Hemel Hempstead Town 1 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 24/22/2031 - Tuesday, 27th September 2022 - National League South

Hemel Hempstead Town (1) 1 Morgan-Griffiths 39
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0

Attendance: TBC
Admission: Pass
Programme: None
Mileage: 162/2,186

Football supporters are crazy, I’m crazy and why do we put ourselves through it. This was one of those nights that leave you wondering why you bother. Why do you set out on what is forecast, and was, a chilly evening; defy the vagaries of the Dartford Tunnel and the inevitable overnight lane closures on the M25 before returning home just short of midnight, tired and frustrated. And the craziest point of all, in your heart of hearts, you know what is about to happen and you still decide to put yourself through it.

Hemel Hempstead is one of those places where the outcome is rarely positive for Tonbridge Angels and this occasion was no different and, in truth, the outcome was what they deserved. Ninety minutes in which the final pass was never there; strikers that just needed another touch; more injuries and a single mistake that lost the game and that’s before referencing the referee and the most Mickey Mouse of watches!

Vauxhall Road, apart from the pitch, is a decent stadium, a mishmash of old and new with some good terracing in places, nicely carpeted with off-cuts from the pitch, that I envied for my viewing position at Longmead. A group of local teenagers that, for some reason known only to them, decided they would “support” the Angels whilst proclaiming their school was just down the road were highly irritating and then a couple of incidents after the final whistle only added to the bizarre nature of the evening.

Jay Saunders made one change from Cheshunt with Ben Swift injured and replaced by Jeremy Santos with Tommie Fagg slotting into Swift’s central defensive position.

Tonbridge started well enough and in the opening 20 minutes there were efforts from Joe Turner and Fagg following corners and a speculative shot from distance that drifted wide from Jayden Crowhurst.

On 27 minutes ex-Hemel goalkeeper, Jonny Henly was forced into his first meaningful save, turning away a shot from Ogo Obi.

The Angels were still playing some attractive football and a neat interchange between Lewis Gard, Louis Collins ended with Santos shooting wide.

It was largely against the run of play when Hemel Hempstead took the lead on 39 minutes. A Tonbridge attack broke down with a punt forward that the young Southend loanee, Crowhurst appeared to have covered but he misjudged a bounce that reared up off the pitch allowing Dominic Morgan-Griffiths to stride forward before planting a powerful shot past Henly.

A half-time substitution of playmaker Gard for TQ Addy signalled a shift in momentum as the home side enjoyed a greater share of possession although both goalkeepers were brought into action in equal measures.

Ruben Soares-Junior stretched the home custodian, Craig King whilst Josh Castiglione drove straight at Henly. Sadly, the game descended into a frustrating huff and puff tussle until the four minutes of time added in which a shot-cum-cross from Santos was tipped over by King and from the resultant corner with Henly adding his presence to the attack the ball broke loose but the Hemel attempt on goal from the half-way line was underhit and Turner was able to get back and clear.

After a free kick to Hemel that brought a stoppage of at least a minute, the referee blew his whistle dead on the four minute mark triggering the annoyance of both the visiting supporters and management.

One lane closure after the other slowed the journey home increasing the frustration but like supporters up and down the country who have suffered a Tuesday night disappointment, we will be back on Saturday. Crazy, not really.

Cheshunt 3 Tonbridge Angels 4

Match 23/22/2030 - Saturday, 25th September 2022 - National League South

Cheshunt (0) 3 Liburd 48 Adams 62 Beckles-Richards 90+5
Tonbridge Angels (2) 4 Collins 26,55 Soares 45 Santos 71

Attendance: 408
Admission: £10 Senior
Programme: Not purchased
Mileage: 133/2,024

It was quite a rare occurrence for myself, and I would imagine a few other Tonbridge Angels supporters, to walk away from an away win and feel a little disappointed. This, to me, was 5-0 game there for the taking and to be hanging on at 4-3 at the end was the source of the disappointment.

For everybody connected to the club, from the humble supporter through to the manager and chairman, a response was needed after the previous weekend’s FA Cup humiliation at Binfield, and thankfully, we largely got it.

Five changes to the starting line-up and a strong bench with Ruben Soares Junior, ineligible last week, and new loan signing from Southend United, Jayden Crowhurst making their debuts gave a strong sense of optimism against a Cheshunt side, newly promoted and on a run of six straight defeats.

