foreboding at the break that with so many chances that should have seen the game done and dusted, this would come back to bite your arse and they were right.

The list of chances could go on forever. In the sixth minute, Turner brought the first of many fine saves from Beeney, who saved the follow-up from Louis Collins and from the resultant corner, Ben Swift headed over.

And this was the recurring theme, Lewis Gard corner, various headers that were turned over the bar or turned away by Beeney.

It was half-hour into the game before Concord ventured out of their half, let alone force Jonny Henly into a save, but save he did, low to his left, from Mo Bettemer, in what was a minor warning shot across the bows for the Angels.

Right up to the whistle for the break, chances continued to be made; chances continued to be wasted, or to be fair, denied by Beeney who saved from Parkinson and Collins.

The second half was a chalk and cheese performance from the first. An early cross from Gard just eluded Collins at the near post and as the visitors began to huff and puff, their hosts grew in confidence and started to carry a threat of their own and four minutes into the half, a corner for Concord was allowed to drop in the six yard box and Ben Williamson was afforded time and space to poke home.

As the half progressed, Tonbridge continued to press but with the Concord back line standing firm, Beeney was far less employed as it seemed Tonbridge simply ran out of ideas as to how to break down this resilient opponent.

It was hugely frustrating, none more so than for manager Jay Saunders who said after the game: “The team that was out there today was good enough to win that game and if we take our chances we do win the game but we haven’t done that today.”

Tonbridge Angels U18 1 Three Bridges U18 2

Match 43/22/2050 - Monday, 7th November 2022 - Isthmian Youth League Cup 3R

Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 1 Lambert 67
Three Bridges U18 (2) 2 Kaye 31 Jeffrey 42
Attendance: 30

Admission: £4
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/3,206

Despite a spirited second half from the Angels Under-18’s, they slipped out of the Isthmian Youth League Cup following a 2-1 defeat at the hands of an excellent Three Bridges side that have a 100% league record and made it through the qualifying rounds to earn a FA Youth Cup First Round visit to Portsmouth.

On a blustery night at Longmead Stadium, Three Bridges were much the better side in the first half and the Angels were thankful to goalkeeper, Matt Larkin, that they were still in the game at the break. But, as the coaching staff of Dom Welsh and Joe Roberts made half-time changes to their formation, they made a real fist of the second period and came oh so close to taking the tie to penalties.

From the outset, the East Sussex club were dominant with striker Alex Kaye proving a real handful with successive efforts on 25 minutes seeing a shot deflected wide and Larkin excelling to deny him moments later.

So it came as no surprise, just past the half-hour, when Kaye surged from deep to break clear and shoot past Larkin.

The visitors lead was doubled three minutes before the break when fine work down the left from McKenzie Mortimer ended with his cross being turned in from close range by Reegan Jeffrey.

Dom Welsh said of the first half “They played their shape so well, and we had to adapt ours to combat it, but took us a little too long to do that.”

Finlay McLeod came on for Max Cormack early in the second period and immediately the Angels front line carried a bit more threat and after 67 minutes, a superb through ball from McLeod sent Max Lambert through to score with a clinical finish.

The need to search for the equaliser did leave the Angels exposed at times and Larkin was needed to be at his brilliant best to keep the dream of the quarter finals alive.

But the defining moment of the game came in the last minute of the game when a dream of a pass from Zak Garcia send Lambert clear but, on the edge of the box, the Three Bridges’ Jellen Bedar cynically hacked him down to earn himself a red card but also, as the free kick from Garcia sailed over, win the game in regulation time for his team.

Welsh said after the game: “Undoubtedly our toughest game of the season. Came up against a very good Three Bridges team. A real game of two halves, which in the end we come away thinking we may have done enough to force penalties, but the better team on the night prevailed. Best of luck to them in the quarter finals.”

Photos: Kathryn Bell