It has been 17 years since my only previous visit to Theobalds Lane so it was like visiting a new ground. It is a tidy ground with very welcoming people and for that reason alone I hope they can survive this season. There are two small covered enclosures for standing behind the goals and bigger stand, of similar construction, for seating on one side. On the opposite side is an older stand that I presume was there in 2005 and is very oddly positioned, set back a long way with viewing that would be obscured by the dug outs. I wondered if at some stage there had been a running track such was its position.

From the outset, Tonbridge’s difference in intensity from last Saturday was visible and although the home side had an early sniff at goal, a chance fell to Tommie Fagg, who fired over and, on 14 minutes, Lewis Gard struck the right hand post.

At this mid-way through the first half point, Cheshunt’s early ambition had been seen off and the Angels were very much in the ascendancy. Louis Collins, was showing just how much he was missed last week, running a cumbersome back line ragged and on 25 minutes he was at the back post to bundle the ball home following a run and cross from Joe Turner.

Lewis Gard was doing what Lewis Gard does and the Cheshunt defence were struggling to contain him whenever he was one the ball and, on 42 minutes, he brought a smart save from Preston Edwards.

On the cusp of the break, Tonbridge got a second goal that their first half dominance had deserved and it was a golden hello from Soares to the travelling Tonbridge support. The Portuguese player was fed a pass by Gard; drifted in from the right of the box before unleashing a shot into the top corner that had Edwards grasping at air.

Edwards excelled in the opening moments of the second half to deny Soares and had that gone in, perhaps Tonbridge might have gone on to cruise to a comprehensive victory, but sloppy defending after three minutes gave Cheshunt a route back into the game when a cross into the box eventually dropped at the feet of Rowan Liburd who fired into the centre of the goal from around eight yards.

Tonbridge restored their two goal advantage five minutes later when superb work down the right from Crowhurst saw him cut the ball back from the bye-line to the near post from where Collins neatly converted.

The game entered a basketball phase and on the hour, Cheshunt were back in business when Jonny Henly, uncharacteristically fumbled a cross and Brandon Adams was on hand to poke the ball home.

They could have been level soon after when Ben Swift needed to clear from his line before Jeremy Santos, on as a substitute for Gard curled a screamer into the far corner for the Angels fourth.

Tonbridge had chances to put the game to bed but a combination of Edwards and wayward finishing kept the game alive and, in the fifth minute of six added, Cheshunt set the visiting hearts racing as they reduced the deficit once more. Once again, a set piece cross into the box wasn’t cleared and Reece Beckles-Richards scored to set up a finale which saw Henly make a great save to preserve the points.

Manager Jay Saunders pretty much echoed the thoughts of supporters when he commented that “To come here and score four goals, brilliant.  On the flip side we shouldn’t have needed four goals to win the game.”

Tonbridge Angels Academy 2 Chatham Town Academy 1

Match 22/22/2029 - Wednesday, 21st September 2022 - National League Under-19 Alliance

Tonbridge Angels Academy (2) 1 Hermitage 33 Velvick 42
Chatham Town Academy (1) 1 Biring 18

Headcount: 20
Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/1,891

The Academy opened their league season, coming from behind to win a hard-fought, entertaining encounter with a very good Chatham Town side.

A warm-up injury to Will Saunders saw Aston Thomas promoted to the starting XI, but leaving just Sam Grant as a lone substitute.

The first quarter-hour gave the Angels side due warning that their visitors would be stern opposition and, although Hayden Velvick was narrowly wide after rounding the goalkeeper after 17 minutes, it was no surprise when Chatham took the lead a minute later with a superb strike from 25 yards by Joel Biring.

Tonbridge slowly found their rhythm, creating a couple of half-chances before equalising on 33 minutes. Velvick, whose pace and tireless running were a constant problem for the Chats, chased down a through ball into the left channel before sliding the ball from the bye-line across the face of goal, giving Ben Hermitage an easy finish from close range.

Velvick was rewarded for his industry, three minutes before the break, when he intercepted a pass before sprinting clear to round the goalkeeper and finish into the far corner.

Tonbridge were, perhaps, fortunate to go into the break in front but in the second period exercised a much greater control of the game.

Chatham had a great opportunity to get onto level terms three minutes into the half when central defender, Lewis Ridden, headed over following a corner. But, although the half was to remain goalless, the vast majority of the chances fell to the home side.

Hermitage steered a header wide just past the hour and central defender Tom Green fired over from distance whilst the Chatham goalkeeper, Rohan Jull, made saves to deny Leo Vowles and Billy Robbins. In the final moments last gasp tackles were also needed to stop the marauding Vowles.

Manager Tom Parkinson spoke for the spectators when he described the game as “high quality against a very good Chatham team.” Adding, “with players dropping out on the day and only 12 players in the squad the team worked very hard to get all three points from their first league game.”

Binfield 4 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 21/22/2028 - Saturday, 17th September 2022 - FA Cup 1QR

Binfield (0) 4 Moore 58 Efedje 72 Pegg 80 Pagliaroli 90
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0

Attendance: 389
Admission: £6 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 158/1,853
New Ground: 351

The Angels unfortunate relationship with the FA Cup continued this afternoon in Berkshire as they were swept aside by Isthmian League South Central side Binfield who produced a powerful second half display scoring four times without reply.

For a variety of reasons, manager Jay Saunders had 13 players unavailable, leaving him with two Academy players in his starting line-up, Josh McArthur making his first team debut with another three taking their places on the bench.

In a rustic setting, Hill Farm Lane at the end of a narrow lane that was inaccessible to the club coach, is a pleasant ground of a standard that is possibly a step lower than that in which they play with a couple of small stands on one side and on the top of a grass bank behind the goal sits the dressing room/bar/food outlet complex. The pitch was in desperate need of a lawn mower, but sure as eggs are eggs, that was on the direction of the Binfield manager, and the scene was set for an upset but no Tonbridge supporter present could have expected the second half performance that led to an embarrassing defeat.

Binfield opened the half on the front foot with Sean Moore forcing Jonny Henly into an early save with the Binfield captain also wasting a golden opportunity after 16 minutes when he shot over. In between, Tonbridge’s only effort of the opening half was a Lewis Gard effort that was well saved by Chris Grace, low to his right.

The fact that the visitors went into the break with the game still goalless was mainly down to some steadfast defending from Ben Swift and Sonny Miles.

The Angels had an early chance in the second period when TQ Addy shot into the side netting but it was Binfield that went ahead after 58 minutes when Moore latched onto a loose ball, 20 yards from goal, curling a shot into the far corner.

Grace excelled to turn over the bar a Miles header after Swift had headed on a corner but once Johnny Efedje’s header from a corner doubled Binfield’s advantage after 72 minutes, there was only going to be one winner.

Lewis Peg’s corner sailed over the head of Henly and into the far corner for the third goal with 10 minutes remaining and in the last minute of time added, Brad Pagliaroli had an acre of space in the penalty area to compound the Angels agony. In the final moments, in encouragement to his defender, the Binfield goalkeeper shouted, "keep going, they've got nothing." It hurt, but it was true.

Jay Saunders offered his apologies to the travelling support in his post-match interview commenting: “A lot of lads let themselves, the club and me down. Full credit to Binfield, but in 13 years of management that is one of the worst performances from my sides.”

The manager will be hoping that several of his senior players are available for selection for next week’s trip to Cheshunt in a return to National South action.

Tonbridge Angels 2 Farnborough 1

Match 20/22/2027 - Tuesday, 13th September 2022 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 Fielding 3 Gard 20
Farnborough (0) 1 Kasimu 90+6

Attendance: 614
Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/1,695

Ten days ago, I was sat in a bar in Amsterdam having made a futile, ticketless trip to Ajax, watching Twitter with joy, but a lot of frustration, as Tonbridge Angels produced their best performance for many a day in despatching Dulwich Hamlet.

Those couple of hours probably provided the highlight of a forgettable week away (but enough of that) and although I was looking forward to this wet Tuesday evening encounter with Farnborough, I had my doubts that such heights could be reached again, but for 45 minutes at least, my fears were unfounded as the Angels turned on the style.

So much has happened in the last week with the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II that the cafe in Amsterdam seems a lot further back in time than just 10 days ago as Jay Saunders named an unchanged side. With both sides assembled around the centre circle the referee blew his whistle for the attendance of 619 to perfectly observe a minute’s silence.

Within three minutes of the kick-off, the sombre silence was turned into joyous cheers as a Lewis Gard corner, flighted to beyond the far post found Jamie Fielding who met it with a thunderous volley that gave the visiting goalkeeper, Jack Turner, not a whiff of a chance of ceasing its passage into the roof of the net.

The goal heralded a half of football in which the Angels were a joy to watch. Gard, admirably protected by James Taylor, was able to do his thing; Louis Collins’ pace was unsettling the visiting back line whilst the sporadic Farnborough attacks were being mopped up by Sonny Miles and Ben Swift.

After 18 minutes Collins saw an effort cleared from the line but despite their best efforts it wasn’t until five minutes before the break that the Angels doubled their lead with a fine effort from Gard who chased down a through ball into the left channel and with a deft touch that took him inside of his marker, he passed the ball into the final corner.

The goal that might have killed the game completely might have came almost immediately as Gard forced Turner into a fine save.

Joe Turner forced his namesake into a good stop after five minutes of the second period but an injury to Fielding, who would have been a contender for man of the match, just part of the hour disrupted the Angels which led to several reshuffles as Saunders wrestled with problem of replacing his full back who hobbled painfully back to the dressing room with his ankle heavily iced.

Whilst Tonbridge struggled to regain momentum, Farnborough were proving also pretty impotent and the game descended into a middle of the field stalemate.

Farnborough finally broke the Angels resistance with a virtual last kick of the match goal by Hishim Kasimu from close range that initially looked like it had been cleared from the line but the official deemed it had crossed.

Perhaps, I didn’t quite get a completely payback for missing Dulwich, but I’ll happily take the first half performance.

Tonbridge Angels U18 2 Corinthian 2

Match 19/22/2026 - Monday, 12th September 2022 - FA Youth Cup 1QR

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Puffette 17 Saunders 63
Corinthian (1) 2 Ivin (pen) 21 Daniel 90+4
Tonbridge Angels won 4-2 on penalties

Attendance: 119
Admission: £4
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/1,657

Tom Parkinson’s Under-18’s overcame the heartbreak of an injury time leveller for their visitors Corinthian to win the penalty shootout with two fine saves from Matt Larkin sealing their passage into the FA Youth Cup Second Qualifying Round.

A minute's silence was observed for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II prior to kick off.

The Angels youngsters flew out of the traps, just as they had in the previous round at Ashford, and created a chance in the first 20 seconds with the Corinthian goalkeeper, Alexander Ball saving from Hayden Velvick.

Larkin did well to turn aside an effort from Roman Burrence at his near post but it was the home side that were mostly on the offensive with Will Saunders shooting over and then having a shot blocked after good work down the right from Leo Vowles. But from the resultant corner, delivered by Vowles, the Angels went in front as central defender Will Puffette stabbed the ball home from close range.

The lead only lasted four minutes when, on 21 minutes, a through ball sent Blu Husthwaite clear, Larkin plunged at his feet and brought him down for a clear penalty award although whether the Corinthian man was offside was a subject for debate. Denis Ivin’s spot kick found the bottom corner despite Larkin getting his fingertips to the ball.

The game, played at an electrifying pace, was end to end with both sides having chances to go into the break in front, the best of which falling to Tonbridge’s Velvick and Harry Day who brought saves from Ball whilst a temping cross from Vowles just eluded the head of Puffette.

The second half began with Vowles the centre of attention, firing over and then seeing his 51st minute effort cleared from the line.

Just past the hour mark, a dipping shot from 30 yards from Harry London was only narrowly over but a minute later a bad clearance from the keeper eventually fell to Saunders who scored from 12 yards.

Almost immediately from the restart, a Vowles cross was headed in by the industrious Velvick, but the striker’s richly deserved goal was ruled out for offside.

The Angels were well in the ascendancy but a goal to put the game to bed wouldn’t come with substitute Myles Briscoe-Foster and Day going close but as the game entered its final minutes, Corinthian pressed hard for the goal that would take the tie straight to penalties. Husthwaite went very close after being set up by the lively Isaiah Daniel but in the fourth minute of time added it was Daniel at the far post who got the equaliser as the Angels failed to clear.

And so to penalties. Alex Ball gave Corinthian the first advantage saving from Harry London but successive saves from Larkin set up Felix Waring to seal the tie with a fourth successful spot kick.

Ashford United U18 0 Tonbridge Angels U18 2

Match 18/22/2025 - Wednesday, 31st August 2022 - FA Youth Cup PR

Ashford United (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 London 12 Walker (pen) 30
Attendance: 124

Admission: £3
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/1,619

Tonbridge Angels eased their way into the First Qualifying Round of the FA Youth Cup with a 2-0 win at Ashford United. The Angels scored two first half goals and withstood a spirited second half performance from the home side.

An electrifying run from Harry Day right from the kick off was ended with him being brought down in the box for the award of a penalty after just 17 seconds. Harry London’s penalty was well saved by the goalkeeper, Sonny Dixon, to preserve the early parity of score.

Tonbridge’s goalkeeper, Lewis Wilkins, was called into action after five minutes, turning away a shot from Matisse Thompson at his near post. But the visitors were dominating the early stages and took a deserved lead after 12 minutes when a long ball forward from Will Puffette sent London clear to open the scoring with a composed finish.

Buoyed by their lead, the Angels totally dominated the rest of the first half with the goalkeeper saving well from London; Hayden Velvick hitting a post and good strike from Billy Robbins from 20 yards that was narrowly wide before the Angels finally extended their lead on the half-hour. Josh McArthur was brought down in the box for a second penalty award that was converted by Johnny Walker, who sent the keeper the wrong way.

Tonbridge might have put the game to bed when a good move ended with Day having his shot blocked before Wilkins was pressed into action twice in the final minutes of the half as Ashford served notice that they were still in the game.

The home side should have reduced the deficit after two minutes of the second half when they were awarded a penalty but Wilkins read Luke Prior’s intention and saved comfortably to his left.

This did herald a spirited second half from the home side that saw Wilkins save well on a couple of occasions and another effort that only found the side netting.

The visitors were not without their chances to put the game beyond doubt with Day shooting over after some fine work by Leo Vowles and substitute Will Saunders working the goalkeeper.

The Angels saw the game out largely on the front foot to thoroughly deserve their place in the next round.

Tommy Parkinson commented after the game that his team were not at their best, especially in the final third but gave Ashford credit for fighting to the end.

Tonbridge Angels 1 St Albans City 2

Match 17/22/2024 - Monday, 29th August 2022 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Fagg 22
St Albans City (1) 2 Stanley 9 Isaacs 81
Attendance: 1,036

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/1,581

In the midst of an awkward run of results, I have a good deal of sympathy for any manager, let alone that of my club, when a microphone is shoved under his nose and much of what he can say is pretty much the same as the previous two post-match interviews. Missed opportunities and poor defending, never a good recipe for winning matches.

Much of what a humble blog writer can portray is also that of a broken record. Dealing with the positives, this was a lot, lot better than Saturday and, almost without question, Tonbridge deserved at least something out of the game. But the negatives continue to mount. Injuries, two more to add to the list, are making Jay Saunders’ planning almost impossible; coupled with failings at both ends of the pitch results in the new Longmead being a long way from the fortress hoped for.

Jeremy Santos was given a starting shirt for this Bank Holiday fixture against St Albans and was very bright until he suffered concussion in the 56th minute.

Tonbridge were out of the blocks quickly and had the ball in the net after just three minutes when TQ Addy put Joe Turner through to finish but denied by a linesman’s flag.

But, for the fourth consecutive game, the Angels went behind to an early goal when a half-clearance was recycled into the box from where Devante Stanley swept the ball home for a happier outcome than his visit last season that ended with a double break of his leg that brought about an abandonment of the game.

Tonbridge fought back well from the disappointment with Dylan Gavin going close with two attempts that were saved by the St Albans goalkeeper, Michael Johnson.

They had fully deserved their equaliser after 21 minutes when Tommie Fagg rose highest to head home from a corner.

The rest of the half saw a header from Ben Swift that was saved by Johnson whilst loud claims for a penalty for St Albans were waved away by the referee.

The two Charlton loanees were both injured within five minutes of one another. Firstly Santos suffered concussion and then Dylan Gavin limped out of the game. At this point, Saunders must be wondering if a black cat had recently crossed his path.

It was the home side that were creating the chances and a couple of efforts from Turner were not too far off target and a header from Fagg was cleared from the line.

Swift headed narrowly wide and then, completely against the run of play the ball, St Albans conjured what was ultimately the winner with nine minutes remaining. Swift made a tackle on the edge of the box, the ball ran loose and Che Isaacs’ first time shot curled into the top corner.

One final chance to salvage something from the game fell to substitute Louis Collins but his header was wide and, once again, the Angels were left pointless, sadly leaving Jay Saunders with another interview that sounded just like the other one.

Pictures: Kathryn Bell